Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-10-26
\ Beautiful storm.
STORY OF THE GOLDEN AGE,

In the tar-oft Golden Age, which his
torians allude to and poets describe-in
the beautiful valley of small river which
empties into the Caspian Sea, where roses
bloomed in perpetual spring-time; where
all sweet flowers filled the air with fra
GRANGE, and all the melodious birds with
song-was gathered one of those happy
groups of families into which mankind
was divided in the first ages after the
Deluge, before there were cities, king
doms, wars, and the splendors, and vices,
and cruelties Of more advanced civil
cation.
The Vale of Roses glowed like new
paradise. The mountains, whose gilt
tering peaks were like a jewelled crown,
surrounded the valley, and shielded it from
the cold blasts of the Siberian wlds. -
Silver cascades dashed down the precipi-
ces, through evergreen trees, towering
shrubs, and long, pendent vines. The
emerald green sward that sloped down
to the river was bespangled with thou
sand gay and odorous flowers; red straw
berries CLEANED through the grass the
clumps Of shrubbery were filled with de-
licious berries; and grape-vines loaded
the trees with purple clusters. The
choicest fruit grew spontaneously, and
the upland terraces were covered with
wheat and barley, sown by tho lavish
hand of Nature, for the food of man.
In this delightful scene were scattered
groups of rustic'cottage simple,
rude in structure, but so empowered with
foliage and surrounded with spreading
trees, and so in harmony with the land
scape, that each cluster was new pic
ture Of delight. Herds of cattle were
lowing in the meadows, horses neighed
in their rich pastures, and focks of sheep
and goats gave beauty and animation tc
the landscape. These were attended by
shepherds and shepherdesses, dressed IL
simple but graceful robes, and crowned
with flowers. With the lowing and bleat.
ing of the herds, the softened roar Of the
distant cascades, the murmur of the sum.
mer breeze, the hum of bees, were min.
gled the melodies os rude shepherd
pipes, and choruses of happy children a
play. The old people-their venerable
heads covered with silver locks-sat il
the shade of the spreading trees, talkinl
together Of The days of their youth, OF
relating the traditions Of their ancestors
and the events Of their own carly days
to the young people who gathered arounC
them, full Of affection and reverence.
In this happy valley Of the almost for.
gotten past, the wiscst governed by hil
counsels, and the most beautiful wal
queen. Where all were lovely as per
feet health, freedom from care, and in.
nocence, could make them, lamar wal
the most beautiful, as her grandfather
Glen, was esteemed the most sage The
mother of lamar, who, in her youth, hac
held the place now filled by her daugh
ter, was esteemed for her virtue and wis
dom, as much as she had ever been adj.
mired for her loneliness. The beautiful
lamar was beloved by all-old anC
young. As che wandered along the 70.
mantle banks of the river, in the dew,
morning, the blue armament, with il
embroidery Of silver clouds, seemed bu
her canopy; the trees and shrubs nodded
their homage the flowers sent up theil
incense of perfume; the birds warblcd
their melodies for her delight; the very
iocks stopped grazing to look at her The
horses neighed at her as she drew neal
them sweet-eyed gazelles approached
her without fear. In this harmony Of
Nature she walked-its queen-robed in
lustrous white, and crowned with choicest
flowers.
Among all the youths who admired
fair lamar, two Of the worthiest aFpired
to the favor Of her love. Annette was
one Of the brayest as well as one Of the
noblest of the youths Of the valley. No
foot was swifter in the race-no arm
stronger in the flood. lie could climb
the preeipice with the mountain goat ;
his arrow pierced the heart of the spot
ted leopard or the force wolf, that came
to prey on the hocks of the valley,
His cousin Jaleph was scarcely infcri-
or to him in manly sports. They had
grown up together and loved each other
like brothers. Annette was dark -Ja-
leph fair. Arnctte's black, clustering