The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-05-10
sPHiNG REVEnIEs.
BY A. P. M'coMBs.

n lew weeks since, the ieatbery snow
drops, tossed and whired BY the wintry
blast, came circling down, and mingled in
cold embrace as they settled on the
ground and clothed the earth with gar
ment of spotless white But soon thro'
the partial clouds peeped the smiling sun,
and wore the mantle thread. bare, followed
by mild and gentle shower, that quite
disrobed her of her tattered winding sheet
to exult in her newborn vigor, as she
barred her bosom to the genial warh Of
an advancing. wooing sun. then silently
but busy fingers began 10 weave her
bridal dress Of rich and varied hues.-
Soon, through the brown hue Of the with.
cred grass, peeped the tender blade of
green; and as old Sol advanced TO greater
heights, and heightened his daily visits,
Spring, in all her joyous freshness, came.
Already the daisies deck the vae and
bland winds kiss the anemones. The
sweet sleeper is awakening beneath the
foreat trees, and buds are swelling on
their boughs, and from around our dwell
lings, and embowered groves, comes float
ing on the morning air the gushing melo.
dy of the feathered songsters, who have
come from their southern homes with the
balmy winds Of spring. We drink in,
with seusuous delight, the early zephyr
as it comes freighted from its ram6e
among the flowers. with delicious odors.
The lambs frisk unrestrained Ger the
weadowy green; and the cattle wistlully
snuff the fragrance rising from the for
hidden verdure. 1t is feast more to be
desired and reiShed than the savory vi.
ahds, or the rarest dainlies Of the epicure 5
table, to ramble out Ger the scented fields
when the orient is tinged with the rosy
light Of dawn, on bright resplendent
morn Of spring, when natures smiling
face greeIs you where'er you turn. Look
abroad, upon the beauties that everywhere
surround you. See, far in the boundless
ether Of the West, single star, lingering
as if 10th, yet forced 10 go before the ad.
vancing rays Of light. 1t fades from view
and all are gone from where. lately. mil
lions were shining from AFR, or in thick
clusters dazzled in jeweled arch. Above
the eastern hills recline the golden clouds;
then, rising from their sweet repose, they
stretch across their azure arch their dap.
lped wings Whose purple tinge defes the
painters magic touch to add one more
perfection to this rich drapery Of heaven.
The cowboy nimbly trips oer the dewy
lawn; while from the low-roofed cottage
hearth lazily the vapory smoke rises in
fantastic curlS; every blade of grass, leaf
and flower is decked with dewy gems,
gliteriug in the rising sun; Ger hill and
vale comes the gushing carols of the
winged songsters; and still more rich than
all, as rising from his downy couch, the
meadow lark pours forth his most enrap-
turing song in strains Of sOftest melody,
that rolls the tide Of memory back to days
long past and gone. Yet, amid all this
living be uty, as | wander back to the
sunny vale of childhood, and the bright
and happy hours Of youth, when Fancy
lent her fairy fingers to paint our hopes
and aims in golden hues, the pensive sigh
swels up from the bosom. And why :?
Nature is just as liberal with her radiant
smiles as of old: she still wells the sappire
sky with gorgeous drapery of purple
tinted clouds; she still clothes the earth
in dress of brilliant tints, and rich and
varied dyes; the balmy zephyrs Kiss the
cheek as blandly as in days of yore; the
mountain pines still wave their coats Of
perennial green, aud as gracefully how to
the passing breeze. lis trae that the
pearly brook, that came leaping down
from its mountain home in Joyous free
dom. now languishes. prisoner in thr
dark, unyieldng pine, and moves in sui
len silence o'et It's sliny bed. And where
stood tho vine.cad cottage, with the sill
very smoke rising from It's humble hearth
, where quiet beauty dwelt, now is heard
ech1ing from massive pile Of barren
walls, the jostling din Of hurried wheels
and the clinking strokes Of the rapid ham
mer, while the towering chimneys belrl
forth sui lphurous clouds. And from where
stood the age-bent mill, with lis moss
grown wheel scattering the impid spray
the busy hum of catering wheels inces
saut CRATES harshly OH the ear. Aut
; Eadown the shadowy lane, where Elsie anc
) l, with laughing hearts and chatterng
tongues, plucked the early prim rose. nov
stretches the iron rail- along which tn,
mighty, snorting iron horse sweeps will
fearful speed. And instead of the un
= measured carols Of the milk m ,id's song
} stealing softly to the ear, the startling
shrill whistle Of steam echoes Ger III,
valley, and pierccs the hidden rercsse
Of the deepest dell. And where the ligh
hesrted cowboy, with his auburn lock
8 tossed in sportive g!ee. lcaped along tn
8 well worn hillside path, stands the aget
man, with silver head and saddene,
heart, gazing on his native vale, and one
his own, but now strangers home
while beneath the green mound wher
the violet blooms, and the rose yet sleep
q eth, worms riot Ger the once lovely foru
= Of my early companion in childish sports
my foster.sister, the goldrn.haired Elsie
aud although thy yellow curls now min
II gle with the dust, and the lustre oil tn,
+ deep blue eye is dim in death, and til
melody of thy voice is bushed in the 81
J. lence of the grave, yet thy spirit sli
lives In the mystic realms, unseen by NOR
y tal eye, and wanders among the flowers
and dwells amid the be autiful of earth
/. And now hear the soft whisper, is til
ear of my inner soul Of thy gontle spirit
and feel conscious of thy soothing pres
. seuce lowering round this mutually cher
ished spot. And Oft in other lands, whe