Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-06-28

hospitality. Here we met agreeably to pro-
gramme our Lexington contreres and class
mates, "P-the married man, and
C-the Fiat Boy" who were from this
point to be of our party.
| 'We partook Of supper-went to bed and
slept"
SECOND DAY-NATURAL BRIDGE.
! After hearty breakfast and cordial ''God
bless you" to host and hostess, we all, now
FIVE in number Including one married MANI
started out for the Natural Bridge. Despite
the agreeable acquisition to our party, we
found walking less pleasant than it had been
the evening before. The roads were muddy
from heavy rain which had fallen during
the night We reached the Bridge about
II NJ. Here we met with H-another of our
classmates, who being native Of these parts
kindly essayed to show us the sights. After
resting oul limbs for time, not forgetting
to refresh the inner man with goodly por-
ton of friend Pitlnan's most excellent porter,
we went down under the Bridge.
| X X X X X x X
| We pause. It were impossible to describe
the feelings of astonishment and admiration,
of holy awe and yet of sublime delight, that
seized hold of our souls as we beheld for the
first time this grand triumphal arch of Ma
ture. It beggars all description of the pen
exceeds ak cunning Of the pencil. "Oh,"
to use the glowing language Of one who
wrote about it long years ago-it is sublime
so strong, and yet SO elegant springing
from earth, and bathing it's head in heaven.
But lit is the sublime not allied to the terrific,
as at Niagara; it is the sublime associated
with the pleasing. We sat, and gazed in
wonder and establishment. x
We had quickly, too quickly, too quickly,
to leave the spot 4 x; but the music of
those waters the luxury Of those shades, the
forms and colors of those rocks, and that
arch-that arch-rising over all, and seem
ing to offer passage to the skies-O they
will never leave u.s."
s.BWly!' said Kentuch, as, with head un-
covered, he gazed at the stupendous arch,
guarded by it's 'parapet of rocks and beau
titled and embellished by the numerous ever
greens that seemed rooted in the solid lime
stone. And as be said it, there was something
i like tear in his eye.
H pointed out to us Washington
name, said to have been carved by himself
when mere lad; also the profile. eagle,
lion, indian and other imaginary pictures.
4Alobdno and Vest Va. amuse themselves
by trying to throw rocks up to the arch, a
distance of nearly two hundred feet the
former succeeded in striking it several times
"a feat not often accomplished by even the
most expert throwers. seating him.
self upon moss covered rock on the bank
of the beautiful stream that here flows be-
meath the arch and empties its waters into
the historic James some two miles below
found Employment in writing poetry: while
Fat Baby wandered to and fro, gathering
wild violets and murmuring to himself
"What is love? what is love? %
At length, rain coming up Cor rather
DOM, all Of us, save P---hurried above
not failing however to take look at the tw'
gigantic cvergreens Of the arbor vite species
that stood on the right of the path about hal
way up The larger of these remarkable
trees is said to measure IS feet in circumfer
ence the smaller Is feet Reaching the to-
we amused ourselves by rolling ten pins
the use Of the alley being generously tender
ed us by Mr. Pitman. After it ceased rain
ing we mustered our crowd to march to HIS
whose pressing invitation to spend the nigh
with him had been previously accepted. Al
answered to their names exceptP. Where wa
he ? no one could tell It being suggeste
that he was probably still under the Bridg
writing poetry, Ala6ans was sent to scare
for him in that direction. It was not lony
before A returned with the practica
married man; who triumphantly shook at u
a white handkerchief, all covered with deli
cate pencil marks. 'sP-" had accom-
plished the poem. The Heaven built arch
had inspired him and now here on his hand
kerchief, (the only clean one in the party
was the glowing result Of his inspiration.
Kentuch snatching the handkerchief out 0
P's hand /; and mounting rock read as fol
lows
NUN NJ mTrDAT pDTnNR