Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-05-31

The fair city-the brave city
Oh strong its walls may be,
And yet entered them and found,
That banner over the sea.
There lies Conway Castle" said my
guide; and, standing up in the carriage,
| looked out eagerly. The Welsh town of
Conway lies within the ivied walls of the
ancient courtyard, and as we drove under
the first arch, the ruins were straight be-
fore us. From moulded turrett broken
stairs and crumbling tower the ivy hung
luxuriantly; the figures of visitors upon
the heights, seemed like pigmies, as they
stood out against the clear blue sky.
There were many there; sound of gay
voices and laughter came towards us as we
drove up the street and I caught myself
wondering why the desolate beauty of the
place had no power to check them, for
getting that there arc those who can Jest
even upon the borders of fresh -colored
grave. 1t was bright, fair day in the
middle of September, and the tide was
coming slowly up, just beyond the moated
walls. | stood a moment, as we left the
carriage, looking at the wet shining sands
and then followed my companions toward
the castle gates. AS did so something
met my eyes mademe flush up and tremble
and feel choking sensation at my throat.
Only faded flag hanging from the win
dows of an artist, who had taken up his
quarters in the old rooms above the moat
1t was torn here and there, and shabby
and soiled-but, oh, it was the flag of my
own dear country, and meeting with it
there SO unexpectedly, was like seeing the
face of an old familiar friend / took off
the gypsy hat wore, the tears sprung to
my eyes, as | bowed to the ensign of lib
erty---the dear old "stars and stripes. v
My English friends smiled, and hurried
me up the stone stairs; but wherever l
went that banner foated before my eyes.
| saw it as | looked from the battlements
upon the distant seat was planted in the
courtyard among the groups of sketchers
who were scattered there; it waved from
the towers it fluttered from the wall, and
with it came the thoughts of home, and
all who once loved me there. AS the day
declined we entered the ruined chapel,
whose one window and fight Of stone steps
leading to 1t, is still entire. There my
friends left me while they went to order
the carriage and make some purchases at
Honey Fair" which was held that day
within the town, | sat down in the case
ment, where doubtless many a lady--far
more highly honored than had whiled
away an hour in the days gone by, and ]
looked upon the "sad sea wave" and even
upon the streets Of the town, filled with
quantity dressed people, and thought not
SO much of what was passing around me
or of what had been within those very
walls, as Of what had seen, and known
and felt in that land beyond the ocean
which / shall never see again, Not one
of your names were forgotten, oh friends
of mine; not one scene with which those
names were linked. The village streets
Of Woodstock, and the home of my child
hosd, with its garden, its naples, and iti
1 graceful tamarac tree; the school Of Shet
ford, and its village church; the seaside
cottage and the "lakes Of Lynn" the win
ter homes in Boston and New York tn,
summer retreats among the green hills o
New Hampshire, or the highlands Of th'
Hudson the white walls Of "Gan. Eden.
) that sweet spot where, for two happ,
months, / found such rest and peace as
had never known before, all these cam
up before me, and put away my pride
and leaning my face upon my hands. lie
the tears flow quietly, for the sake of home
Oh, we'll may the wanderer lie down an,
die when he hears the RAM des vaches i
i a foreign land ! we'll might ihe maker Q
the Limerick bells (..those evening bellsp'
close his eyes and draw his last breath
When, after long and weary exile fror
his darIings, he sailed up the stream, an
heard their melody once more Wel
, might Howard pavnc. wandering homeless