Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1856-05-10
EO4g18 y 81 5GA450Ma
For the Register.
The Village Bell.

J For the Register.
The Village Bell.
The new bell in the new church in the
new village rings gaily--lor youth OF
twenty is leading his bride 10 tie altar
over az aisle soft TO the tread With heaps
of summer roses. He is best at a song
best in The dance-best at his business
always busy and always happy, he is a
favorlte. SO friends srew flowers, where
Fortune will strew gold in coming years.
But brightest of all are he roses on the
maiden's cheek and they will not fade Like
friendships wreaIhs. Il would hve al
ways - is.the song of the bridegroom ;
souI-and the bell seems to say "Amen.
Twenty years later-and the village
bell rings softly, FOX a harsher note might
| Jar the delicate frame that Is lad IN the
altar. Pale roses are on her breast, but
not so pale as the alabaSter check. Moth
ing bright like the autumn sum Is there,
save the golden light of her curls that are
now unbound. Ivy is cIlnging 10 the
church tower, "a score Of years DID, and
moss begins to hide the di>colored stones
of the church walls. Some grey hairs
mngle with The fathers brown locks as
he looks at "lhe last rose Of summer IN
the coffin there, for she was his eldest
born, and the dealh-frost might have spa
red this flower. There is autumn in the
sigh of The wind and in The rustic OF the
sere branches that brush against tie
church windows. There is autumn in
the rich mans heart and in his home, Tor
though the wife and many dear children
remain, yet in This ones chamber "huSh-
ed is the lute-Slrlng and vacantthe chair.
Isle was our best and veIies,, "--they
all cry, and stony. hearted Death laughed
al a bride of gold and turned away from
Tie eIoquence of love sAkrpPeal. The
choir sing Il would not live always -
and the father says amen Nmen ~
Twenty years Iater-and tIfe cid bell
rings slowly and sadly in the old church
tower, and lis notes float awaA4n ihe soft
airs of spring to the oldS Graveyard
Young IVY is spriuglng on! The hoary
walls, and far off IN the graveyard early
grass has greened the moun1s. But the
blue bird bushes his song of tejoiclng at
the first blossom he finds on~r~e graves.
Why Because it is the Sabbath Or
because the sun Is sinking AHd-it makes
/ i'm sad Nay but that first flower.
opened on the eldest born's tomb and II.
irenbles in the heavy peal that comes Ia
den with sorrow, on the air The old
man comes to lie by his darngS side.
Why guard her now, when the storms and
SHOWS of winter are past! The acanIhres
wreath has bIoomed unIadimgly above her
head-she has not been. left alone. And
s"on natures resurrection pledges VIII
garnish her early grave. But the old bell
tolls on with sound that Is no! SPRING
like. No hope, 10 joy iii It's plalntlve
notes. A pew in the Old church Is va
can't where the slver-hared man sat
and leaned lis head upon his tremuIous
hands, while the pastor told OF a land
where the inhabitants would never say II
am sick !" The old mans house seems
all empty, especially that armchair where
the grand children loved to stand and feel
the soft clasp of his hand upon their
heads, and where the poor were wont to
assemble and ask tldngs Of his health
who has been for three-Score years, their
friend and bcneiactor. The garden need
not put forth lis buds and leaves, for the
old man will no more wander through It's
walks or rest his ured frame under lis
shade. Only one cluster Of lis fret bios
SONS shall live for him. Sweet TlOIeis
are on his breast--for the odor OF his viz
tues shall live when the bloom Of life has
faced. But away from the brightness OF
spring, we must hide him, for the old bell
saws Dust to dust ~ and all The dew OF
tears from thousand eyes will not fresh
en- this dead dust into life again. But we
weep on for our lost Friend, and auAaG ?
hearts chant in unison Il would
always :" and The old bell tolls
Amen Amen y -
April u, 1856.
Jenny Lnd's LiberaHty.-Jenny
Lind, now Mrs. Goldschmidt, hearing OF