Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-22
rFoa THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
pilgrim Of tho Ridge--A htniature
POEM

l,,ves houe. Sunrise Rapida!e Springs
Virginia abundant in Mineral Waters. Mont
heller. The South West Range. Destitutlon
Of Lakes. A distant view OF Monticello
students OF the University at Charlottesville
Peaks of Otter. The Ridge destitute OF
Lamas. A thought OF Home Boy angling
op III. river James. The Natural Bridge.
Sigut OF Manse Was Shenandoah Valley
once Lake? Call at harvest field. Inc
Pilgrim resumes his Musings about the Val.
lev. Junction OF the Shenandoah and 70
tomac View OF Mary Gray and Bessy Bell.
Meyers Cave. sportsman. HE dead oifd'
Pilgrim reaches home.
A bard once went from Erins shamrock isle,
OF awkward gait, but heart exempt from guile,
VINO sketch with simplest taste and classic pen
The haunts OF deer or homes OF busting men;
Whom every Joyous Muse had taught to trace
The lands that lie on Europes antique face.
Melhinks see this pensive pilgrim lean
Against his staff TO watch each rural scene,
His scalop lit, and cast All eager glance
AS round the vintage, peasants led the dance.
We add to Him, a man OF cottage birth,
Vino first drew breath among he noors OF Perth,
But alther came, and sought our penclll'd birds
Where the Wild Prairles iced their thousand
herds
Who pausd where gushing wigwam smoke
was curd
And then dispersd upon our frontier world
Mid Summer Suns, and Winters snowy flakes,
Round INLAND seas, and our exterior Lakes
He went on buoy ant knee, and nlmole feet
Where r Gu: birds were wont for sopg to meet.
Then alter toni, 10 close each happy day,
Waich'd by ma faith vi dog whose name was
Tray.
Here let me rot olget that glowing Swede,
VINO scCur'd the Lulean wild with hgatn!ng
speed,
And from lis shelving heights, and rocky haunts
Drew down toe stuuted herbs, and shverlng
plants;
Who not alone brought buds for Science shrines,
but sparkling gems from Dalecarldn mines.
WITH sucn exempldrs why should complain,
To touch eacn Ink IN Travels weary cham,
Wleu every link conveys returning thought,
Back 10 my home win sylvan beauties iraugnt,
" here stands the goal that waits my Joni em.
brace,
So soon as done with this Pedestrian race,
And laurel leaves snail then tnls brow entwlne,
Fix'd by that hand which Heay'n once gave as
mine,
When twinkle hearts in changeless vows asreei
10 share the same late Where er that tate might
lead.
On Earth no sweeter, richer sound is heard
Imam Pilgrimage what volumes 10 that word,
Once GIL II Iail on Europe's listening ear,
Aud soldier, Sage, and Poet stood TO hear:
Old, hoary AUDeys telt It's nameless charms,
AS Abbots rush d 10 Travels outstretch'd arms
And pilgrim groups we're warolIng Western
tSams
Hi IN as ta- ear OF towering, Eastern palms.
FuT Asla's deep sepulchral voice had spoke
Where once the DRUID clasp'd his Iavorlte oak,
And human hearts confess Its thrilling tone,
Far as the Roman wall, and Druld's stoue.
Behold Tue Palmer back from Eastern realms,
Recltes MS tolls beneath old England's elms-
1 ne reaper-she puerd-and the nedger learn
Tales oil the East beneath their native fern.
Tnen Why rot attempt some bret review
Oh that short course Ger winch my footsteps
flew,
Along yen Ridge, which rouses Poet lays
Because the Sua from all his complex rays,
Selects Ills DrIgateEt blue, IN when TO dress
lis upland line, and send the swift express
BY day; by night lhe moon IN starry crown
Takes up the censor winch the sun lays down
thus Su. and Moon, and cholrs OF prIncely stars,
Cros, It's blue lords III Night and Morning Cars.
That month had come, which mon call leaiy
juice
Wite-brlng my scslop, stole and sandal shoon,
That may round VlryinIas mountains wind,
Aud try oAe charm before unkuown to ind, e.
iue aniate heard; straightway my better half.
Beside my robe brought down my well tried
staff
These take, she said, nor fear the Arabs lance
.lld shadowy WOODS that crowd the wide eI'
pansa
Through winch you go; and see that you return
EeI yohder sun shall nil his Lunar urn;
Ard lomeward bring IN some ieH radiant weeks
"A sprig or lonely Hover from otter Peaks
rnen saal oUr warn-unitei thanks be due
10 HIM VITO ho!ds ais nrm, paternai clsw
Ger wooIs Of greenland mountains dressd in
blue.
The Sun Is up; where Arts few pillars shine,
Men talk Of temples yonder ORD 10 mine
Wuere moon ami stars IN rounds OF homage turn
And fiery sparks Oh Comet altaTs burn--
>arIne o. The World receive my pilgrim vow
To range each vale, ana gain that Gao Intain's
UIoS,
Whence sylvan g!ories travel wide and far
SURPRISING Eeisnts OF Scottish lam Var
" Lele hast aud West CELESTIAL vaults are calm
And North and South alike claim Beautys palm
For on It's Nortnern limo, the oak leaf grows,
Whilst on Hs South bursts out the velvet rose,
Where lofty palms their broad leaVd crowns
below
On blossoms proud and Orange groves below,
Aud bl. d, their Tevels keep III - Ivan rooms
Vita plumds. soft as sllk from CashmeIe looms.
travel not 10 seek the distant ME,
Nnrre clrclins moons on lonely fountains smile,
Nor did my bounding knee spring up togo
Where Nj ,er eEds us dark and sulleH dos;
Nor where the llber rolls It's yellow wave
by messy Cells IN Rome's proud marble grave.
Bat vale }on gaps, wneIe azure streams prevail
And musIng Inu,-my staff struck hapIdsle !!
Lone Kap.dale: but soon Will FASHIONS bellies
Crowd here as round the krnllsh IuEbrldge
wells,
10 lead the dance in many gay saloon.
\ gnt alter night Tor one unurUken moon,
WIN quencnless tnrIst, as IN Ardbia's rand,
Msn DEAN OF water, bu; awake on sand
And then disperse until the rolling Earth
Bring some urw dock all wing'd lor summer
mirth.
OF Mineral wealth Virginia owns her share
And Vel vita distant lands may she compare,
lncusn not ludented . er with picturesque lochs
Round Which might Pentland shepherds feed
their i,c<s.
No LomoLd h-le-Katrlne, nor Awe, nor TaY,
Where Anglers dream the liveiong vernal day,
And Erin boasts her nne luxuTI4ut helds,
Add Ill tue echoes winch Killarney yields
h.r shamrock nIlls-and al neT emerald plains
And peEbI-d beach where pillar beauty reIgns
But Who would Change our devious mJumtaIn