Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-08-01

morning bells more like the voices OF an
gels calling to the skies. They are al
most all there whom We left behind one
year ago. The same lips repeat words
of Sabbath blessing in the churches the
same children are thronging to the Sun
day school the same happy slaves IN
holiday attire, are Fastening TO hear "lhe
truth that makes them free indeed. " Al
ter the hurry and fatigue of travel and
changing scenes, there is rest and peace
and Joy in this "Home again" Came
.here no voice from Mount Zion above,
whispering Excelsior |! This is not your
rest Higher ?"
The summer shone in Poplar Grove
upon the natural foliage Of July and an
other of that May company was yet an
exile from our village, but counting The
DAYS till he TOO should say "Home again,
and might feel the kiss of welcome
mother gives her first born. Those IN
teresting days have no, all passed, when
slow and sad procession winds by Pop
lar Grove and enters our village. The
little boys that follow professions, pull
off their hats in silence and down each
sun-burnt cheek, a tear is rickhng.
When the corlege reaches the main street,
crowds congrega;e upon the sidewalks or
follow 10 one of the hill churches, " hllher
. it tends. Friends yong and old, bond
and free are saying (now with sobs,)
"aow good and gentle he was Every
! BODY loved hlm - And schoo-males
can scarce believe that 1.-The kindIy-beam-
ing eve" will not unclose and look for
their gIances of welcome. The dark,
silky locks are falling over his brow as II
in life, but the rose lip has ceased TO smile
on them. Childhood's first grief Oppres-
ses- their young hearts almost to breaking.
Surely, if sympathy could divide sorrow,
parents and brothers and sisters hearts
would not lie so crushed, for our village
weeps with them. The pastor can scarce
repeat the consultations Of God, for his
soul says CLOUDS and darkness are round
about Him." in this sudden and terrible
blow. We stand amid the gray and
mouIderng stones Of the church-yard and
commit this young life to their solemn
companionship. Friendship has crowned
his pale form with white lilies and ever
greens of his native soil, and over this
uprooied sod, loves most precious tears
are falling 70 embalm il from Times de-
cav, while the words of the Saviour whom
he loved SO truly, are vibrating IN our ears
-"Thy brother shall live again ~
"All that's bright must fade - says the
youthful form before us. "All that's
bright must fade - says the setting sun
as il fades from the encircIing mountainous
then from the cliff, river, and fresh mound
at our feet,--and its last rays gild the dis
tan, tree-tops in Poplar Grove. "All
that's bright must fade - the old bell
close by, repeats solemnIy. "Musl fade !"
floats away On The evening breeze and
wakens echoes in tie silent wood, where
last year we had asked "Can augbt so
young and beautiful die 2"
And we were turning away from that
da:k grave. almost oblivious of HIS bles-
sed exchange-ol the Throne where he
stood crowned with undying flowers
where his coronation music would never
cease--where JOY would never weary
where day would never decline--whe:e
home need never be lefl--where father
and mother would never be parted from
him--where autumn and farewell tears
never could come, and Death was un-
known--where "Home again" would
never die upon his liP--we were forget
ling this, when stray ray Of light from
the departed sun, flashed back upon the
bell bellry and as if some magic were in
the beam, the sad toll became note OF
triumph, and heard it lrePeat what angels
had called out Of lhe blue sky 10 him,
Excelsior" He had obeyed. He had
gone up "higher." And the music of
his summons was yet peaing from sphere
TO sphere and gladdening all the stars.
while the sunbeam messenger translated
it for earth. Let those that Hamme low
ed, especially the children Of our village,
remember always tLat echo--"H Higher +!
Higher! Higher !"