Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-12
Johannesburg, Ky, Dec. 31st 1868.


Dear Spectator
-. AS perchance some of your kind readers
might not object to reading few lines from
Dominion, l send you this brief note from the
dark and Bloody Ground
Every Saturday night receive the s'Specta-
tor, and nothing affords me greater delight
than to peruse Its columns-to read the news
from the home OF my nativity, in the beautiful
Valley OF dear Virginia, and to see that there
are still some who yet linger around the old
hearthstones, to battle for the State which gave
them birth. The victories of Peace are great
er than those of War, and all honor to those
who not only barred their bosoms to the storms
queathed them by their forefathers-but are
now endeavoring to assist our loved Common
wealth, to recover from the blow which has
been dealt her, and to once more flourish as
the grandest old State in the Union Noble
they are, and true, who, instead of ''fretting
their proud hearts till they break from con-
temptation of the ruins by which they are sur
rounded, or turning their faces from all they
have loved and fought for, and wander to dis
tant lands to lind home amidst strangers, de-
vote all their energy and talent to rebuilding
their ruined homesteads and identifying the
desolate and waste places. Surely The Heav-
work, and Sin multiplying, will multiply them,
and in blessing will bless them.'' eo'
L write from within twenty miles of where
the Ohio rolls Westward to deliver its tribute
waves to the Great Father of Waters. Flem>
lngsburg, IS thriving town Of about 1000 In
habltants, and is the county town. of Elem
ing County. 1t is situated in the midst of a
fertile region, that is traversed by numerous
McAdamized roads which are indispensable in
this rich Kentucky soil. This place is the
home OF Miss Eliza A. Dupuy, the noted au-
thoress and contributor to Bonner's Ledger
She is now engaged on one of her thrilling dra.
matte stories, which will soon be forthcoming
[ had the pleasure of spending short time In
her company recently, and found her to be a
very pleasant and entertaining lady. She is
however quite bas bteu, and her apartments
are strewn with periodicals, and yellow covered
| novels of the Dime class She is large and
stout, has every appearance of strong minded
woman, and has attained the age of so years.
without ever having married. She has amassed
a considerable fortune from the earnings of her
prolific pen, but she evidently sees little pleas
ure, as she seldom goes into society, and there
being no ''congenial spirits for her she has
but few friends. [ wonder if she is accom-
plishing her mission on earth? What would
the far Ednie say?
AS write the year is growing old, and is
slowl dying. Worn, feeble and haggard, it is
drawing closer to the unfathomables ABYSS of
the past. The hands of the clock on the Tow
er are slowly stealing round the dial, and soon
the stroke OF the hammer will sound the knell
of the year 1868, cold upon its bier of snow ::
will
Ring out the 1000 years of Wars,
Ring in the 1000 years of Peace
The hail and driving snow beat pitilessly
against my window, and the cold wind goes
sobbing over the plain:
''The wind howls heavy with death and sorrow,
To-day it is thee, may be me tomorrow.
Let us, as some one has most beautifully
written, Into the grave of the dead year, soon
to be numbered with the eternal ages that were,
cast the flower of amaranth and evergreen of
pleasant and regretful memories, embaImed
and sacred, not to perish, but to remain fresh
and fragrant forever" To morrow in millions
Of ledgers will be written by the pen of Time.
the cabalistie figures l869-old records will be
blotted out, new pages turned, and new entries
made 1t may be that tomorrow morn in
Heaven, the Recording Angel of the good and
bad deeds Of men, will open a new, great book
and drop the tabled tear upon the arrears of
all erring humanity, blotting them QUIT The
iron pen OF Time, in this year has written deep
lines upon our brows and ia our hearts, with
inky drops Of blood diluted with tears, but let
us look in the young face Of the new year, and
hope in the future, and anticipate the best.
With one fearful drop for the year that is
about to 60 hence, with times heavy laden
wallet at his back. wish you happy New
Year, and one of great success to all from the
Editor to the DeUI MOT.