The southern press., 1851-09-08
Snmmer Sketchcs.--No. IG.
BY MARY }. WINDLE.

SnANsoEDALE SPRINGS Va. Sept 2.
1t is with sad heart that we sit down to-
night TO write our closing sketch. BY one OF
those sudden changes peculiar to the climate
here it has become quite cool; the chilly even
ings have fairly commenced, and in the night
air, there Is damp chill quite different from our
evenings at home. At least such has been our
experience, and tomorrow we must assume the
melancholy of farewell. 1t is with actual sor-
row that we do so so much has the memories OF
the many delightful hours spent here attached
us to it.
How often will Shannondale with it's moon
light and sunset scenes, rise freshly and dis
tincty in memory when we shall have been long
absent from them! How often will we hear in
fancy, we now do in reality, the fall of the
waters of he Shenandoah. We have taken a
last look at the "Blue RIDGE" and there is an
intensity about their color to-day that is lovely
and solemn beyond anything we ever saw BY
the depth of their beauty and repose, they re-
mind us that beneath the surface of this weary
existence there is another world-another and
an enduring life--imaged in those exquisite
tints, which, in their dumb eloquence, seem to
say
'The hand that made us is Divine"
There is always degree of sadness in the
idea that we are looking upon an object for the
last time, though it may in itself possess few at
fractions, and be incapable of exciting deep
and lasting inter &
Sweet, sweet spot with warm tears filing
our eyes we bid you adieu.
| Farewell, we blessed hills my ling ring look
O'er the bright water, and the brighter fields,
Floats restessly, and fixes on your tops,
Where in one luminous line we touch the sky.
The rose of dawn blooms first upon your tops;
And the last fushes Of dying day
Yet linger there when all the vale is dark.
Ye rest in golden light many moon
When all the homes of men are wrapt in mist;
And ON your SUBMITS spendeth many night
All of its beauty and its purity,
When the bright moon and all the starry world
Become the gems of your unshaded crown,
Then well ye may proudly curve along
Ye seem to me so like breathing thing,
Forever dwelling between earth and sky,
Whose beautiful repose Oft I've watched
And felt living sympathy, that
Vast is the vacancy your absence leaves;
And greater far the tear that needs will start
On many a morn, because ye shall not be
10 give your holy welcome to mine eye.
Methinks that | can boast Of deeper ioy
And grander thoughts, since have known to live
And look upon you, that louder strain
Swels in my heart, caught from the ceaseess song,
The loud, glad song of your bright water fal,s
But now away wander; yet again
hope to come to love you better STILL
So for will | hush the lays
That move within my breast, and long to burst
To life and being in the world of song
A thousand throngins memories do make
| Your beauty yet more beautiful to me
And they will hallow every spot, and bathe
You in their floods of tenderness and ov.
Then hear the word, we wondrous hills May He
Who filled you with so deep bliss attend
| My simple prayer, that never may t'le time
| So sad ming resch n1e fhaf ha
Unutterable joy to sing of you.
The confusion incident on our departure was
most amusing and as our party was most nu-
merous one, we were stirring by o'clock in the
morning. Servants were shouting about bag
gage, nurses and waiting maids were scheming
in defence of band boxes, and the boarders were
looking on and favosing us with their comments.
The breakfast was dull enough, for there are
few things more dreary than a leave taking Our
luggage was at last collected and arranged. and
we were all ready to depart, and, after the me-
cessary ceremonies had been gone through we
took possession of stage, drawn by trio of
horses, and soon left Shannondalein the distance
We must not omit to make favorable mention
of the servants in this establishment; indeed
how impossible does it appear to forget al such
a time those who have contributed to our comfort
and pleasure. From the dignihed "head waiter"
who had stood at the head of the immense table,
to the smiling little African, who was ever ready
to wait upon the ladies', there was not one
among them to whom we had not on some oc-
casion been indebted for those rude, but ready
courtesies which, however insignificant in them
selves, are valuable to the recipient.
And now, dear reader, farewell We have,
in hasty and imperfect manner, given you
faint picture of things as they exist at oneof the
most lovely watering places in Virginia. If we
have soothed weary hour from suffering to for
getiulness-if we have brought smile to lips
where smiles had grown strangers-if we have
revived in hearts the world had withered the
freshness of lifes better days, gratefully do we
acknowledge our satisfaction and pleasure and
when another Frightening summer shall invite
its approach with flowery fingers and bursting
roses, our voice may again reach you in your
beautiful Southern homes