The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1864-07-22

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ssLeap Year. by Miss Jennie NJ Barker, of
AIS aGdori, va, contained much that was sound
and sensible, but I do not wish to be und erstood-
as concurring with her in all heaasiews For
woman may be as pretty as CyAthia-as grace.
full as VeLus,; and as intelligent as Minerva, yet
ITO buster, smoke cigars, and mix in rows OF
To wear the pants'.,b by day, and speeches make
Of nights, 80
would rob her Of those charms which makes
man her. willing captive. She info1lps us.thati
if II was grown young lady wodzdalse every
honorable means perhops, s'absofb on. Old
bachelor, . ito secure usband. - Such mourn
ful language Of regret of their solitary condis
ton. coming from one of those detestable be-
ings called ssold mads,' would be allowable, but
when uttered BY one SO young and beautiful u
objectionable, for ssshe can certainly make her.
self sufficiently attractive without such violation
of the rules Of ppopriety." Be gentle woman,
and then you will make a conquest over some
proud heart. Her description Of the misery
and loneliness Of rusty, growing old bachelors,
and their counterparts-old maids, was graph.
ic and sublime, and the coruscations shed on
the married state was sufficient to convert the
isiest ssthelor that ever seoifed at s..domestik
felicity.
ssThe Women Of the Present Revolution, . by
Miss Rebecea E. Davis, Of Abingdon, Va, was
written with much energy and feeling for The.
subject, and in style is. flowing and sparkling
and full Of sRirit and grace. In the creation of
the world, God made the beautiful earth and the
sea, the fowls of the mir, and the beasts Of the
field. Over all he spread the deep blue sky, RAJ
diant with the stars and the moon. He spake,
and the full orbsd sun rolled up the east. Upon
the earth he planted the fosers--the modest
violet with eyes Of blue or pearly white beha-.
ing gracefully around the margin Of the brook
the sweet lilly Of the vale and the beautiful
rose. He winged. the lark in the dewy depth Of
the sky to herald thezmorn, and the nightingale
to tune the Woods at. the close Of day. In all
this it would seem there was beauty and glory
enough. But ne, ne paused-and man stepped
forth in august state-an heir of glory-a nil
mature God! S $50
But ali still the world was sad, the garden
4 Wasa Wild, s7ssfss q
And MAN. the Hermit; sighed--till woman .snil-
| -. ed y :
Here creation stopped Woman was the last;
the GROWING glory Of all-the model Of Infinite
wisdoI--the perfection of Gods works. Her
voice--nnrivaled eloquence; her leok--eternal
spring; her inauence-power.
What lost world and made Hero fy3
The timid tear in Cleopatra's eye.''
True, woman as the cause of sin. Too c,-,
rious herself indeed, she tempted Adam to taste
1.-The forbidden fruit, but her sdferngs and tears,
I her love and sacrifices have atoned her sin
Man, at least, has forgiven her. To the iniu-
ence Of woman may be attributed the proudest
achievements Of the world.
ssTo the Hero she gave that unbounded soul
That taught new lands TO rise, new seas to roll
To the Statesman his princely counsel, his soul
sincere,
"a aetioa tras hfal ana in honaI =
In the darkest hours Of life her radiant smiles
have lit up the gloom-with the soldier her
words cheer.him op to picteYy-with the sick
she keeps the angel vigls of the night--soothes
the ;fevered brow-bathes the parched lips, and
for the dying. raises her voice TO heaven in pray
er. In the ehaste-langiage of the talented Miss
Davis, her .sdeeds shall not be Forgotten
Treasured in the hearts Of men; ihdelibly en-.
craven upon che present, theysshaH descend to
| adorn, with mellow light the pages of future
history; and should history too often partial and
unnindfM of truth and merit, fail to award them
their duesmeed Of praise, the voice of Minstrel
sy will take up the theme. and echo it. through
coming ages, a grateful tribute to virtue, patri-
otism, true beauty and heroisPi.''
IS Virginiaas Dead, =" by Miss Ellen W. Pres
ton, Of Tenn, was well written She scars with.
out bound or limit. amid the Elysian fields Of
her own Imagination, and culls flowers to form
into bouquets, and Weayes rosesinto garlands Of
beauty There are many rich jewels set in Vir-
f.gi MIA s. em--ssmany, in the pure language
ofsfhe gifted Miss Preston, from the burning.
shores of Texas to the orange groves of Florida,
from the oeean-bathed brow of the Caroliuias
to the blooming prairies of Missouri, from the.
beautiful plains of Kentucky to wavsswashed
Maryland who sssleep beneath the soil Of Vir-
kGipia, far from home and kindred
The sValedietory,o by Miss Josie French. of
Abingdon, Va, was a distinct personifcation Of
words and feelings of the heart, which none but.
those who KNOW the depth of meaning in the
word farewell could shape. She reminds us of.
the golden hours of orr early youth,--of the
memories of our college life, and Of tho soiem-
nifty Of sad partings, where sorrow lends it wall
and sadness echoes its deepest sigh She forci-S
bly, reminds her schoolmates of that chain, of
sweet associations forged by them, and points
them to the harmony of that sacred chain inter-.
rupted by a broken link; for death, she mourn-
fully said, that always loves q shining mark,
has ruthlessly Invaded our little circle and rob-
bed Us of a dear class mate. Mo eulegy Of mine.
shall interrupt the sanct;t your feelings, for
M. words would lag behind, and cool the ardor
Of that generous sensibility so seasily awakened
at the mention of Amelia Gbs9I's name. ~ It's
true that death came to her lilse the early frost
to the opening flower. and bid her spirit take it's.
eternal flight upward to the throne Of God, to
mingle with angels in heavens Joys, and breathe
with them celestial songs THEN 'tis.not for t..
fond mosher to Weepthe affeStionate SO, az, -