Shreveport news., 1864-11-08

EN- DEN o, 1904
Push open the door reluctant, enter the hall
deserted,
Its floors all covered with dust, Times Gn-
Eering, silent footprints.
Its frescoes and barren walls all dim with
tissue. cobwebs
The arches once fair. beauteoats. all stained
and battered sadly.
| A chain dim and rusty, loose bangles from
the ceiling lofty.
Where once hung suspended lamp whose
light. pure and radiant,
Shedding it's sOfteDiDX rays upon scenes
both gay aud festive.
Now put out forever On those brilliant
scenes Of former days.
The antlere'l head Of Virginia deer. those.
old forest monarchs,
Trophies Of some forgotten Geld. u the
hounds merry music,
And dnShing leaps Of hunters blOOded. yc:
cling to the dim walls.
So silent. so deserted, like sculpture froni
hand OF N artist.
Dim paintings here are. whose once living
and breathing subjects
Have given records 70 the poet's pen and
the staid historian.
Grin, and silent watchers DER this scene 80
lonely. deserted,
Which time has deeply maEred with his
reckless. ruthless fingers,
As makes the old new sparkling wine: true
friends and records pleasant.
I open door and enter the room where
stands the table
Around which gathered once host and
hostess, forms Of guests merry.
How bare and silent now: its cloth re-
moved perhaps forever.
Its lion claws leaving foot prints deep.
broad aud marked clearly.
As il this mansion grand WAS the haunt. re-
treat and den. indeed.
OF wild beasts from ont tln wilderness of
dark. gloomy forest
| Here sat in days gone BY Lafayette. the
foreign patriot:
Here sparkled gay jest and wine. in all
their choicest beauty.
Here rose the song Of true love. long ago
died out in signing;
Here woman smile shone round the board i.
nov faded out in dying.
Here. stands against the wall y sideboar i.
Of some fashion olden.
All! not thu. did it appear in those former
days so golden,
Flashing in all its glory Of cut glass, ruby
and amber.
l striv. 10 remember in this dim, sbatfere !
place of bouquets.
How appeared those. guest. who thronged
it once. gay and merry.
Sitting here aud there. while they talked
DER their glass of sherry.
, But tn. picture is dim and faded. u, . cr j,
ponder,
And thu. poets imagination strives in vain
to restore it.
Lik. sad. wandering spirit, from the far
of realms of space,
! proceed from room 10 room. and these
records silently trace.
Here. il a stray Leaf of History. from old
Virginia's soil:
Of Pocahontas. The Indian queen, whose
loneliness and truth
", II the stern settler. heart and preserved
I'll. invaders life
From tn. fierce and painted warrior :
wrath. a captive of the strife.
Here is a stray loi:crcr. u dim and faded
velvet chair:
Old bureau. full Of emptiness a chest Of
ancient drawers:
Soilcd and giIdeJ picture frames. full Of
emptiness aud air;
A hug. and high post b-dstea1. large
enough for y cunb o,ls mill:
A broken mirror with i..rs hne and
tissue web.
| In Intricate lines spun DER its rough and
fractured edge:
Fragm ,nts of marble NANTES rare thickly
strewn abou; the floor.
The guest chamber carp.tlrss. com."rt!e-s
through the open door
Looking AS cherries and gloomy rs Mac
pclah's deserted care:
! While. thu. football sounds As sharply in
these dim, deserted rooms
AS strokes Of heavy hammer on u clear
and frosty noon.
| think Of liogarih'. picture of the end OF
all shings earthly.
And Imagine il lacks but this To ii ! up its
completeness.
Retracing my waywsrd footsteps. go out
sadly, silent.
From the heavy and darkencd air Of this
deserted mansion.
Into the sunlight golden. where the emerald
trees are waving.
Aud the joyous birds their thrilling anthem,
| are gaily singing.
| As it tbs was not. truly could not be "
uriny Dead Mans Land,
! Not far from thu. Mansion is Gods acre of
the family.
! Closely surrounded by wall Z: tn. tablet,
: gray aud oldrn
! Bearing such revcre,l historic names ~
| Washington. Randolph.
I Aud others OF former times. who made then
| great. illustrious.
such is the picture. solemn. sad. of WAr'.
grim desolatlon.
Connecting the things Of the Past with III,
living scenes Of Now.
What matters it to the vandal foe, the.,
| consecrated halls.
Around which linger. yet the presence o
the honorcd deal!
Like the rich perfume OF tho flowers arouut
the broken va-e
The spirits of former patriots, from, out thei
m"uldcrihe graves,
Bring not power mighty to rebuke the DIES
pots iron tread.
Yet vengeance swift and uncrring q ertak"
his mighty host.
| Where General Lee. is b. l.rg on Vii
ginias sacred soil.
With his SCARED and patriot veterans.
living wall they stand.
And vindicate his unsullied and pure ance.
trail blood.
Fighting for the South and Freedom gain.
IMPRESSIONS power.
Enshrined in each Southron's heart. tn
name forever blessed.
Fit compere Of our WAsuISGroN, great a n