Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-07-14
For the Telegraph.
without and Within.

We ascend lofty mountain, and from
its hoary summit look down upon land
scape of wondrous beauty. The valley,
bearing in its bosom a winding river, looks
like the fitting abode of peace and con-
tentment, in which no jarring elements
can ever enter. =
Here, we think, is truly the Happy Val
ley, among whose charming scenery and
peaceful inhabitants, Rassclas might finally
have rested satisfied. -.-
The villages, quietly seated by the river
side, wear an aspect of smiling repose;
and as the smoke curls gracefully upward
from the house tops, till lost in the ethe-
real blue, so, it seems to us, must gently
pass their lives, till the pure spirita length
reaches its everlasting home.
Thus appears the scene from without;
but when we leave our distant stand point
and enter the precincts of the enchanting
valley, much of the charm has vanished
Many features present themselves which
before had escaped our notice, and all the
enchantment that distance lent is gradually
dissipated. I
Rocks and precipices frown upon us,
where before we beheld only verdant mead
ows and gentle elevations. The winding
river shows not always silvery surface
for now we see it foaming over rapids, now
eddying in fitful currents around project
ing rocks, and again pent up within mar
row channel, through which it rushes
madly, to gain the freedom of the broad
valley below. Do we enter the village
which bat a short time ago appeared the
dwelling place Of harmony, and invisiblJ
cross the Threshold of many homes, We
find that here, too, we were greatly mis-
taken in our impressions from without
Instead of the universal tranquility ant
happiness which seemed to prevail, We
find at one freside, petty strife, selfsLnes'
and jealousy doing their hateful works; a
another, ingratitude and unkindness EN-
bittering the lives Of its members; while
at another sorrow sits with folded hand!
and sable drapery, weeping over her per
ished idolS-her visions of joy and beauty
rudely swept away. 'f'' .i "H'"
We stand for the first time upon th'
blue, boundless ocean. Glistening ant
sparkling in the beams of the morning
sun, the waves merrily dash against eacl
other, scattering spray over their creste'
tops, and finally spending themselves upol
the pebbly shore. We look upon the ever
restless waters, stretching out like the in
finite, and with trembling lip and rever
ent heart, marvel at their beauty and sub
Unity.
Yet could one return who has fully e1
plored the mysteries that lie beneath, h
would tell us of ocean sands, many, man
thousand feet below the heaving surface
where are strewn ship-wrecked argosiei
and sunken treasures-where rest the ha
dy mariner and the gay young sailor, WI
met with that most mournful fate, a buri
at sea. He would speak to us of ventu
GUS travellers, whose earthly journeyinl
have ended far short of the expected por
those who had thought lightly of the pc
lis attending the storm, the hurricane, al
that most terrific scene of all, burnir
ship upon the solitary waters. v.
If we now turn our thoughts TO the gre
earth itself, we shall find that it, too, pr
! sents very different appearances as We've
from without and within.
Without, we behold an infinitely vari
!, and beautiful picture, beyond comparis
and beyond description. Every variety