Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-08-04
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
A JULY JAUNT IN THE VALLEY -
BY /" wANDFRER. +"

Staauatoqa-Doum the Vazzey-"Moma
\ Sslzeey'-South Moa1ataias-Fss1ssaa
and Huatiny-Faons ut. Sidney
/ Weyer's Cave-"Jordaa q aHar
i Road to 1r0vez'-Zhe Dreono--Z
i the Gaze Wonders MusSe--W
4 Echo--B1ue Sky Agadaa-- Up til
j Va1ley-"Honae Again."
Come with me, reader, from the hot and dust
town, and away to the verdure-clad hills and dale
of ssThe Valley" We shall see bright flower
decking every vale misty mountains stretching
afar in the charming distance crystal stream
lets frolcking o'er the mountain ledges, whisper
ing and murmuring as gently as lovers VOWS
Nature invitingly beckons US on. The air is coo
and refreshing the ssbirds are singing love OF
every spray''-come!
! A week since, &C Wanderer, - mounted on
feet and charming little steed, left the country
residence of his excellent friend, Mr.. s., fol
the purpose OF visiting Weyer's Gave. After
i enjoying a charming morning view OF The Soutf
Mountain and the train of cars winding like Q
huge serpent through the rockydefles, bade an
adieu to my kind friend, and turned my horses
head down the Valley. Two miles and passed
through the beautiful town of ofStaunton, Augusta
county, situated in charming valley partially
encircled by the North and South mountains, in
| the distance A glass Of ice gGter at my friend
tCaptain Ms, and-good- bye again.
Some three miles down the Valley overlook a
| gentleman who appeared to be about 4O years OF
! age. He was mounted on large and powerful
horse. He was riding at slow pace, and, as
approached, he was evidently luxuriating in what
is familiarly known as a ssbrown study" His
countenance bore unmistakable evidences OF deep
thought, if not care and sorrow. | saluted him
with "Good morning, Sir" The sombre trav-
! elIer slowly looked up, somewhat sterniy, and,
without moving muscle, courteonsly replled,
e ,Mornin' ~ In the most touching manner,
remarked. care you travelling far down the Val
iey, Sir r?'' ssNo!'' replied my jolly companion:
Presumng he admired the scenery and Deautiiui
situations in the vicinity, observed, in the most
dulcet tones at my command, that sc sStaunton
was pleasant town, and charmingly located IN
the Valley" ssIt's h0le!'' romantically re
piled nv agreeable companion. We rode on in
silence. / unused aloud; ssA deep vale, shut
out by verdure-clad hills from the rude world
This, however, did not reach his case. mus
ed aloud again, resorting to more desperate
remedy this time:
I had dream which was not all dream.
The bright sun extinguishd, d, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space,
Rayless, and pathess, and the icy eai tn
Swung blind and blackening in the mooniess air;
Morn came and went-and came, and brougat 10 ''ay
And men forgot their passions In the dread
Of this their desoation and all hearts
Were child into selfish prayer for light;
And they did live by watchfres-and the thrones
The palaces cf crowned kings-the huts,
The habitations of all things which dwell
We're burnt for beacons; cities consumed.
And men were gather d round their blazing homes
TO lock once more into each others face;
Happy were those who dwelt within the eye
OF the voIcanoe and their mountain-torch
A fearful hope was all the world contalnd
Forests set on fire-but hour by hour
They fell and faded-and the cracking trunks
Extipgu;sh'd with Grassland all was black.
The brows OF men by the despairing light
Wore an unearthly aspect as by hts
The flashes fell upon them; some lay down
And hid their eyes and wept; and some did rest
Their chins upon their clenched hands, ana saDied
And others hurried to and fro, and fed
Their funeral piles with fuel, and looked mp
With mad disquietude on the dull sky, /
The pail of past world;
The Wild biz DIS shriek'd; the v;pers crawied
And twined themselves among the multitude,
All earth was but one thought-and that was death.
The rivers lakes, and ocean, all stood still
The waves we're dead
The winds were wither'd d in the stagnant air.
And the clouds perishd; darkness had no need
Of aid from them-she was the universe.
looked at my companion; he was watching
me with his right eye, suspiciouSly. Then in a
whispered tone, he falteringly asked, ssAint you
from the-the : the elunatic-as-asy--? The last
word seemed to freeze to the end of his tongue,
ne could proceed no further. He nervously
yiped the perspiration from his brow with hand
xerchief that evidently had not seen soap since
t was hemmed. replied, yes | am from the
Lunatic Asylum. He stealthily turned his hor-
Ie's head from me and asked these two words;
sBroke out 10 ssNo, was turned out, and am
low going to move Weyer's Cave to Stanton"
This was too much the last feather did the bus
ness. My companion suddenly dug his spur in
lis horses ribs, and sstoOk position the op-
osite side Of the road, evidently much demoral-
zed. | now sslaughed right out in meetin."-
fhova1o rIadI
md loud. Joined him. Says my companion,
Il thought you was one of them crazy fellows
learn em talk ies so in the yard when was pas
n.''
remarked, 81 was but jesting, Sir, let us COM
promise, have pocket plstOl-dont be alarm
,d.'' smile overspread his face; and, as /
cached him the ssweapon," ready cooked, he
aid, ssN ow you is a talkin' sense, stranger."-
His melancholy was now accounted for-he'd
lot been ssshot at'' for many weary day. He
)ent his elbow, looked UP to the blue sky, a sim
,ular noise is heard-the ssdeed is done'' A
gain the elbow and blue sky, and my friend was
shinseif again.
He patted me affectionately on the shoulder,
md asked my name: sssWanderer,' at your SER
rice, sIr.'' Swell, MIR. Wanderer, see that big
prick house on the right well, ten years ago,
hat houSe-er that man cum here an the house,
- the man, mean--hic-Warn nj worth a d--!l
de married the finest-hic-man in the county,
on top NV that hic- brick house
-hic you Is now lookin' at-hic.' My COM
1anion looked sleepy. He proceeded, however:
ssThat-hic sheep now owns more-hic-
liggers than the house next to him -hic-ever
will hic-sheep--hic---ten -hic---hic
same age-hic cept--hic-the -ther-hic-kltc
ssplenerd'-hic-hic' My friends converse
ional powers were fast falling him. His way
lere lay to the left, He turned, winked his eye
It me, and, was gone-after begging me 20 ssCome
m see me-hic-when yer-hic-don't conc
his way--and don't forgit hic-ther-i.c--yhe
5ave.'
A mile or so further On and moving arme al
vondrous magnitude is in my front. | approach
gallant soldier, who had monster loaf of orasl
tuck on his bayonet, and inquired where they
we're moving. He very courteously replied =
ITO reinforce General Forey in Mexico!' This
lnswer being eminently satisfactory, l pushed
IN through the column, and, as passed, counted
he soldiers. There were nine hundred thousand
our hundred and twenty-seven infantry; three
hundred thousand one hundred and nineteen
cavalry; each one armed with sabre, two ten
shooters, and light feld-piece mounted on the
read of his steed. One gentleman foot, who
wore superb hat except the crown, which had