Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-11-16
MARTINsBURG Va WEDNESDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER ls 1858


Of regret. Hospitality, that vulcan Of for
eign cline, had forged a chain Of very pleas
ant recollections, and memory, BY cds5eSued
process of comparison Of thought witle the
present, rendered that chain, though ipitself
a light burden, a never failing souvenir II cur
cruise. The last scene in my PaytisNerem-
iniscences is one essentially comic, and as a
good laugh is to the body what ray Of sun
shine is to the chilled flower, / cannat omit
the incident here. 1t was our lastkiay in
Payta, as we judged by the arriTa of the
Signal Goat a title given to herable
specimen of the gems 'capra,' which usually
rusticated ashore while we were lying port,
and was brought on board on the sday Of sail
ing. Rising early, I jumped into market
boat, to have a farewell jaunt throu{ 81 Payta
passing through that miniature libel, the
Plaza, | was attracted by the sound of an
unusual noise, towards the stall of an old
madre; drawing nearer, ] found itproceeded
from the fact that one Of the boats crew, Ia
green hand, and as lively son of the Emer-
aid Isle as ever supped Goats milk j wished
to enquire of the old lady, if she had any
chickens, and not being quite as proficient in
the Castilian tongue as might be, he commen-
ced growing must Justify But alas for
feminine understanding. The only idea con-
veyed by this novel method of transmitting
ideas, was that he was either drunk or crazy.
sMusha, bad luck to yer stoopidity But
and bright idea seemed to strike him.
smay be the crathurs don't crow in this co1n-
thry > and acting upon this thought he com
menced cackling as the hen collects her brood;
but no more success attended this effort than
the first. Mike was in despair, but CHANGING
to espy me, he requested me for the Glove o.
God," to tell the woman what he wanted,
ssfor," said he, sthese furriners are so stoopid
they don't know the cluck of hen, let alone
the Anglish language" relieved his en-
barrassment by explaining matters, at which
the old lady laughed SO heartily, that be-
gan to fear she would rouse Mixes anger,
but the good-natured fellow, instead of be-
coming choieric, after indulging in few
characteristic blessings about the ssfurriners"
continued his purchases with his wonted good
humor.
Aswc neared the ship, returning from the
shore,the shrill pipe of the Boat'swain greeted
our ears, Immediately followed by the hoarse
call O" call hands bend sail, }" and by evening,
a light breeze favoring, We stripped anchor
and stood out to sea. Many s'last, long,
lingering look" was cast back as the land
gradually receded from view. That night
was one of those cool, clear, and superbly
beautiful nights peculiar to those ATTITUDES.
Fair Luna looked not down upon the earth,
but remained sbehind the scenes" reviewing,
| suppose the mirror of planetary system UNI
~tilulate, when, to judge from the sportive
1t seemed to be going on among the
bodies, she left, Iprcsume, to Wis
it one for he blushed very deeply the
following morning. Never have seen such
continued succession of meteors in all parts
of the spanglcd conopy there seemed to be
one congenial strain and, as through strip
ping the light fantastic toe" to aolian mea-
sures, (alias, old Borea's sighs,) quadrille,
or most probably Celestial Virginia reel,
was expected.
And as each brilliant meteor shot across
the star-spangled vault, methought twas a
| type of human life. Now one would shine
forth with glazing splendor, compared to
which, its former light was darkness; it
would run it's course with lightning speed,
leaving behind not trace Of former existence
save the contrast that deepened the darkness.
Then another would try, and though beauti-
full it but served to render the success of the
first more glorious and again another would
essay, but futilely, bearing lingering light,
as though 10th to expire, and willing to be
content, if restored to it's former, humber
lot. Sic transit gloria mundi
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