Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-16
y %ag.eAAsZt4 AeT4.
30, -s.SA $S.
TSDssS,s:, { I 10 \ VIZ
~ 3SsS>SN1VS
POE 7 R Y {.
The Old Dominion.

| BY MARGARET JUNKIN.
Ho! gallant Old Dominion hail thee as the State,
vi all our thirty commonwealths, most proudly conse
My pulse beats quicker feel my feet spon the sod,
Which nurturcd men of giant mind, which true bors
heroes trod;
Where mid primsval forests rich in hses of varied
The noble Raleigh planted FIRST the standard of his
Queen.
When all the "old thirteen, extended Brtan's
SWAY,
The high romantic chvalry that marked thy gentler
blood,
Made thy forbearance virtue seem, and kept allegiance
good;
But when thy nature once wa, roused thy most heroic
sPurned in its consciousness of might
control
With generous heart thou ddt obey thy counrys ral
lying call,
And pledge thyself, for her dear sake, to sacrifice
thine all
Tho others laid with zeal as true their offerings on
the shrine,
No gift was found consccrate-so rich-so pure,
thine;
With Spartan matrons hope and pride, thou broaghtst
thy noblcSt son,
And gav'st Freedoms righteous cause thy glorious
Washington
Virginia DraVc virginia happy mother thOu!
Whose childrcn's fame will ever shed, spcndor
roand thy brow;
The thrilling words of eloquence that Henrys fervor
flung,
The simple majesty ofthought, that flowed from Mar
shall's tongue,
The force and skill political, which Jefferson could
show,
The craftsmanship of Madison, the wisdom Of Monroe
The biting sting of Randolphs wit, the machIess grace
of Writ,
An Alcxauder's zeal that leaves no energy inert
The saint like piety of Ricc-McDowelps wealth of
The pure and classic mind of Ryes, with lore SO varied
fraught:
Oh! where, from Maine to Florida, from East to West
ern bound,
Can such shining galaxy, Of brilliant names be found
And Nature too has lowered thee, the avorte of the
band,
And scattered beauties everywhere with most unspar-
ing hand:
The mountain tops seea where'er turn nay
eye,
And stretched between in loycliness the shadowirg
yallies lie;
in Alpine grandeur Oters Peaks uprear their lofty
forms,
And sereneiy looking down summers passing storms.
Afar among by slipping hills, clear springs bubbling
Egeras fountain caped no; up as freshly 10 the sight
Here Health, the y-lpp'd and free, with fair and
laushiss eye;
Is wooed and beside the streams that flash in beau
ty by;
She hath loving for the woods, and for the rarubles
Wild
That give to her the buoyaney of delighted child.
And woaders too hercan arch, proporionate, sub
lime,
Unworn by wearing centuries commensurate with
time;
4 structure most significant vast stupsndous span
That itself as il TO mock the aims Of puny
Oae ouly Such all the world aai that upon thy sod,
Thou avarcd land-oae only bridge, whose architect
was God!
But now from all these glowing scenes, my thoughts
retain again,
With fial reverence to thee dear sylvan land of
Pcau
Thou canst boast Thousand charms that make thy
vallics bright.
Der which affection sweetly pours flood of golden
light:
Thy shaded homes lie lovingly by many sparkling
stream,
Thy rivers mountains. fields aud groves, how bcaut
tul they seem!
Beside virginia's would place thy justly honored
name,
And claim equality for thee, upon the scroll offame
But, while with admiration deep, humby dedicate
A neart Of jealous loyalty to my adopted State,
Yet 10 all my earliest love, still will turn again.
With ondler feelings far TO you, oh sylvan shades OF
Penn