Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-02-13
G303C3 POET & e Z .
For the Register.
VIA VITAE.
Il am a traveller

That has before him, still, a journey long,
Perhaps weary one, beset with toll,
With naught for food, save grief, for drink
save gall
Or yet, it may be that the way is smooth,
Bright evergreens and flowers skirling it,
And sunshine gliding every leaf and tree,
While bowers, bent with fruit, invite re-
pose,
And pleasant, murmuring streams 60 gil
ding by,
Within whose limpid depths it will be
TO balhe my limbs or cool my fevered
brow,
Or drink deep draughts 10 strengthen and
refresh.
But still another path may be the one
For me marked out, by kind or adverse
Fale;
Now bIest with joy, now cursed with
bitter wo.
And what's the object of this journey
long
And what the end ?-The object / select,
The end, is GoD's !-The object may
be Wealth,
Or Fame, or both, or sweet domestic JOY !;
The end must be-THE TOMB The fate
beyond
All what's the fate beyond that thick
dark veil,
Which would fan lift up, but dare not {?
That, TOO, is left 10 me. On gracious
God
In mercy lend thine aid help with thy
hands {;
And grant me will and pow'r that path TO
take,
Which e'er il be, that leads to thine a.
bode
'Tis thus | sit in thought while all the
earth
Is wrap, and silent in its Morphean robe.
| No sound or breath of air dlsturbs the
calm;
The crisp and crystal frost reflects the
rays
OF heavens gems all Nature seems to
The holy hour, and silent homage pays.
A Sabbath midnight it's holy hour,
And undistnrbed ev'n by my beating heart,
For, strange TO say, it too is Uery calm
cannot hear its lhrob-il's almost still
Naughl interrupts me now as backward
far,
With gaze reversed, I look upon the road
Already lrod. The future I've essayed
But cannot scan the vista is too dim.
The past, tho like dIeam,l still can see.
Oh, how sweet the first pure draught |
drank
From Times great cup! And, tho I've
deeply qualfed,
How bitter are the drops I've tasted since.
When first this weary way my feet be.
gan,
Fair flowers bloomed, and shed their fra
GRANGE round
No lowering cloud kept dark the glorious
sun
Whose golden tnts were round me every
where
No care or trouble ever brought tear,
But innocence and JOY were always mine.
But as steadily advanced my steps,
The path little rugged sometimes grew,
And often I'd bewiIdered be, and pause,
And then 90 on: and next, thorn would
pierce,
Then, smarting with the pain, Id sit and
weep,
And think my lot was very hard TO bear.
Bu, soon the pang would pass and | would
brush
The transient tear that gathered in my
eye.
Again the mellow rays would tinge the
way,
And with a heart all joy, Id onward
bound,
And SO time sped, and so still progress
sed.
But as forward moved, the clouds grew
thick,
And ol.ner dimmed the sun sharp rocks
would cut;
The cruel briars tore my tender flesh
Fell snares, at every step, my feet betray.
ed
And torn and Iaceratsd, bleeding, weak,
dropped upon the stony path and s'rove
To find relief in tears by anguish wrung.
Alas the fount was dry could not
weep!
I'rose and looked around-l saw my
friends
Whom had loved with all my natures
power.
No helping hand was lent 10 save me then.
But men, slrong men, who should have
aided me,
Turned with cold and selfish smile a.
way -,
And woman-she, The last 10 leave the
cross,
And first 10 reach The holy Sepulcire-