Year: 1873

For years had longed to visit the


home Of my childhood Ito press my
| feet once more upon my native turf


How / envied those of my friends who


were able to return to the old roof-tree


for family reunions. 1 knew, full well,


the dear, loved ones could not gather


about the old hearth, as in former days
for too well / remembered that terri


BILE burden, in the form of a mortgage,


we all tried so hard to '1ift," and yet


failed to meet the demands. 1t was o


sad day when we bade adieu to its sa-


cred halls. But the world was wide,


and another roof kindly spread its broad


wings over us and gave us shelter. For


two years our family all dwelt within


the walls of this adopted home, and


then there was a quiet gathering of
cherished friends, and l stood beside


one who promised to love and protect


me, and in the presence of the company
, he kissed and called me "my wife :" and


then 1 was whirled away to another
home, in land of strangers.


For a time the months flew by as on
angels wings, for l was not only happy
but busy as the swift-winged birds in
arranging and rearranging the bright
new furniture about our cozy cottage !;
in preparing favorite dishes to tempt
my husbands appetite, that 1 might
hear words of loving praise from his
lips. But this daily routine came at
last to be like an oft-told story; and
although did not cease my vigilance
in performing a single duty, yet the
performance of the daily round ceased
to occupy my mind. -..


When months heightened into years,
1 began to cast longing eyes to the
eastward, and desire to visit familiar
scenes and faces took possession of my
mind. / had an unaccountable dread
of travelling alone, and my husband
thought it quite impossible to leave the
farm aud thus six years passed away.
At last my earnest yearnings overcame
my cowardice, and 1 returned to the
land of my nativity. After visiting my
beloved and aged parents, and the
members of the family who, like myself
had married and settled down." l
started for the old neighborhood, where
some of the happiest as well as some
of the most sorrowful days of my life
had been passed.


1t was beautiful morning in the
early part of September, that l slipped
quietly away from my friends for a walk
up the hill, on the top of whose emf
nence stood the dear old cottage. On
the way l could but note, with sad
heart, the changes the present owner
had made in the general landscape.
The beautiful sheet of water known as
the "old mill pond, where 'oft in the
Silly night, and on sunny spring days,
| had tioated up and down in fairy
barque, watching the shining fish as
they swept along in little flashes of
motion, gathering fragrant lilies. and
dreaming of human greatness, resolving
to climb the ladder of fame by doing
noble deeds and making the world bet
ter for my living-had disappeared, and
in its place was waving grain, plenti-
fully besprink!ed with rank weeds. The
picturesque old mill had been pulled
down and carried away. ] almost re-
solved to return to the house of my
friend without further observation.
But no | must go on; so i pushed
forward, and at last gained the top of
the hill.


The cottage was messy and brown
from the beating of pattering rain and
scorching sun. In all these long years
it had been unacguainted with fresh
paint. The pretty, climbing Jasmine"
that used to shade the porch, where
sat at close Of day and watched the bellies
and beaux as they approached the house,
was torn away, admitting the broad
glare of the blazing sun. The old flower
beds were nowhere visible; the fruit
trees that every spring, in the years
long past, | had compared to fair young
brides as they were robed in pink and
white. crowned with wreaths of greater
beauty than ever graced a milliner's
and thorny by being browsed by herds
of cattle that had free range about the
grounds. The old garden fence was
sadly dilapidated, and seemed to be
pining for its former master.


The stately old oaks and naples, be-
meath whose widespread boughs many
a pleasant picnic party had gathered,
to while away a passing day in pleasant
chat, song and merry laughter, and
where We had swept through the air in
the ample swing, as swiftly as the bright
winged birds, had been destroyed by
the woodman's ak not even the stumps
remained as monuments OF their beauty
and massiveness. While l stood gazing
at the place, and bemoaning its utter
desolation, a middle-aged, kindly-faced
woman came out upon the porch and
invited me in. 1 gladly accepted her
invitation, telling her at once that this
had been for many years my home-how
L had longed with unutterable yearn-
ings to press my feet upon native soil
again, and how much 1 desired to visit
my own old room once more. She
kindly led the way up the broad stair
case and opened the door to the old
square-room, which was in ''apple pie
order" as indeed was each room about
the house. A feeling of awe crept over
me as I stepped across the Threshold
for was it not a sepulcher of buried
memories? ? 1 seated myself by the
window looking eastward.


This was the spot towards which my
eyes ever turned when the first rays of
the morning sun warned me that there
was no longer bird or bee asleep. 1t 7
was by this window my fathers voice
found me as it wound its musical note
up the wide stairway and through the
door. which WAS always left "ajar," that
might catch the first sound of his
stirring feet: "Charlie, I'd like my
breakfast soon" / could almost hear
his pleasant intonations as l turned my
face towards the door.


1t was here 1 sat and watched the sill !
very moon, riding high in the deep blue
vault, and counted the most brilliant
stars, and pointed out familiar constel-
lations to my younger sisters, who
sometimes shared my room. This place
had witnessed all my childish griefs
and girlish sorrows. These walls had
listened to the delicate messages the !
love-god had sent, and witnessed the
filling of many dainty sheets of gilt !
edged note paper, in answer-to Cupid's


L L Il