Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-08-06

all the polished prayers from lips that
speak, bul hearts that cannot feel. But
now their songs are hushed, while listen |
ing to the mourn(ul tones of yonder bell.
TIE fair young another clasps her tender
babe more closely to her breast. and kis.
ses It's velvet cheek. while shadow Of
pain passes DER her countenance, and a
murmured prayer for Ler loved ones
safety passes her trembling lips.
Toll toll !-Thsi sad looking youth,
leaning pen>ively against yon lofty elm,
which throws lis .engIhenlng shadow Ger
his humble home; on whose pale brow
sorrow and pain have. in his eany years,
left their marks--lislens with an aching
heart to the solemn tones, as they steal
DER nil and dale. And he longs to be
borne to the "slenI CITY," where sleep
the weary. On, how sweet while The
soft murmuring breezes seem whispering
Of another world, in tones SO musical and
sweet, that for a moment they fill hls
heart with sense OF peace, so seldom
felt by the woIId-weary-and cheek the
hal(-iormed prayer for death upon his lips.
But, alas lhatsleelng is but short, like
all earrh's pleasures. The liIIe birds
may sing their yesper hymns; the pearly
brook may 'clap lis liquid hands in gIee;'
the passing breeze may whisper words OF
peace; what matters ii 10 him Yon lol-
ling bell sends forth, in mournfuI peals,
the kneII of all bis hopes, the loss of all
,no,i, e., ,,,aat Cor Ii,, 7
Toll Toll !-'rhe lonely widow n yon-
der low y cot for moment Stops her busy
fingers, and leans her 'hrobbing head up
on her hands-and weeps. Weeps, while
sad memories Of the past come crowdfhg
on her mind-weeps while the lair pic
lure of her youthful home looms up be-
fore her-weeps while, IN Imagination,
she again beholds The noble form Of hin
whose coming foolsIep was music to her
ear; with whom in youth she proudly
Ijoined her lot-weeps, as she remembers
how, after few short happy years, they
laid him away in the cold earth, and left
ber to mourn his absence-weeps, as the
sigh Of the weary and starving lille ones,
gazing sadly oH The empty board, falls
family on her ear-weePS while the Gu-
tnre looms up before her like dark cloud.
freighled with suffering and death. And
while she weeps she prays, that God may
take them home, where suffering never
comes, nor clouds OF sorrow, like funer-
al pail, over-cIoud the hopeful heart.
Toll ! toll The tired traveller stops,
and with weary head dropping on his
breast, listens to the solemn tones. His
thoughts wander far of, to home upon
The sunny shores Of distant land, where
sleep his father, mother, brothers and sis.
,srs. He visits IN spirit tie graves where
sleep the friends of his youth, and drops
a tear on the sod meath which slumbers
one whose image is engraven on his
heart, in lines too deep ever 10 be erased.
But the tones Of the slow-lolIing bell re-
call him from his dream TO stern reality.
A poor, lonely wanderer, on Gods earth,
The coming of brighter dawn, watching
the breaking of d happier day-Praying
for happy reunion with. the loved and
lost ones. beyond the grave.
Toll toll !-'rhe aged sire psuses,
auI leans upon his stout staff, 10 listen To
Tie vibrating tones; and in Imagination he
once more traverses The fowry pathway
Iof yOutA. with It's bright dreams and glow
ing promises, or threads The rugged high
way of manhood, with its Stern realities;
or toltering leebly through The mazy laby.
rinths Of old age, gazes with the eye Of
faith. in silent capture, on the home pre-
pared for him beyond the boundaries Of
time. Tha. lol!lng bell speaks leellngly
to him of rest beyond the grsve-rest
from the battle OF lle-resl from the cares
and anXieues, the prlvaiions ana wants,
the sorrows and pains of long lifetime.
Toll toll !-The feeble invalid raises
his weary head and sazes once more "a
Iound upon the forms of those he loves
so dearly. Playmales of childhood; com
psnions through life: brothers; sisters,
/ friends, and neighbors; and gras ping, for
the last time on earth, their trembling
hands, bids them live in peace, and meet
him, where death can never come. Then
casting Though the open easement one
more sad, wislluI, glance, out over the
green fields, The blooming flowers, and
the cool shady wood, while tear rolls
down his sunken cheeks, he bids them
silent but long and sad farewell; and fold
ing his Thin hands upon his breast, waits
The coming OF deaths messenger, TO call
him home 10 rest. Oh, rest E.! Thou
boon for which so many weary heart is
praying, while ] write. how slow is thy
coming TO the waiting ones of earth
Z" 'Tis long, Ills last, tits beautiful rest,
When all sorrow has passed from the brow and
the breast,
And the lone spirit truly and wisely may crave