Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-11-14
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channel below, looking up with awc TO
tho vast arch Of unhewn rocks, with the
almighty bridge over these everlasting
abutmsnts, whom the morning stars sang
together. Tho little piece Of sky span.
ming those neasurless piers, 10 fun Of
stars although Il ii midday. Il is al
most Eve hundred feet from where they
stand, up these perpendicular bulwarks
Of limestone, 70 the key rock Of the vast
srch. which appears to them only the
size Of . mans hand. The silence Of
death Ii rendered moro impressive BY the
little stream that falls from rock 70 rock
down the channel. The sun is darkened,
! and the boys have unconsciously uncoy.
cred their heads, as il standing in the
presence chamber Of the Majesty Of the
whole earth. AT last this feeling begins
to wear away; they begin to look around
them. They see the names Of hundreds
cut in the limestone abutments. a new
feeling comes over their hearts, and their
knives arc in hand in an instant. ".What
man has done man can do" is tho watch
word, while they draw themselves up and
: carve their names a foot above those Of a
hundred fail-grown men who had been
there before them. r 4. " =
They are satisfied with this feat Of
physical exertion,, except one, whose ex-
ample illustrates perfectly the forgotten
truth, that there ii no royal road to intel
lectual eminches. This ambitious youth
sces a name just above his reach, name
that shall be green in tho memory Of the
world, when those OF Alexander, Caesar,
and Bonaparte, shall rot in oblivion. 1t
= was the name Of Washington. Beforehe
marched with Braddock to the fatal field,
he had been there and left his name foot
above all his predecessors. 1t was a glo-
rious thoughtFofa boy 70 write his name
side BY side with that Of the great father
Of his country. He grasps his knife with
a firm hand-and clinging to a little jut.
ting crag, he cuts into the limestone,
about foot above where he stands; but
~ he puts his feet and hands into those
gains, and draws himself carefully to his
full length, she finds himself foot above
every name chronicled il that mighty
wall. While his companions are regard.
ing him with concern and admiration, he
cuts his name in huge capitals, large and
deep into the finty album. His knife Is
still in his hand, and strength in his sin.
ews, a new created aspiration in his
heart. f FEf.. >f.l '=.* ,ss
Agrin he cuts another niche, and again
he caryes his name in large capitals. This
y not enough Needless Of the entreatiess
81 his companions, he cuts and climbs
again. The graduation of his ascending
scale grow wider apart He measures
his length at every gain he cuts. The
; voices Of his friends grow weaker, till
their words are finally lost on his ear
lie now, for the first time, cast look be.
meath him. Had that glance lasted mo.
lnent, that moment would have been his
t last. He elings with aconyulsiye shud.
der 70 this little niche in tho rock. An
awful abyss awaits his almost certain fall:
He is faint with severe exertion, and
trembling from the sudden view Of the
dreadful destructioh to which he is ex.
posed. His knife is worn half way to the
hiatt. He can hear the voices but not the
words Of his terrow stricken companions
below. What meagre chance to escape
destruction. There is no retracing his
steps. 1t is impossible to put his hands
into the same niche with his feet, and re.
tain his hold moment: His companions
instantly perceived this new and fearful
dilemma, and await his fall with emotions
that freeze their young blood" He is
TOO high, too faint, 70 ask for his father
and mother, his brothers and sisters, to
Come and witness or avert his destruc-
ton. But one Of his companions antici.
pate his desire. Swift as the wind he
bounds down tho channel, and the fatal
situation is told upon his fathers hearth
stone.
Minutes Of almost eternal length roll on,
and there were hundreds standing in the
rocky channel, and hundreds on The ridge
above, all holding their breath and await.
ing that fearful catastrophy. The poor
boy hears the hum Of new and numerous
voices, both above and below. He can
just distinguish the tones Of his fathers
voice, who is shouting with all the energy
Of despair-"Williami William! Don't
look down. Your mother, and Henry,
and Harriet, are oil here praying for YOU.
Don't look down: Keep your eyes to-
ward the top"
The boy didn't look down-his ewes
are fixed Ikea flint toward heaven, and
his vOiln0 haarf -, HI. - -. - Il