Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-03-23

Again in the autumn woods-the
woods of our honest old Virginia!
Years seem to have passed since |
wandered over the dry leaves beneath the
lordly oaks and the naughty pines-but
after all, lis but twelvemonth. How
the flying years glide away; how won
drous are the changes of this human life
Lthink have seen these truths expressed
before, but why not repeat them? Ev-
erything that is true is trite. | shall
even add, at the risk of saying what has
been often uttered that it is good to
leave the "dinsom town" at times, and
wander far away into the silent depths Of
autumn Notwithstanding again the rosy
dreams Of youth, and summoning from
the misty shadowland Of memory, the
gracious figures and supreme delights Of
earlier years Youth ! youth how far
away It seems Boyhood fits q rapidly
BY manhood comes SO soon ere long old
age viii beekou with its thin pale finger,
weighing ;tlscsswTG cur shoulders with the
burden of years. and drifting its chill
SHOWS upon our hair. But what matter,
friend? Let us take all seasons as they
come. 1.-THE days of spring and summer
are instinct with glorious romance, and
alive with laughter, do the pensive au-
tumn and the bracing winter want for
consolation? / doubt ifthc joys of youth
were half SO tender and serenely happy
as the thoughts which come to me, here
in the beautiful fall woods, which whis-
per, as | ramble on, thousand secrets
and recall the happy scenes of other
days.
All l-here? thought it was deeper
in the forest. So here in the little rus
tic graveyard, lies the fairest form which
dwells in my memory. Let me look
back. How the grass has grown around
the crumbli4g gate-and those roots are
slowly cracking the brick wall So--thc
gate opens on rusty hinges; I enter-I
pass to the mound on which some pale
sweet autumn primroses grow-slendel
and graceful like the figure Of the maiden
golden, like her sunny auburn hair.
"Ph@be---aied, May 20, 49,
That is the material part of the in.
scription. Yes, I remember perfectly
1t was on beautiful day of May, in tho
youth of the glad fresh year. as in hel
own tender maidenhood, that the only
woman whom I ever loved fell asleep.
never told her that | loved her--I saw
that my suit was hopeless; but I loved
her, and shall love her always. She al
ways seemed an angel almost when sht
liycd-now It's holy spirit truly which
see beside me, as | lean on the marble
and smile, without trace of pain. Shal
recall the past, and return as it were
in memory to brighter day-to the joy
GUS days of my youth Why not? There
is no unhappiness in the recollection
What then was the nature Of those event.
which sent this poor dear child to slceI
here, under the primroses ?
Phoebe Hunter was the darling Of tb,
county. / have never seen any one else
half SO beautiful. | said that she re.
sembled the primroscs growing on hel
grave ahu thC Gun pdilaOH ~, tulHh, Z
just one. Her figure was slender, but
exquisitely graceful her hair Of the color
of gold-her countenancc the mirror Of
loneliness, and sort Of tender, pensive
delicacy which made children come tc
her, and old men smile and caress her
She was a fayorite with all the youths,
who seemed subdued in her presence
and if you had known them, you would
have duly appreciated the phenomenon.
They were wild harum -scarum" sci
fond Of frolics, fox-hunting, blooded
horses, and every species of fun. They
ran races, danced interminablc reels, and
drew at sight--uot seldom in advance
upon their capital Of youthfu, strength
and gaiety. The merriest haunt Of all
was the "Cedars" where Phoebe lived
with her father and brother. The old
hall was eternally filed with youths, come
TO visit Jack, Of course---never Phoebe
and there was generally some urgent
reason about six times in the year for a
grand dancing frolic, to which the youths
and maidens Of the whole country eide
locked. What a gay time IT was How