Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-10-01
Ca; fCrnia and IFS Gold.

vi lllG bulu dllu wv
rocks gave back the sound. The waters
rolled on, the mist was upon the breast of
the mountain, the dews thickened upon
the cOds in the valley, the shadOwy man f.
tie of night slowly enveloPeG the earth,
and the wilderness was still. The glare
of torch cleaned on the points of the
letting rocks, ruddy light fringed the
sombre branches of the pine, the tall spiral
bamboos, like a serted line of martial
spears, shone in the ruddy blaze OF the
torch, and the solitude of the wilderness
was disturbed by the footsteps of man.
He stood The waters of the dark
river rolled at his feet, and the numbcrleSs
bubbles, like the schemes of giddy NOR
tails, glistened for moment and vanished.
But there was gleam upon the margin
of that river, there was point upon the
edge of that rock which glistened in the
raw of the wanderers torch. 1t was no
transient bubble that flashed so fascinating
! lv before his eyes: II was no lonely
glow-worm that freshened and frightened
as the light fell stronger upon it; no |! and
the wanderer stopped 10 gaze, and his
ewes sparkled from beneath the shade OF
his shaggy eyebrows, his moustache curled
as his mouth assumed an expression of
Iioy. He looked around and laughed
fearful laugh, till the depths of the forest
rung, and the deer and the bright-eyed
gazelIe started from the covert, and sped
across the glade.
He stopped again and gazed, and his
hand cIutched the earth; twas no dream!
thousand spangIes fell from his fingers,
and he hOarsely murmured, " Gold "
The forest, the valley reverberated 'GoldH
and the far-ofr mountains re-echoed the
same sound.
Twas a small city, far away wrapt in
profound slumber; the ring Of tie wood
mans axe had ceased, the watchdog
barked not IN that Silly hour; the laugh
of merriment was heard; no beckoning
taper shone from open easement in the
line Of dark green trees studding the way
side; no mufiled watch took his solitary
round no Grape masked assassin lurked
with poisoned poniard beneath the shade
the heavy cypress. Twas calm, sweet
undsturbed repose, the hour of slumber
for the labourer, of rest for the weary. A
cry went through that city, the air trem-
bIed with sounds, the shadOWy leaves Of
the cypress ruslled with the breeze, still
ness in a moment fled, the chained watch.
dog barked, torches glimmered through
the trees, and passing voice rapidly said
- Gold I'--echo said gold I" Twas
borne upon the breeze, "gold 4" Every
ear caught the sound, every heart gave
response, and a thousand voices uttered
- gold !" Every house became deserted;
there was rush from that city: old and
young mingled in the race, and a cry
arose, Forward - and the distance gave
the sound " Gold!"
The morrow dawned; empty was that
city and still; no sound save the signing
rill and the murmuring trees; no music
in the cot no axe on the pine; no mai
den at the well no farmer at the plough
gone all gone deserted and lone.
The wilderness had awakened to the
voices of men, prairies deserted and wild,
which for ages had scarce been trodden
by the footof man, became highways for
the many. Through the rank grass the
feet of the stranger had worn path, the
thick bush and the forest were lelcd by
the axe of the pioneer, the wild cat fed
before the voice Of man, and the alarmed
buffalo plunged amid the densiiies Of the
distant cane-brake.
The waters of the great river rolled on,
the eagle screamed from her eyre at the
invader, the cato mountain gIared fierce
Ily, and the wilderness lrembled and shook
with the cry of " Gold !" and ten thou
sand echoes repeated the frantic cry.
A scream came over the drowsy, un-
dulalng waters OF the bay, and the young
waves awoke and shouted, aud bore iton;
and the bright-cresled pillows caught the
prevailing sound. And the distant foods
of the mighty ocean were startled with the
tumulr, and angrily mulered "Gold -
and the sea-foam dashed .furiously By,
murmuring - Gold !" the mighty thun-.
der caught the sound, and, dashing on
ward amid the startled clements, rumbling
over the scattered isles Of the ocean, re-
pealed the universal shout.
And the people Of the earth aroused,
their hearts beating rapidly, their eyes
flashing with unwonted briIliancy, their
cheeks glowing with ardour, their lips
quivering, and their tongues falieringIy
breathing g Goldr" and all things gave
response. A thousand barks left the
shores Of The ocean. The sails filled and
groaned, the cordage strained, the masls
creaked and bent forward, and the stately
ships plunged and bounded on for there
was belt Of gold on the brow Of the hor.
izon, there was Jewel upon Lhe breast of