Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-06-24

however tramelled by the care OF bust
ness or theN speculations of interest -
My fathers farm was situated IN the
Western extremity of b county.
Like all large landed proprletors of the
time, but small portion of his domains
could possibly be cults tel He
bought in the anticipation of posterity,
not with view to immediate enjoy
ments Of this extensive tract Of land,
, but several hundred acres had been
lately cleared. Upon this, in the sim
pleSt style of american architecture was
erected our farm house. Though built
of rough materials and rudely piled
together, it was sufficiently large, and
supplied with all necessary convenlenees.
Here was our habitation. Here tie
| first ray of existence dawned upon my
infancy.
Here would RIM, visionary boy,
When the hcarse tempest shook the vaulted
sky,
And fancy led, beheld the Almighty form
iernly careering ON the edyiug storm;
And heard, while awe congesled my inmost
soul,
His voice terrific in the thunders roll
Fox several miles round, there were
no inhabitants but the tenantry of my
father. These regarded him with the
habitual reverence of teudal vassalage.
md he, tree from arrogance and SUI
perciliousness, enjoyed amongst them
the authority aud affection of Baron.
They looked up to him as their protec-
tor. They lived upon his lands, and
fed upon his deer. But how different is
the prospect now from what it then
presented! Seats Of ease and euItiva-
ton have usurped that soil which for
centuries before had been perpetually
overshadowed by irpenetrable forests
The golden treasures of harvest are
now the yearly productions of that earth,
from which before issued nothing but
the wild and indigenous vegetation of
Nature. Even those woods through
which have so often strayed in The
hardy adventures of the chase, and
where nought disturbed my ear, but
the slow creeping movements OF the
Tiger, in incipcnt efforts to pitch
upon its prev, are now converted into
seats Of population, where is heard the
hum of cheerful industry, the noise of
the hammer and the trinkling pro-
gress of the trowel, bearing witness of
its wealth and cultivation. Such are
the happy effects of that noble spirit Of
improvement which distinguishes our
country and which is so carefully pro-
tected by her fee and liberal institu-
tions. But greatly as Iejolced in this
change from barren aud uncultivated
natu to the splendor of the surround
ing Improvements, cannot conceal the
feelings Of melancholy regret that over
powered my soul, when after long
search | could discover no yestige of
the former existence of my habitation.
How wildly was at that nome Mt i'm
pressed with the evanescence of human
affairs! had read of cities, nations
and empires that existed, fourished and
decayed--I had often perused the story
of Thebes, Carthage, and Palmyra,
Of whose splendid and magnificent mo-
numents, not even the ruins remained
to attest that they had been. But they
glided family over my imagination, leav-
ing but a transient impression of the
moral they contained. Alas! how con-
tractedis the sphere of our most elevated
feelings! How closely allied to our
selves are the noblest reflections of the
human heart! The ground upon which
the farm house had been built, was CO.
vered under a rich and luxuriant crop
of wheat, which now reflected from its
broad expanse the dazzling lustre of
the sun, and now yielded its golden
waves to the playful riot of the breeze.
Upon any other occasion, my heart
might have rejoiced at the sight of so
noble prospect But who, beholding
the habitation of his fathers swept from
the face of creation, the scenes of his
childhood without trace of their for
mer existence, but must feel sorrowful
and depressed> I departed after a
short efiusion of feeling, and INDUCING
in similar train of reflection, my mind
began to wander TO neighboring man.
sion house which | fondly imagined
might still exist. Connected with this
| had associations equally as dear as my
own home So accordingly mounted
my horse, and pursued my course along
the highway, which, although much
altered, still preserved some resem-
blance to that of former days. arri-
we'd at the place; but beheId nothing
hNt cnrno La nnrn cfnnnc rrhinh f1,rr,.... .