The Abandoned Homestead 23 



are thinking of the human lives that have been 

 lived in the stark old houses, where the wind 

 blows through the creaky roofs and into the 

 openings that once were windows and doors. 

 We are impressed by the ancient orchards, 

 with bleaching limbs and rotting trunks. Gen- 

 erations ago, perhaps, the good-man and his 

 wife hewed the farm from the wilderness, 

 erected the laborious buildings, and planted 

 the cider-apple trees between the rocks. A 

 little brood was reared. One by one the child- 

 ren went out over the hills and made homes 

 for themselves; but one of them remained on 

 the old farm, cherishing the old rocks and liv- 

 ing content under the old roof-tree. The old 

 place became more hallowed with the years. 

 Even the decay of the old house passed un- 

 noticed. What was the neglect and dilapida- 

 tion to the visitor from the city, was the object 

 of veneration and sacred memories to the 

 owner. But finally no youngster clung to the 

 homestead. One went to the city store, an- 

 other on the railroad, another took to sea, and 

 another went west. Age overtook the old 



