Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-02-15
"IInme. Sweet Home,

Night dropped her shsdowy vail over
London, and The mantle Of misis that ell
day long had enveloped the city, grew
more dense, and fell in beaded drops OF
rain. The gas lights burned brightly al
the corners, but it was a dreary night 10
be oUt in. Yelcrowds filled the streets,
for even in night storms, the great thor.
oughfares are never deserted. Gull, and
wreichedness are always wakeiul and
abroad. TO realize the desolaiion OF
loneliness, one must be stranger IN
crowded city, with sensitive nalure, and
a refinement that shrinks from rude con
tacis, and uncongenisl comPanionshiP.
Alone 10 tie country with the blue
sky above US, and the green grass beneath
our feet, there are charms Ihai WOO US to
forgelluness. There is music in the run
ming stream, and beauty in the flowers
that grow upon lis banks. Some Ger
man writer. | have forgotten who, calls
flowers The stars of earth and stars the
flowers Of heaven. Fair and radiant
flowers they are and shed their bright.
ness On the smoke wresihed city. but IN
their mslchless, sollened and mellowed
light seem TO IDger more pleasantly on
green fields and waving corn.
Alone ~ London Dreary and desc
late reality, that swelled almost to burst
ing a weary snJ aching heart The sirsn-
ger gathered his thin cloak around his
shiyering form. and drew bis bat over h's
face, with sensitive shrinking from The
crowd that rudcly joslled past him. He
was alone 10 London, and very poor. not
even a shilling TO procure seaniy sup
per.
Somewhere in dark part of the city,
where the gas lights were. Up many par
OF stairs. was the gaUeI 10 which he
slept, bat in il there was nothing rave the
darkness, one broken chair aud wretch
ed bed with scsnty covering.
When be entered Ibis desoIsie chamber
in nights like This. sn unseen company
surrounded him. tie spirits oi Tie 'iew'
less air. and in he wsiliDgs Ct The wind,
they told him strange, mysterious tales oi
wIetchedness and dread, unnl. bali Wild
with dark imsgiuings, he rushed forth 10
the night and pelting storm. Thus
through the chilling sIeei and ram he
walked the slrsets, looking into The hard
faces Of the psssers by and wondering II
in all London there was Onolber nan who
had no one t. care for bin, no one to
love him. And then he thought boT deli
ciously strange il would seem 10 him-a
stranger and wsndeIeT !or many years
TO be lsved.
He hoped the blessed light would dawn
opon hin. but in the darkness oil ihi'
night IL seemed great ways oil. Ihe
cloud Of poverty, and gloom that wrap
ped bis besrI was too cold and deep. he
feared. for human sympslhy and love TO
penetrate. He seemed 10 see before him
Fale, with wisrd fingers. Ses'Ipg me
myslIc web OF bis lonely desliny. snd a.
he vsleh4d the phantom hands with ie-
yerish intensity. be wondered y 81 some
future day. that mantle ol brightness
migbtfsIl upon him instead Of pail. A
strain Of sweet sad music broke ~ ur0n
his lonely musing'. Over all refined ma
lures music has an sbsOfbing power. and
though IL often fills the cool Wiih sadness.
il casts upon it the spell Of an Inssislibls
fascination /; ssd Ihe stranger paused 10
his dssolsIe walk 10 listen 10 the song.
The windows Of the princely mansion
were but half vailed. and be could see The
happy group that surrounded The piano.
and the fair girl who sang he soft minor
air which sank into the listeners heart.
lie vac poet. srd bad written songs