Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-08-23
-FoF The M lgeuelF-
TIE SUNSHINE AND SHADE
OF FRIENDSHIP AND

j
i Virginia, received an appointment IN the army,
ann in obedience to orders came to Washington
during the spring OF that year. He was accom-
panied by bis sister, Miss Mary Green, who came
with him to spend few weeks with her friends
in the city.
Mai. Green and had been educated together,
we we're classmates at college and bound toSeth-
! or BY all the ties that could endeaT us to each
other. While they were in Washington, was
constantly with them. We promennded the pub
Tic grounds at the capitol, listened to the music
4 of the band from the Navy Yard, spent our eve
ninss with friends, or at the levees which, du-
ring the gay season, gave life to the metropolis
! This was the sunshine of onr Acquaintance; ut
tie then did we think that Mai. Green, who had
entered the army, had taken his first step IN the
career Cthough it was to be one OF glory and re-
nown) that he was to fall on one of the bloodiest
battle-felds of Mexico, bearing the colorS OF ms
country and beckoning on his trave soldiers
But so twas He was notthe man to shun dan
| ger but to meet it at the cannon $ mouth. Peace
| to his departed spirit dear ever remain his
memory and the glory in which 1t Is eneireied.
/ Years after the occurrence have related, the
condition of my health ndnonished me TO seek
/ more southern climate for the winter. The
distance of voyage to Italy was too much for
inv feeble condition, the unsettled relations of
/ the country with Cuba forbid my going there
and Western Texas with its Italian cline, and
4 San Antolio the Venice Of America, seemed to
afford the most inviting location for the season.
When Her my home, relations and friends. to
find health and safety in this distant land, which
was denied to zone Of the manor born. II
was late in the fall, the morning winds, the fall
ing leaves, the whitening foliage the dropping
| flowers and the red and 'wcary setting Sun
/ cnclouded in the dark blue clouds, impaired to
all nature melancholy phase and To me great
gloom and dspondence. | was alone. with no
t0
/ fall in with some friend or acquaintance who
was going to the South West At Cincinnati
4 took passage on a boat that run to Memphis, a
boat with fine accommodations and a large num-
Der of Southern passengers. On looking over
the register saw entered the names OF Alr.
Jones and Sister, and Miss Mary Green, Of Viz i:
ginia for New Orleans thought to myself,
Miss Mary Green-can it be? Where is she?
Miss Mary Green-Iny collegiate friends sister!
Whose affectionate and girlish letters to her
brother have SO often read and admired for
their tenderness and pathos, with whom had
so often broken bread and drank wine, and with
whom had spent so many pleasant moments
/ must sec her. fastened to the saloon of the
ladies at the extreme end Of the boat, hutanidst
the bevy of ladies there, where was Mary Green,
Iof Orange Virginia, who I so anxiouSly sought
II looked, could not see her; my heart sunk
I was mistaken; was disappointed. said
anxiousy, but invotuntariy, Mary Green!-
1 Mary SIrceQ! IS sue neTe! 1ileIE ELIIy
deep mourning, with d bonnet and black veil
on, rose near me and pushed aside her veil and
answered in a soft and subdued voice. arn
Mary Green. looked and caught the radi-
ent expression and the bright blue eye of Mary
Green, Of Orange, in all the bloom and staid-
ness of womanllood, redolent with her peculiar
loneliness. In the transport of nv feelings, !
extended to her both hands, and pressed her
= hands in mine, whispered to her my name
she shrunk back amazed-ohl she exclaimed,
what ravages has your illness made on you.-
Our hearts were filed with kindred emotions
we could say no morc-the past and the present
whit sunshine and shade rested on lis. She
sent for Mr. Jones, who was on deck, and made
me known to him. Mr. Jones had married her
only sister, resided in Orleans and she Was en-
routa to visit her and spend the winter there
We realizedin the frniion -four congratulations,
that we were 10 travel in the same boat together
there.
The most of my time was passed in the ladies'
cabin, the music, the cards, the romcnades, the
chit chat OF cherry lips, and the sparkling looks
lof bright eyes gave Zsst TO our enjoyment
which now occurs to me as pleasantly and as
lively AS if it was yesterday, and fills me with
all the delight ofits remembrance 1t now pos
sesseS me as would the presence of the first
green tree of spring, as its first fruits and flow
ers, as would its twilight, vocal with the warb
ling of the sweet birds and rich and resplendent
in all the GRATITUDE OF its heavenly offering.
At Memphis VIC changed boats. Here we
first reached the great cotton region of the
South. It was the season for shipping this
great staple and the period when the greatest
crowd of travel was to the South. The boats
which secured the largest amount of this trave
and business were of the largest class, and have
properly been denominated FLOATING Palaces,
with all the comfort, elegance and accommoda
ton that could be required. The boat whici
we took passage was the first of this class, anc
as she stopped to take on cotton from the plan
tations protracted the progress of the trip, til
it furnished the opportunity of seeing and going
on many of the finest cotton plantations of th'
South. This arrangement proved very agreea
BILE to me, for the boat stopped 1T the planta
ton of Gen. Downs to take on his cotton, anC
he took passage with US to New Orleans, to dis
pose of his crop. Gen. Downs aud were ole
: acquaintance, had been together on another
theatre and were old friends
He was in the prime of manhood an accom-
plished and honorable gentleman. made hin
known to Miss Mary Green. lie contributed
greatly to the pleasure of our trip, and ourjOur
ney down the Mississippi, which was agreeable
! beyond description; it seemed the festival o
hearts, where all was Joy, where there was nj
: more sin, nor its "bitter consequence"
Unjust here recur to the incidents of one eve
ming. After the dance was over, the cards pu
aside, and the amusements Of the evening seem
ed closed, it was understood that Miss Green wa
to favor US with some music on the guitar, OIL
which she played with most eminent artist
taste When she had closed, all were delighte,
with this banquet of music, and Miss Green wa
evidently pleased with the pleasure she had ex
cited She was then requested to play the -
March. For an instant she seemed to question
the propriety of doing so, but reluctantly yield
i ed to the pressing Importantly. The first par
| of this music was the solemn march, so solemn
, that it seemed as if the ranks were composed Q
the Icing aud the dead; then was the cannon
aiding so distinct, so terrible, that it seemed tn
artillery of the battlefield; and then ensued tn
soldiers and oficers-t6e massacre of the nwfu
, 6ght-it was life-like, and excited all with it
thrilling potency This moment, pregnant wit
, such intense sensation, was lghtened by the tear
that snfFlsetl the eyes Of Miss Green. She wa