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

"What would their future be 2" asked
many heart, the question prompted by
the careless, joyous look upon their child
ish faces. Eight years before, some of
US had enacted the same ceremonies in
that spot, and where were all of our hap
py train So, while the games became
merrier and the shouts Of laughter louder,
the music seemed to grow little sadder
and some of the spectators glanced from
the rosy life before them TO the white tab
lets of the two cities of the dead in an ad-
jacent plain or TO those hoarier ones upon
the Potomac cliffs, and while the mental
query rose-"Can ought so young and
beautiful die 2" as if in prophetic res
ponse, the band played-"In the Hazel
Dell my Nelly's sleeping" Perhaps
from some mothers eye a tear may have
fallen as she watched her bIue-eyed or
dark-eyed boy in his excited JOY and
heard his laugh ring through the aisles
of the wood. The Battle of Life was
close before some of them. The older
ones must shortly grid its heavy armor
upon their tender frames and so away
from the joys of childhood and the shell
Ter Of home. No shadow of this coming
event clouded the brow of one of the fal-
rest of their numberswhose soft, dark eyes
bad kindIed with excitement while he
Joined in his school-mates' romps. GLOW
good ! How gentle he is - commented
one and another of his older school.mates
as they looked on. Everybody loves
him ~ These compliments were well
deserved, and TO us Excelsior" seemed
written on his open brow, Tor he had al
ready scaled one height in life, when his
childish department had won the resPecI
and affection of ''the little world" Of
school. Perhaps unhea.d by us, from
the blue sky spreading serenely over us,
voice may have ''lalcn like falling
star,
Excelsior !" But its angel-whisper to
him, was not audible TO us amid those
sounds of earthly pleasure.
The shades of evening gathered round
the music ceased the Queen and her
royal suite departed {; the coronation gar
lands faded among the trees the night
wind again made its musical murmurs
heard through Poplar Grove the stars
trembled over the grass where young
feet had lately trodden the wondering
birds came back TO their now silent homes
in the greenwood, and "he sweet day
was dead -
When autumn breezcs sighed farewell
through Poplar Grove, some of that May
company were far away--North, South,
East, or West, but always bearing the
memory of "our village" embalfied in
The "innermost shrine of each heart"
Home again.
Day and night, in floating palace, we
have been gliding by splendid cities of the
far South and West. The German band
discourses exquisite music at each land
.ing-place Of the Eclipse" )" be it city or
town. Why, as we gaze for the first time
upon the Queen Of the Southwest, (beau-
tlul Memphis why can aught but delight
ill the soul, as the bluffs crowned with
fine buildings stand out in relief from the
silver light the moon is shedding in the
east beyond Hundreds of passengers
fill the guards and exclaim with delight at
the view. A terrible storm has just sub
sided and as the black clouds roll west
ward, from their bosom, sheeted lightning
illuminates the landscape and turns the
foaming pillows below us into golden
froth-then it fades away and leaves the
city in the moons milder sheen. But
once in lifetime could we hope that the
elements would thus combine TO feast the
sense of sight, and we enjoy accordingly.
But what dear, familiar air floats upon the
breeze, bringing unaccountable tears 10
one wanderers cheek .! Ah it is "Car-
ry me back 10 Ole Virginny shore - and
the musicians have magically shifted the
scene and our village (not Memphis) is
before my vision. The fourth day, this
boat which annihilates space, lands US at
Portland, six miles below Louisville, and
here familiar faces recall sour village" and
familiar tones send messages of love 10
"the old folks at home" Next morning,
the church bells chime in Cincinnati and
while the organ rolls its thunder tones
through the lofty church, only antici-
pate the simple music of our village bells
which | shall hear next Sunday at home,
and will think the old walnut tree that
waves past the window in the hill church
more beautiful than these richly stained
easements. Columbus is fine city and
there are many places worth the attention
Of a tourist, but the Lightning Express
travels more slowly than our wishes, over
the Western prairies in and out the great
tunnels through the deep mountain pas
ses, and over tie swift rivers. The first
snncnt n, hn mountains lnnrd, hnhinL n