Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1857-05-05

Eof ~ Aena Nn4 NAt<eY Mtar.
Tke changes which time n,akeA - q
.cec1znunity. = 10 spsoe Of e@ years,
~ may and vtried 70 thcse MhW note
tAem = they pHss oyer Ne III reviewing
~ history u he past twenty 800, =
ccnnectsd With this plaos. how snSig and
how nd hare been some Of thhs changes
tkat have taken pl1os Il this o1innapnity
daring thi seemingly short peFiad of
time.
Il Msuy. var many. that were eilizens
ef this plaos, surrounded with ann that
could make life pleasant and happy; home
an1 friends around than; busisd With the
cercs ana amusements sof this Buisy,
busting world, have, By the mandats Of
Hsaysn. passed from this state III sexis-l
isncs into another and IN unknown world,
while many have been added "a ths coln-
mnnity IN the form Of helpless children.
eome Of these have bean reared by only
such care and anxiety as parents csn be-
atov. until they hare grown tol 30 mon
and women, and have formed iallisnces
Of their own. Some Of them have re-
movsd 10 distant States, while othsrs
Aavs been called away il the strength Of
youth and usefulness from time % ster-
nifty. Some among US have passed. from
he condition efthe poor into tile circles
II tie wealthy, and some that seemingly,
6tcod On IN immoyable basis as men Of
wealth aud business have. 10 fsw short
years. BY LOSSES. o. soma misfortune.
bcsn reduced TO the lsyei Of the poor man.
I have heard it remarked that theirirh Of
spe generation are the poor of the pext,
and nee versa, for ! have seen this Trans.
nir, even in this community ID the course
81 Nv years; for tho father toiIsS and
strives and amasses fortune which will,
= the course Of q few years, past Into the
hanas Of sons '.who toll not. !, Il It came
ID them without their exertions-~it pas
- from them. in few years, In 4 much
ahertar time than it took 10, anass lit, and
they are left destitute.
/ have seen the worthy mechanic. BY
i course ofxindustry and economy, III q
fsw years pass from seeming want III the
ranks Of the wealthy. or at least; to Ease
and competency And | have seen
rood mechanic, for the want Of industry
aud persegerancs, ii short spacs of
time. reduced from competent, easy scir-
cumstances into the. lowest depths of pow
srty. and bis family thrown on the cAari.
" Of the community; while have Seen
His successor in bnsiness,lby bis cher
~ and attention to business, and AIDE
tsrmined viii. ID 4 few years get ioISe a
man Of property and standing amone us. !.
These. thoughts were suggested by
parting with some old and valued friends
almost the last link IN the chain III sour
early friends. We have been manbera
at the same church for many yeaEs, and
naay times we have walked ID the
House Of God in company. and have ta-
hen sweet counsel together Wa have
talked Of our future prospects, and of our
past pleasures, of our losses and oufgains,
and Of our joys and sorrows. And 1--WE
have also shed the sympathizing 2teaEIto-
gather over the Finanimats remains of
those we loved and cherished ID lib, but
whom the cold grave has hidden forever
from our view but they can still, char
iAh their memories and initiate tho exam
pie Of those that have WASHED their
robes and made them white in the fblood
OF the Lamb. Z sB fSlIf1s
4 Our children have formed fliendships
With theirs which hare grown with their
growth and strengthened with theirl
strength, until it i like seyering Kindred.
ties TO part them; but hope ii may be |
renewed in higher and better state f d..
istenee. But all these pleasant assoria-
ions had to be severed they have gone
u seek their homes and fortunes ihn the
Far West" We gave them the parting |
hand and they are gone. We shall Zee |
their pleasant faces and hear theiTkindly
greetings no moro among us: butt they |
will carry our best wishes with them u
God bless them and protect them Dbl their
Westward journey, and whom they gstIto
their far-off homein the West, may they
sometimes casta longing, lingering With
Or thought back to. he few Old irasnds
they lsftin Kanawha. 5StSkHl