The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-03

stone has been erected BY the pstriotic ooat'
men, to mark the spot.
"Terrible was the suffering endured"
says Losing, ,"nnd wonderful was the love Of
country manifested at Valley Forge during
that eventful winter. There In the midst OF
frost and snow, disease and desttution, Lib.
erty erected her altar, and found unwayerlnp
worshippers. In all the worlds history, we
have no record Of purer devotion, holier sin.
cerity, or more pious self-sacrifce, than was
there exhibited in the camp OF Washington.
The courage that nerves the arm on the bat.
tie field, and dazzles BY its brilliant but
evanescent flashes, pales before the steader
ard more intense fame of patient endurance,
the cum Of the sublime heroism displayed at
Valley Forge. and If there is u spot on the
face OF our broad land, whereon Patriotism
should delight to pile its highest and most
vcnerated monument, il should be In the bo,
som of that little vale, on the banks Of the
Schuylkll."
"ADd where are 20, oh fearless men,
o, whore are ye to-day,
] call, the hills reply again
That ye have passed away
! Tuat on Old Bnnker's lovely height,
On Trenton or Monmouth ground
The grass grows green, the haVest bright
Aboyc each soldiers mound.
The buglo's mild and warlike blast
| Shall summon them no more,
Our army now might thunder past
! And they heed not its roar.
! The "starry fag'' meath which they fought
On many bloody day,
Prom their old graves can rouse them not,
For they have passed away"
The afternoon was drawing TO a close, Al
we bent our steps towards the observatory
1t was built number OF years ago by
company Of energetic gentlemen, and stand
on the summit of the hill, back from the oil
camp ground. 1t is in ruinous CONDITION
the steps decuying, und the railing whicl
formerly guarded the spiral staircase nearl
gone, leaving it in an unsafe and totterin
state. 1t seems pity, for the view fror
the summit repays one for the risk Of the as
cent which Is becoming every day NOR
perilous.
The view from the top was enchanting. -
It was purely American, such as We see no
where but in our own fair land. In the fore
ground was the descending plain, whic
eighty years ago was covered with the hui
of the soldiers Of Washington. Not vestag
OF them remain. The village with il cotto
factories lay seemingly ut our feet. Sti
further on, the Canal, Railroad and River
while away in The dim distance, etche
the blue hills Of Montgomery county.
There were the cultivated fields newly shor
Of their horvests, the patches Of woodIan
and towering solitary trees, the homes of To
Quaker farmers nesting in shudG or glis'e
white on sunny hill. The tranquil river re
tlecting from its cleur water, the 1eetin,
clouds, and trees dropping upon its margir,
the far distant blue hills blue hills, all united
for the time seemed to me a vision of the
enchanted land.
The sun was gliding the western hill top
with tints OF gold, os we descended from tht
observatory. We passed again, the hous,
and home Of Washington, and while W,
fingered, silently gazing at the honore'
structure, the shrek of an engine whicl
warned US that the downward train was co m
ing, we hastened to the Station, gave fare
we'll look at Valley Forge, Jumped aboare
the cars, and ere the twilight shadows hrt
gathered into darkness, we were again in our
hotel in the lovely city Of Norristown.
A. J. w.