The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-01-25
Original.
THE HEEAE OF BOLIVAR!
"A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.
Original
By ONE WHO WAS THAR.

one OF Virginia's loveliest days, that I started
out TO take a walk over the heights and thro
the vallies of Bolivar, near Harper's Ferry,
Va The SUM- IS if taking q goodnight peep
from behind the beautifully colored veil OF
mist and smoke that fingered about the
western horizon, had scarcely reached the
dimly visible summit of the distant range Of
the Alleghenies The beautiful shades Of
evening were deepening in the lnwlandS and
vallies and slowly creeping uP their slopes 10
the summit of the mighty hills that seem to
stand silent but sturdy sentinels over the
peace and quiet that sarrounCs them. Inc
balmv evening breeze of q sultry Southern
cline, as It foated gently among the leaves
and flowers Of the Locust, the Rose ana the
Myrtle, woke but gentle whisper OF Nature
beauty, so near allied to silence that none out
the thoughtful spirit, seeking communion
with Nature could distinguish 1t. wandered
lesurely on, now passing the RUNS OF once
elegant mapFion, whose biackened walls sui
stand, silent, yet eloquent witnesses OF the
reckless and unholy ambItlIn Oh men, ana
pleading for better and nobler clVIlizauon,
though it be obtained only over the ohltoh's,
and Antietam's, and Fair Oaks, and the
/ IMurfreesboro's of our countrys history
Again passing the mansion that seems to nave
Beautiful flowers are scattered protusely
/ around. pleasant walks, neat and clean, wind
| through the shady groves and gardens trough
/ no fence is left to protect them from the
/ trampling hocfs Of horses and the more an I
moving trespasses of men lin /, ) unitorm) +.
Pleasant smiling faces may be seen at the
omen door or raised window hopeful still, /
/ though some dear ones may have already /
f.llen from among them by the mere! -
I hand Of a cruel war still hoverlnS IN lnelF
midst. Thus along the fencelesS grounds, .
among the beautiful flowers, more beaut tuI
still that they we're surrounded by neglect
and ruins, | passed, gathering flowers as
went, and thinking OF some sweet lace lett
among the fa- OFT hills Of Pennsylvania, and .
wishing 50 much that it might be with me
then: almost thinking that was preparing
/ that neat b0qurt for that dear absent one,
until, suddenly, as l vas passing through Il .
ward more beautiful tOan any yet, was al
tractcd by the sound # low, sweet No'ce
coming from beautiful, vine covered arDoT
close to whice | was passing II was mum
m ng clre.essiy q good OLD tune 10 "hIch
loved 10 listen, and, unobseryedl stopped TO
hear IT, IL Was the voice OF female, ana
oh how charming She must be Young and
beautiful. Why had l never loved music so
before? I could almost imagine myself llS-
tepinc to the sweet songs Of angels, as ore
after another different tunes were ti0ated
gently out upon the Summer air, until the
shades ofegcning deepened into twilight,
Could leave the place without seeing the
angel sOngst.r2 Impossible Two steps
aad ms eyes beheld the glorious sight. A
form tf matcu,eSs grace and beauty, dressed
in white with red trimmings, black silk
s.arF and bluc veil thrown ClyeeSS.Y back