The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-04-18

ont
On Nature, In her lovelincss and storms"
My beloved companions, in the
mcditations III their slumbers. may
dream Of the stately dames who float
ed down the dance IN the times OF
! their youth, or of the airy beings of
later periods, with forms sleader as
the lily stalk, and faces pale as its
blossoms. they may laugh nj the fol-
lies of the age. |. who sleep, have
no concern with THESE things. " |
must confess my thoughts are turn
ed" To higher objects.
The yicw.of tire fair scenes of Ma
turc gives me little qualification. sep
aratc from their connection with the
works of Man. All that concerns
our race IL important To us. All that
history has redeemed FROM the past,
all that speculation can discover of
the present. all that conjecture can
unscil Of the future. presses upon ns
with a warm interest. IL il pleasant
To look upon the green branches Of
the vigorous trees for we think of
the Joyous spring time oil life, when
the stream of existence gli,led on.
unrutlled by wave Of care. reflect
ing images Of anticipated happiness
we think that generations may have
frolickcd in their shade in youth.
and laid down beneath their shelter
in the quiet sleep Of eternity. IL is
good to see the tall aud leailess trunk,
standing up as n watch tower for the
owl. and slowly yielding to the silent
and inevitable progress Of decay !;
for we are reminded of the frail te.
nure OF our own possessions.
have stood upon the shore oil the
lake, embosomed in tho woods, and
retired far from the busy settlements
of cultivation. when its little bays
and verdant islands were smiling in
The pure light Of an autnmnal day.
The white mists curled over its sur
face and the murmnring voices of the
waters mingled with tho music of the
winds. The waving foliage and the
calm cxpansc presented picture OF
still and quiet beauty. The wild bird
led her brood upon the clear mirror,
and the deer peepcd ont from the CO.
vert upon It's margin. But there was
no connection with the actions oi
man. 1t was lonely, lovely and sol
itary. The eye WAS soon wcarled
with its calm and placid elegance.
We could sit for days aud weeks
on the rocks that overlook the dark
heaving ocean, to muse and moral
izc. The waves break ut our feet,
and thoughts of other cliines press
heavily upon the soul. That wan
dcrer has visited the spicy regions
Of the East, and been among the
distant islands OF the Western seas.
1t has rolled on coasts consecrated
| by the remembraDces Of antiquity,
and dashed against continents unyi-
stcd by the boldness Of enterprise.
1t has murmnred upon shores where
the great ofpast ages have held their
warfare for liberty, and on the sands
where freedom now wages her CON
test. Ii has waited the vessel crow
dcd with those for whom the prayers
of the aged and the youthful have
been offered on her voyage. until her
sails have been furIed in The destined
port. 1t has curlcd over the good
ship, and buried brave hearts, and
drowned the cries of agony. That
wave may have rolled over those for
whom the mother or the maiden will
wait until hope fails, and expectation
yields to despair. We think that
the fire will be frightened, but the
friend, the lover, or the brother will
never again Join the circle that ga
Tiers around its blaze. The pillow
will DC made ready with aiIectionate
care. but they will sleep in their wa
terry beds. Those who loved them
will fear for their safety when the
storm is raging, but they will rest
undsturbed by its violence. That
wave has been perhaps stained with
the blood of murder. shed by the
gloomy pirate: il may be dyed with
the red tide, that flowed in a nobler
cause. 1t has been in the cayerns
among gems, and riches, and bones
of the dead, and. as it passed on
ward, has moved over the wreck of
wealth and the remains OF mortality.
Thus do reflections crowd upon us
when we view those works of Nature,