Evening star., 1869-05-13

MOUNT PLfAsAST. u. c., HAY fith. i5ss-
EditoT q .Stor There is something efresning
IN q news item originating 10 the Country.
s.(iod made the country" you know, and
whether that be the reason or not. the trans.
actions Of the country, socially, etnically, po-
htcally, and religionsly, as ruse are more
wholesome, more correct, than those OF tbs
ciry he citys calendar Of crimes that daily
fill he local news columns, stan ds In sadden-
ing contrast with those facts that ordinarily
transpIre In the country. Our village now
presents delightful sights and sounds. The
forests are dressed IN the richest verdure, the
aSwnet fields arrayed in living grsen,"
delight the eyes, the songs of the birds gratIfy
the ear, we enjoy the redolence OF ,he wild
flowers, ami we are refreshed by the inhalation
of the purest and the freshest air.
But our borders are expanding; we are
giving evidence of thrift and OF gro with. Mr. :.
r. Brown, the original land propristor of our
town, recently sold, learn, q half acre lot to
Mr. John b. Bioss, a citizen. One new dwell
ing, the properly Of Mr.. Harmon, has been
erected this spring, and 1 understand from q
ie.ianie source a,s tnat Gs neral sherman proposes
MIR. j. W. Ruker, n gentleman OF means, enter.
prise and public spirit, am told will have
several cottages erected here this summer also.
The Levy Court, i hear also, have decided 10
build for Us q school.house for use in the
au umn. The same authority, through their
subCrdinates, are nacHdiug our rays. The exten
frequen'ed oy your city people for q drive, is
being put In most excellent condition Every
Sabbath day its side walks are thronged with
people coming out from the city 10 tue woods,
and returning with hands:ul of buttercups,
foreetmenots, blue vlolets, lupins ana n fiowering
shrubs, misnamed wild honeysuckles, and sun
dry other wild flowers for which L have no
name.
We have q school near by us-an estipaa bile
eircumstance-situaed within the heightened
shadows OF Columbian College. taught by Mr.
Smallwood. The new, elegant BRICK mansion
being constructed on College Hill for Presiden,
Samson is nearly completed. 1t commands a
most delightful view of the city, the Potomac,
and the highlands bordering 1t.
We have anotf er neighborine village that l
must mention, which, for the want of an mex.
pensive charity from some well.dsposed per-
son to give 1t something better, is named Toll
Gate" But "whats in a namer 1t is q stir.
Ilng, money aking locality. i would call il
Industry, IL something better cannot be found
The people there want the STAR" very much
Some active lad ought to be making few dol
lars every month by carrying it to them. Our
Gate, little way mp gentle activity, is the
"Soldiers' Home" the loveliest locality in the
suburbs Of Washington city. From our vii.
lage we can see its gray limestone tower, and
the old flag there floating on the breeze every
day. But what prospect is spread out in
'front.' Of the Home. furnishing q tempting theme
for poets pen or painters pencil. There In
that view, are form, color, sky, hill ard dale,
ferest and field, lawn and landscape, the city,
the Potomac and the highlands along il,
stretching away to the horizon in the dim dis
lance; and all brought TO view in a single
glance.
81 'Tis distance lends enchautment to the view :"
And there, near by the Home, is the original
National Cemetery, TIE most beautiful, the
graudest OF all these "Bi ivouacs of the dead -
Aye, truly, there our noble slain rest in pleas
ant places. Under the watchful care Of the
agents Of beneficent and thoughtful Govern
ment there they
"Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn Of toll nor night OF waking"
Some OF them beneath those green mounds had
spirits doubtless as gentle. as brave, and real.
izing the approach of the pale horse and his
rider, and looking forward with the mental
flowers they might have appropriately whis-
pered the last words Of the gentle and the gift.
ed Keats
Il feel the daisies growing over me-"
l.. = A.