Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-30
than the humble one from which poor Ste


waiting the result, or no result OF their re
turn. The northwest wind was still BLOWN
the air chill and damp, and flakes of sno'
descending all day, and melting on the col
ground. Companies on horseback cam
and went. Express riders from the regio
fthe search fastened home and returned
but all day no intelligence ofStephen Basey
The mountain sides were explored to it
bleak summit, and for miles along. Ono
more night, cold and damp, darkened tn
village of New Baltimore and the distress
ed home of the Baseys, having brought n
tidings of poor Stephen. :.
The morning came of the third day, wit
all its subdued hustle, and sympathy. TIL
village families were generally at breakfast
In every house but one subject was spokel
of-when messenger came on hurrie'
horse and said, 'Sirphrn is fonnd A far
mer on the opposite side of the mountain
whose field extended up the mountain side
had passed with others, in the search alon
the path behind his outer fence, andon tn
steep and sdeling ascent they came t
where the boy lay with his face downward
upon the leaves, stiff and cold.
The messenger had fastened to the vii
lage in advance of the bearers, who hat
bound mattrass upon two poles, and bore
the poor idiots corpse, laid ont upon it.
These soon appeared along the road where
it enters the village, and thus they brough
to his weeping parents their lost idiot boy
The scouts all came home during the day
The village was all quiet and sad, and a
evening drew on, poor Stephens cold re
mains were let down into their resting place
in the new, untenanted graveyard, as we
have said.
And how, must an idiot die without one
word being said2 Has he nothing to d(
with religion and has religion nothing t.
say about him? Yes, one thing at least
His case is one of the mysteries of tht
Heavens. A voice that is frl,-not heart
says over the idiots grave, "What l dt
thoa knowest not now, thou shalt know
hereafter"
One thing more: The poor dead and bu
ried idiot shall rise from the dead, and stanc
present when those who were kind to ham
and those were cruel to him are Judged
Idiots have father in heaven, in whose bo'
som is the kindest of all hearts in the uni
verse. 1t is the purest kindness in tba
heart which says, vengeance is mine,
will repay" Just the same which says in
telligibly in the thoughts of all hearts, "Thi:
child is mine: your kindness to him shall
in no case lose its reward?" How few o.
us are as grateful as we should be, that we
were not born idiots How few of us pa
rents are as grateful as we should be, that
our children were not born idiots What
great thing it is, that there is such God IN
Heaven who will know what to DO with
those cases concerning which his revelation
to us says nothing; who will dispose ofthose
cases in such manner as to illustrate in them
also his all perfect nature, and command the
approval of the whole universe.
And finally, how many there are on earth
who live and die, entering the eternal world
in such manner and with such preparation,
or want of preparation, that it had been well
for them had they been born idiots. To be
an idiot and perish in an April snow storm
on the mountains, at night, and alone, Is
not the worst thing that can befall a human
being Christian Observer.
DESPAIR THE FAsHIoN.-Amedee Archard,
the piquant correspondent of the Courier
des Etats-Unis, prefaces one of his recent
letters with the announcement that it is "all
the rage" for ladies in Paris, just aow, to
wear the manner and air of the profoundest
melancholy. Like all fashions, of course At
is best suited to certain physiognomies, ,and
Blondes are found to be delicious with nc
hope left-utterly disconsolate. A great
writer has said, despair is but one step be-
fore consolation" however, so the gentle-
men provide, as before, for such matters as
the ladies enjoy.
That particular expression of the face
should be the fashion, is one of the novel
ties of these electric times, but so it Is
Willis, of the Home Journal, says that it is
odd how few of the fashionable women do
it well, however. A profound coquette is
the only one who can succeed at 1t. Ihe
muscles of the face get fatigued, and the
turned down corners Of the mouth become
stiff, with several hours of unmitigated de-
lection. The charm of it is the relief OF
iavIng it off with bracelets and earrings: and
husbands profit by the fashion-the change
which repose requires, on getting home, be-
ag from moping to smiles, not from smiles
to moping.
THE WAC OF THE CABINET.-The jour
nal of Commerce publishes the following: