Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-02-01
1rsCrILsNy.
rrz Is, s,hnoeiaia Rel,oisr.

Z.
The most beautiful and aticciionaic
song Of the present day is "Woodman
spare that Tree. as suug by Mr.. Rus
cell. Il was written by Col. George r.
Morris the Editor OF the New York
Mirror, and IS louujcdopon the follow
ing interesting occurrence When q
person hears Mr.. Russell tell the story
and then listen TO his enchanting strains
as he sings the song, he must possess
heart Of adamani II he does not feel
his bosom swell, aud the genuine tear
7 OF sympathy moistening his eve.
There was a family Of opulcnce re-
sizing in the country, not a great dis
lance from Mex York. Il consisted
ui the parents and large number %
sons AMI daughters, al united together
& by those golden ties which no one but
parent, brother, sister, or daugh-
ter can feel. They possessed every
thing requisite 10 ensure happiness
their home was On earthly paradise.
their hearts the scat OF ardent love for
one another and of generous noble
friendship for others. There seemed
nothing wanting 10 perfect this little
community. Their pccuniary circum-
stances were such, that they could in
dulgc freely IN the luxury Of admins
tcrIng comfort and happiness 10 the po-
yefty- stricken and miserable. Tho
naked were clothed, aud the hunerS
were fed; not with that ostentalion
4 which eXacts the admiration of a gaz-
( ing world, but with that kindness and
self-saiisfac;ion which is the character
( is,lc Of noble soul. Their acts Of
generosity we're performed for the salts
/, iaction OF doing good Aud when they
had allevia,cd the distress Of one who
was almost crushed 5y the heavy hand
toi poverty, they experienced that iubi-
Ice within the heart which none but
Z the truly generous can feel
Their Intercourse with one another
was also OF the happicst kind. 1t was
the Gesirc Of each member Of the fami-
lily, to contribute TO the happiness Of all
1 the others in preference to their own.
Sincerity, bro.hcriy and parental afIec-
( Ton, hlled their bosoms - overlooking.
) But this little paradise was not long
to last. The generosity Of the old gem
ucman compelled him to assist his
incnd9 by way Of endorsement, end
their failures swept away every Erthing
loi has earthly riches. The deprivins
him Of his noble farm, bis lovely cot
iagc, and the beautiful vcrdurc and lof-
7 ~ trees lha; surrounded i. wis tho in
reward OF his disintCrcsied Giandsbip.
And TO be compelled to gave up all
tiNsc-to surrender those majestic
trees under whose shade he had pass
cal 50 many pleasant hours with his ex-
'ccllcnt family; a1d under whose pro-
lection, as it vcIc, hp children bad
been reared, vas hardship which The
philosophy Of few men could endure.
Little circumstances in the history of
his children, bad cudesrcd every tree
and indced every shrub TO has heart
But they must all be abandoned. and
THIS happy community. which Gas
linkcd together by The sironqoat ties Of
tho human heart, must be torn auindcr
and scattered % the four winds Of hca.
ven.
By cXposiRg ourselves 10 an attempt
to rcrcuc a friend. wc arc occasionally
drawn into The whirlpool and destroyed
better IL lhould be SD. than 10 stand
cGldly by lnd witness the last struggle
without making an effort 10 save.
This misfortune dispersed them 90
different dlreciion Some went 70 re-
eide wi,h their ircnds. and others 10
sock their fortunes IN distani climcs.-
But The destroyer of life soon swept
oWay one by one, thc whole family
But the Youngest frn. re went 90 TIE
South ani hy industry 9ud pcrcvr.
rance gained a fortune lie ileu re-.
tuned t1 i,8 OLD home. determined io
F1c himself 90 uIc home of 80
childhood Iui it wae 90 Iiuaied
ihn he could nai. Hc yazed Icnginz.
lV ur. those l-a-mLlc trees lhli vctc
T.1a'ei aal n9u.lh bed hy the tiuJ
hsud oi ir flihcr Tic loungcd upon
lhe green grass beneath their shade as
be- was won't Co DO in b1yhood bot
there were no brothers there indulging
"a their boyish sports, nor sisters Col
swceicn the scene with their pure feel
ingg. gushing forth boz innocent, r8Ttur-
ous laughter no mother % watch them
with a fear 9i pleasure 90 Der csc, nor
hihcE whose
"hnsl tbag eisut-.l t.c cnsicitilst1 share. p.
Add be termed uiih q melancholy
heart and lcn the SPOT And though
tht Gao harily be said % have gwen
BIN pleasure. be- determined 10 make
periodical pilgrimage fo ihbhailowed
T'acc
lle took lodgings in Ness York and
visited ihe aacrrf ground periodically
At ono fire uhro be- naf on his w8g
Dr. relied uron fl Hau o. acrar