Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-01


Even this pleasing day-dream did moi
last. | awoke to new world Of gratifca
tion--wiih new impulses, new motives and
new resolves. The boy verged to the bor-
ders Of manhood. He became ambitious
to scale the Parnassion mount, to rove the
amaranthian fields, and explore the wells
of living truth. was no longer the wild
then the dreaming boy, but the sedate
and attentive student. | entered college
sought the prizes-easily Won them.-
Others had the advantage of me in the a.
cademic race-in the start, | mean-but
they lacked energy and fire, and soul and
ambition. Study was drudgery with
them. Not so with me. had persever-
ance, quick perception, and devoured lit
erary food with keen avidity. It was home
ly at first-then savory-and finally deli
cous to the intellectual palate. 1t was no
marvel, then, that thwarted my compeers,
and came forth victor Yet was called
a rare genius What is geRius? 1t is a
term to catch fools The phrase may i'm
port something, but to me the word was ca
balistic beyondmy devinaiion. say came
forth the victor in the academic race. The
professors predicted great things in my
destiny. | was still a mere boy. Sixteen
summers had not taken the primordial
down from my face-and these sages pre-
sumed to read my path Of life! Simple
men What knew they Of the DEGREES Of
fate Can man circumvent his stars, and
rough hew his way to immortality without
their glimmering light! Jupiter and Mars,
and Mercury and Venus, hcralded by the
blazing meteors, ruled my nativity; and as
they have since rushed through the hea-
vens, so have been whirled round in the
wild waltz of this terrestrial existence
Again there was a revolution in my
wheel of fortune. The cry of war was
heard through the land and the shIill cari-
on and rolling drum called the inhabitants
to arms. Irushed forth from the academic
haunts to the fields Of blood and iamel |
enlisted under the banner Of the great
General-that chivalric leader from the
iar-iamed Emerald Islo"-and soon was
promoted to high rank by his side. Our
army was small i'll number, but iEvincible
in daring. We swept through the track
less desert, and reached the walls of the
cnemy's city. The conflict was terrible.
Blood flowed like water Our leader was
cut down in the thick fight, and dismay
followed the disaster.
Those who were spared of our gallant
little band, returned to their homes, and
were disbanded. had become attached
to the soldiers life. The solemn tramp of
armed men--thc neighing ofthc war-horse
the terrible roar Of artillery-and the
spirit-stirring music Of the drum and bugle,
with the clash ofarms and the black smoke
Of deadly battle-oh, these thrilled on eve
ry nerve, electrified the soul, and kindled
the fires Of sublimest patriotism. | loved
my country more than life, and resolved
to spill the rich crimson of my veins, were
it necessary, in defence ofmy native land,
from foreign and murderous oppression
| entered the family Of him whose home
was by the broad waters ofthe Potomac
even in the tent of the Mighty Chicftain
whom men loved to reverence as the
"wisest and best" That good man then
hugged a viper to his bosoml 1t would
have struck the envenomed fang to the
heart that warmed it to glorious Vitality
His bosom was shielded by the breast plate
Of imperishable virtues. The poison of
calumny produced no mischief. No moral
death could result to him! | was the
heartless ngrate-hkewise the fooll
For time, was CALLED by my banish-
mcnt from the presence of the great hero;
but at length went forth and sought the
home of the Wolf-Hunter of the north He
received me warmly, with true nobleness
of soul. | told him my story Of fabricated
wrongs. He listened attentvely, but re-
garded with caution my burning words Of
slanderl He was man of sterling integ-
rity, of truth and justice. He despiscd the
traducer, and abhorred! | was both! l
could not long remain beneath the veterans
roof. Truth and falsehood-honor and
dishonor, havcabiding fellowship Invent
forth in shamcl
From the time quilted college | ever
worshipped in the temples of Bacchus and
PIiapus. | gave myself up freely to lust
and wine. Iroamed the gardens of inno-
cence and purity, and rudely seized the
flowrets of virtue to cast them down, des-
poiled, at my feet! OH oft have I return
ed to my home from night Of dcbauch,
with soul maddened by the fires of infer
nal passion-with brain distempered by
the strong red juice of perdition Body
and soul were rapidly consuming before
the fierce fame Of unholy desire, yet | re-
turned again and again to those haunfs of
moral desolation. | gloried in my profit
gacies! Whatto me was the worlds cen
sure? What cared for the scorn Of good
and Christian men? Heaven gave me fine
limbs, pleasing looks, great health, and ma
ny accomplishments. Lucifer, the Son Of
the Morning, was highly gifted. He fell!
So didU
Again there came change upon my be-
ing. | dreamed sweet dream of bliss
In my wild wanderings through the gay
parterrc of female loveliness, | found
blossom which dazzledmy fancy, and gave
forth the purest fragrance. 1t hourished
high beyond my reach. sought to
pluck 1t, but could notl 1t instinctively
shrank back from the spoilers pollution,
and immaculate chastity shielded it from
dishonorl ButI was not to be balfledl-
At length l assumed the garb of sanctity
came forth again to the Eden Of love to
tempt and destroy-but returned with pur-
poses changed-for purity and honor tri-
umphed over the bascr attributes Of my
breast L had secured the prize of my
heart!
That beautiful woman became nv wifei
We We're one in holicst, truthful affection.
She was divinity sent to reclaim my wan
dering feet back to the elysian fields of Joy
and peace. In her l was blessed But
brief was that hour of blissl Two annual
suns had only revolved since our nuptial,
when Heaven sent swift messenger to
bring back that seraph to those bright .man-
/ sinr,r ,tnr,.n1 ~, Lsrn.lN, DL