The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-08-21
Por The Southern Press.
Summer Skctches.--N0. 10.

| by MARY }. WlNpLE-
SHANNoNDALE SPRINGS, Va, August 10.
Beauty smiles up from the earth--beauty
bends TO us from the bright sky--beauty, a de-
licous, all-pervading kind of beauty, shines out
upon us everywhere. 1t is not day to be
wasted indoors, when the balmy air, the warm
sky, and the quivering life-fuil foliage, are all
wooing without, and we have no hot pavements
here to flash back the light into our faces, or
cramped up streets, where the air IS stliied into
sickness before it meets US.
| The trees rear for us rare canopy on the
banks of the Shenandoah, and have magic in
their shade which is quite irresistible. SO this
morning, we sauntered, dreamily, down the
river, with delicious sense of pleasure steal
ing over u.s. At each pressure upon the yield
ing carpet, the grass gave out cool fresh scent,
like gush of incense waited by the hand OF
nature, in homage to her God.
| Passing through the gate, at the foot OF the
lawn, we walked along the banks OF the Shen-
ondoah, which ran in broken, unquet course,
struggling through the stones, foaming gurg
| ling as it went. Here, when we had wandered
indolently, about half mile from the house,
we found a sense of deep solitude in the shade
of unmoested trees, and in the singing of birds,
for which that shade made home.
Among the rocks we found a sheltered seat,
where we sat listening to the gurgling of the
water, and watching the sun break through the
foliage above in little gushes of light, which
quivered as they fell and vanished, and, came
again, as c)quettshly as the humming- bird,
which frolicked gracefully with the blossoms
around, until we began to suspect it quite time
to return to breakfast. We would go, for there
was pretty silvery tinkle just ahead. The sill
ver-voiced musician was a little spring which
was bubbling up quite gayly from the bottom
of chasm.
1t was pleasant to sit and look at these calm,
lovely objects from our shaded seat, with the
air around us, fragrant with wild flowers, and
the summer insects darting to and fro, like
Jewels in the warm sunshine.
We were rising to go away, when sound
like footstep made us pause. We looked in
the direction of the sound but our view was
partially INSTRUCTED by wild bush and having
much of that curiosity which is so universally
imputed to the daughters of Eve, we raised our
head above it, and saw gentleman approach
| ing with lady leaning on his arm. Not caring
| to be found there alone, we had just time to
gain the shelter of a large tree, when they came
towards the very spot which we had occupied
The gentleman walked slowly, and his head
was bent towards his companion who moved
with her eyes cast down, and evidently some-
what embarrassed for the folds of her white
morning dress, which for a time, had been
gathered up in her disengaged hand escaped
from its hold, and was now sweeping the dew
from the grass quite unheeded.
She was slender and grlish in her appearance,
and there was delicate beauty in the bend of
her white neck, and the pure white forehead
upon which the light fell broadly. There must
have been something pleasant, az well as EN-.
IF h.,r
f for her deep violet eyes, though fixed upon the
grass, glowed beneath their fringes, and q
smile trembled over her mouth The earnest
melody of his voice as he dsappeared-the
{ graceful and pleading attitude--the very bend
of his head--revealed heart history.
We walked on in sort Of reverie, until we
were suddenly recalled to our sober senses, by
the bell summoning US TO breakfast. And such
a breakfast Never were venlson steakes like
those; no bread so white, so light, so sweet,
so palatable. During the repast, the soft eyes
of lovely girl frequently turned on us, and
there was such peculiar attraction in their deep
light, that ours invariably met them. She had,
evidently, seen my receding figure on the walk
an hour before. There was a little blushing on
her side, and resolution on may part not to
stumble on lovers again.
We are desired to correct an erroneous i'm
preston which exists relative to the wedding
ceremony at Harpers Ferry. There were no in
pitotions issued whatever, though the church
ceremony rendered it open to all who chose,
voluntarily, to be present. Major Tochman and
lady having a numerous circle of todrm, per-
sonal, friends in Washington--many of whom,
arc now out of the city--it was thought adj
visable TO have the wedding strictly private, as
far as the omission of formal invitations could
make it.
We regret to record The departure Of Mr.
C and his family, of Philadelphia, whose
interesting daughters have been emphatically
the bellies of Snanondale. Their engaging APP
pearance and lovely manners have won the ad-
miration of all who are capable of appreciating
that sweetness of temper which constitutes the
charm of social life at watering place.