'Sweet Home.' I knew him personally. He occupied the rooms under me for some time, and his conversation was sc captivating, that I often spent whōle days in his apartments. 2. "He was an applicant for office at the time-consul' at Tunis-from which he had been removed. What a sad thing it was to see the poet subjected to the humiliation of officesecking! In the evening, we would walk along the street. Once in awhile we would see some family circle so happy, and forming so beautiful a group, that we would stop, and then pass silently on. 3. "On such occasions he would give a history of his wanderings, his trials, and all the cares incident to his sensitive nature and poverty. 'How often,' said he, once, 'have I been in the heart of Paris, Berlin, and London, or some other city, and heard persons singing, or the hand-organ playing "Sweet Home," without a shilling to buy the next meal, or a place to lay my head. 4. "The world has literally sung my song until every heart is familiar with its melody. Yet I have been a wanderer from my boyhood. My country has turned me ruthlessly from office; and in old age I have to submit to humiliation for bread.' Thus he would complain of his hapless lot. His only wish was to die in a foreign land, to be buried by strangers, and sleep in obscurity. 5. "I met him one day, looking unusually sad. 'Have you got your consulate ?" said I. 'Yes, and leave in a week for Tunis; I shall never return.' The last expression was not a political faith. Far from it. Poor Payne! his wish was realized—he died at Tunis. Whether his remains have been brought to this country, I know not. They should be; and, if none others would do it, let the homeless throughout the world give a penny for a monument to Payne. I knew him, and will give my penny for an inscription like the following: 'Con' sul, a person appointed by a government to represent it, or act for it, in a foreign country.—2 In'ci dent, befalling; happening to.--'Sen' si tive, easy to feel, or to perceive. Lit'er al ly, strictly; to the letter. Ruthlessly (roth' les ly), without pity or mercy.-- Hu mil i à'tion, act of humbling; state of being abased. Con' su late, office of a consul.-- In scrip' tion, that which is written or marked on something. 66 HERE LIES J. HOWARD PAYNE, THE AUTHOR OF SWEET HOME,' A WANDERER IN LIFE; HE WHOSE SONGS WERE SUNG IN EVERY TONGUE, AND FOUND AN ECHO IN EVERY HEART, NEVER HAD A HOME. HE DIED IN A FOREIGN LAND." HOME, SWEET HOME. 6. 'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Which, go through the world, you'll not meet with elsewhere. There's no place like home! 7. An exile from home, pleasure dazzles in vain : There's no place like home! 27. THE OLD FAMILY BIBLE. WHOEVER has traveled among the Scottish hills and dales, can not have failed to observe the scrupulous' fidelity3 of the inhabitants to the old family Bible. A more honorable trait' of character than this can not be found; for all men, whether Christians or infidels, are prone to put reliance in those who make the Bible their companion, the well-thumbed pages of which show the confidence their owners repose in it. Hål' low, to make sacred, or holy.-2 Scrupulous (skro' pu lus), care ful; conscientious; faithful.-3 Fi děl' i ty, loyalty; faithfulness.-'Trait, mark; line or feature.-'In' fi dels, unbelievers.- Re pose place, as in confidence. 2. A few years ago, there dwelt in Ayrshire' an ancient couple, possessed of this world's gear sufficient to keep them independent from want or woe, and a canny3 daughter to bless their gray hair and tottering steps. A gal'lant of a farmer became enamored of the daughter, and she, nothing lōth, consented to be his. The match being every way worthy of her, the old folks gave their approval, and as they were desirous to see their child comfortably settled, the two were made one. In a few short years, the scythe of time cut down the old people, and they gave their bodies to the dust, and their souls to the Creator. 3. The young farmer, having heard much of the promised land beyond the sea, gathered together his property, and, selling such as was useless, packed up what was calculated to be of service to him at his new home. Some neighbors, having the same desire for adventure, sold off their homes and homesteads, and, with the young couple, set sail for America. 4. Possessed of considerable property in the shape of money, this company were not like the generality of emigrants,' poor and friendless, but happy, and full of hope of the future. The first thing done after the landing, was the taking out of the old family heir-loom,3 the Bible, and returning thanks and praise to Him who had guided the vessel to a safe haven. 5. The farmer's object in coming to this country was to purchase a farm and follow his occupation; he therefore spent but little time in the city at which he arrived; and as his fellowpassengers had previously determined on their destination, he bid them farewell, and, with a light heart, turned his face toward the setting sun. Indiăn'a, at this time, was fast becoming settled, and, having heard of its cheap and fertile lands, he determined on settling within its borders. 6. He fixed on a farm on the banks of the Wabash, and 'Ayrshire (år' sher), a county in the southwest part of Scotland, bordering on the sea.- Gear, goods; furniture. Cån' ny, skillful; dexterous; prudent. Gål' lant, a brave, high-spirited man; a wooer; one who is polite to ladies. 5 En åm' ored, in love with.- Loth, unwilling. Em' i grants, persons who leave their own country, to settle in another. Heir-loom (år' lỏm), a thing which has long been in the family, or which descends to the heirs. Therefore (ther' for). 9 having paid cash for one half, gave a mortgage' for the balance, payable in one year. Having stocked his farm, and put seed in the ground, he rested from his labor, and patiently awaited the time when he might go forth to reap the harvest; but, alas! no ears of grain gladdened his heart, or rewarded his toil. The fever of the country attacked him, and at the time when the fields are white with the fullness of the laborer's skill, death called him home, and left his disconsolate wife a widow, and his only child an orphan. 7. We leave this first sorrow, and pass on to witness the struggles of the afflicted widow a year afterward. The time having arrived when the mortgage was to be paid, she borrowed the money of a neighbor, who had been very attentive to her husband and herself. Hard and patiently did she toil to repay the sum at the promised time; but all would not do; fortune frowned, and she gave way to her accumulated' troubles. Disheartened and distracted, she relinquished her farm and stock for less than she owed her neighbor, who, not satisfied with that, put an execution' on her furniture. 8. On the Sabbath previous to the sale, she took courage, and strengthening herself with the knowledge of having wronged no one, went to the temple of her heavenly Father, and with a heart filled with humanity and love, poured out her soul to Him. "who turneth not away;" and having communed1 side by side with her neighbor, returned to her desolate home. 9. Here her fortitude had like to have forsaken her, but seeing the old "family Bible," she reverently put it to her lips, and sought for consolation in its pages. Slowly she perused' its holy and inspiring verses, and gathered hope from its never-failing promises. 10. The day of sale having arrived, her few goods and chattels were, in due course, knocked off to the highest bidder. Unmoved she saw pass from her possession article after article, 'Mortgage (mår' gaj), a pledge given for the repayment of borrowed money..—2 Ac củ' mu låt ed, heaped up; greatly increased.—3 Ex e cù'tion, the warrant by which an officer carries into effect the judgment of a court. Com mùned', partaken of the sacrament, or Lord's Supper.'Perused (pe rozd′), read with attention.- Chåt' tels, things which a person owns, excepting lands and buildings. without a murmur, till the constable' held up the old family Bible. This was too much. Tears flowed, and gave silent utterance to a breaking heart. She begged the constable to spare her this memento2 of her revered and departed parʼents; and the humāne' man of the law would willingly have given it to her, but her iněx'orable3 creditor declared every thing should be sold, as he was determined to have all that was due to him. 11. The book was, therefore, put up, and about being disposed of for a few shillings, when she suddenly snatched it, and, declaring she would have some relic of those she loved, cut the slender thread that held the brown linen cover, with the intention of retaining that. The cover fell into her hands, and with it two flat pieces of thin, dirty paper. 12. Surprised at the circumstance, she examined them, and what was her joy and delight to find each to be a bank-note, good for five hundred pounds, on the bank of England! On the back of one, in her mother's handwriting, were the following words: "When sõrrōw overtakes you, seek your Bible." And on the other, in her father's hand, "Your Father's ears are never deaf.?" 13. The sale was immediately stopped, and the family Bible given to its faithful owner. The furniture sold was readily offered to her by those who had purchased it, and she gladly took it back. Having paid off her relentless' creditor to the uttermost farthing, and rented a small house, she placed the balance of her money in such a way as to receive interest enough to keep her comfortable, and is now able to enjoy the precepts of the old family Bible without fear or molestation. 28. MY MOTHER'S BIBLE. 1. THIS book is all that's left me now! THIS Tears will unbidden start With faltering lip and throbbing brow, 1 Constable (kůn' sta bl), an officer of the peace.-2 Me men' to, memorial; something which causes remembrance.- In ex' o ra ble, that can not be moved by prayers or entreaties.-Rel' ic, that which remains, or is left after a loss; something kept in remembrance.— Relent' less, cruel; having no pity. Mo les tå' tion, trouble; annoyance. |