Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-09-23
MIDNIGHT MUSINGS OF AN
AGED MAN.
,.Then drilE nth TIE merry though NC 17'iAt cie'
Like beauty'5 tear veil fan;
We have lived in the lEGs 81 Z loFea oHs tSS'

/ All Is over now a litt'S "''+a~
slis weary head will be resting in the silent 6o-
som of fresh made grave
Be still oh , my broken heart and ponder on
thy coming fate Look well before thee ana
have a care for the darkness which viii soon wrap
4 thee forever in a never ending sleep.
What has been thy life, my soul: Let us
/ wander back to the sunny days of our gladstone
youth, and from the green hills of those 0lden
times Iook back with steady gaze upon the path
wav we have trodden thus far on our journey to
1 the grave.
Dost remember, oh my soul, those golden
/ hours we knew beyond the mountains blue,
where our childish feet first trod in joe and glee
THE longest day in hope and happiness away
Can we not see the dear littekhouse that stood
upon the hillside, like an angel OF hope, bidding
us forever welcome, and sheltering beneath it's
green branches and flowing vines ourlitt!e heart
/ through every cloudy day and burning noon:
/. Let us look a: it again. The old railing still
clings in our memory around the yard, 50 gently
stealing down to the roadside, and the white
cottage strives in vain TO hide itself behind the
beautiful trees. We pass through the swinging
gate, that opens wide to bid us welcome, and
slowly wander up the messy pathway to ar
home.
There comes gentle form to greet US, and
little hand is placed within our own, and dear
kiss falls like an angels touch upon our burn
ing lips We stand beneath The vine-clad roof,
and look down the garden walks TO the silver
creek that wanders gladly towards its ocean
home. We listen to the music of its bubbling
waves, that gaiy leap into each others arms,
and sing aloud for very joy, as they lift their
sunny faces to the blue heavens above.
On the other side, there stands an old-timed
mill, whose tireless wheels keep turning round,
to the melody of theiroWNp murmering thoughts.
How that old mill comes looming on now. In
those golden days, we have sat and looked
upon its wonderous works until the earth seem
ed glorious place: and the highest hopes of
our youthful life were quickened into passion
by the unceasing music of its clacking wheels.
Heaven be praised! we knew not then how
like mill all human lives were doomed to be.
we knew not then that ike fresh mown wheat
all men are thrown into the great cistern of the
world, to be drawn slowly uD by the elevators
of ambition to the garnet OF fame, only to be
dropped piece by piece into the burs of passion,
and ground at last into rnortaity's dust and laid
away forever in the plain hoped barrel of
grave, for the worms to feed upon.
Alas! we looked upon the old mill with young
and untutered eyes. watchedi its wellw
water wheels, and hoped like them to turn on
and on through all the summer days of life, and
never know pause until the ice of death should
bid US stop forever. And even then it would
be sweet to think, that the sunlight Of tame
should be reflected from our honored grave,
even as our young eyes we're drZzled by the
light that fell upon the ice-bound water wheels.
Behind the cottage there grew nm old timed
forest of pines. When the sun shone too warm
lily down, we used to wander away to the shade
of those dear old trees and in the gloom of their
wide spreading branches dreamaway such hours
iof quiet peace as may never come TO our weary
heart again. And twas there used to meet
our first childish love.
And though sixty yeps with all their weight
of JOY and grief have been pressing on us, yet
can we sec her IN beauty still before US. What
little lovers VIC were, and yet how constant
Together all the day, and when night came on
how 10th to sever. And how full of faith were
all our evening prayers for each other. How,
when the hour for retiring came knocking on
the soft toned bell Of the massive clock, we used
to steal out upon the porch, and with no eyes
but the stars to watch us, press closely to each
Others breast, and kiss softly sweet good
night
Alas. our dear little Fanny, it had been better
had'st thou never never left us, for then perhaps
death would not have taken thee away from
earth so soon. And yet why should we regret
IL? Thou art in heaven, child, and there can be
no place better than heaven. We shall never
forget thee, thou little dream of our little heart.
And we feel tonight that thy arms are about
our neck, and thy gentle voice whispering Of
hope.
Obi it was sad hour when we gave thee up.
a sadder one we never knew, young as was our
life in those by gone hours, We see thee now
upon that little couch, with thy silken curls
pressed bacl; upon thy sweet, pale face, and hear
the heavy breathing of thy suffering bosom, and
listen now to thy sweet words of holy faith
We feel the silent pressure of that little faded
hand, and hear thee call us thy dearest love
again.
Jhey VINO stooa Win weeping eyes irouilo
thy couch, knew not of the darkness in our
heart nor felt how much of agony had grown
within our souls to think of parting. They
knew not how gladly both would have died, nor
felt how rnadly we children had loved, Alas!
through the vista of three score years we see
the agony of that never to be forgotten hour
looming up in terror before us. Woshnll never
forget thee, Fonnyl And though our life has
been full of grief and care. thy dear image has
ever been floating in beauty before US.
We could talk of thee forever, our angel love;
our first sunshine came in thy voice and form
and love; and the first grief of our heart was