Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-02
For the Spectator,
Mr.. EDITOR

am still an unwlved young man,
verglng towards 45 and dreaming of the fond,
gladstone days the morning twilight of mat
rimony. Yes, still dreaming But pause to
record my last, exactly as it came by the mid
night telegraph; P.ehapse,- it might not be all
even now. But ! tell it. because | have
dreamed the same thing, for years. 1t is ever
fragmentary-in vivid skeleton outlnea~like
distant fields Of frost-Work-seen through mist
and moonshne. But here it is
= had fallen into slumberous reverie and
dreamed myself married; or, rather very much
like married AT all events, I got myself up
into the fringed margin of the Happy Land
like border rufian," ana walked about as
"one ct tlain at least, SO the dream had it.
| thought this fair country of matrmony
stretched itself out among the stars and foated
on an atmosphere of love like soap bubble
time Of it, getting Up these. had to climb a
through the flooring, to get in-and, II per
spired accordn.
At last, | made out to get through and gath
er myself up and look cautiously about NE. |
Ess really ha9ildered. !! cannot describe my
feelings 6f wild surprise, as ! realized, for the
first time, the unwonted features and strange
occurrences Of this land Of Promise A few
others came bursting through, as [ did-unbid
den-I beheld, likewise, frequent trains of bril-
dal parties arriving from aud departing to ev>
cry point of the compass. These all wore hap
py faces, which seemed to brighten up, flush,
at the sight of Paradise. And yet, there was
a prevailing look Of rsliafi as i they had es
only, as tie frishman said, Il should like to
know what they scared at. But, as ! said, the
trip seemed to improve them. /, too, felt
happy ip SO reluplioatlpg my hessedness, after
years Of loneliness, SO many and sad. Indeed,
/ almost expired Of the l,ost sxeruciating hi
larity fel. az if I could snub the fondest
ambition Of my life, only to realize the thing
for one moment-in spite of the occasional
presence of passing grief to part forever from
my sole self and the happy world below, which
| had so recently left in quest Of this ecstatic
change, for better, for worse moved
about, veyy tiuidly, through a forest of white
tua beyaoId nd t the ken of mortal vision. '
These were interlaced with wild pyofusion
of vine and fruit and Aower. There were
green shady fetreats-s sparkling fountains
birds Of glorious hue, wild with delight and
bursting into sang. And, there came forth,
from thousand viewless hearts, notes Of re-
joicing and festivity and merry making-di-
vinely beautiful sweeping over the soul like
the awakened memories Of childhood Naught
but the music If exulting and innocent delights
disturbed the surd and whispered stiffness
which breathed over the scene, like great
| wilderness murnluring to the touch of caress
Ing winds. And then, as each welded pair
perambulated this glittering realm of nuptial
bliss, you could almost see the first awakenings
of the new intoxication starting into being from
their refulgent faces. It awoke me to the idea
of Devotion: They twain shall be one flesh. y
And, they a2ere one fesh-they did seem to
lose their personal identity. Oh! there as
something beautiful in love, when one goes a
'wooing-but to have It eliminating in married
bliss-to witness two fond ones-.fagrante de.
Hcto-lavish upon each other their most affec-
tionate regards: to see them play off the sleek
est and tenderest endearments and melt into
the softest aud sweetest solutions-this is to
come forth renovated with true conception of
RAPTURE!! Who then, once attaining this
conception, could ever have word of excuse
for that apparition OF infelicity-sthe single
life?
For my part, felt it was q vale of tears be-
low, where: dwell the rueful Bachelors. But
| Fad not as yet even heard of my s'better
half Il began to have an intense desire to
realize her, Rat no one was disposed to help
ne. And / note it as a respectable circum
stance that | could get intormatioa from no
one. They reveal anything, Not they. And
SO wondered and wearied far in this forest of
Pillars inauiriug what was to be done-where
was my fair one &C." ,aa always ,S. getting for an
y,dpnrss psnsH f e is I'm ~.
I met with a venerable tow head old woman,
who, | thought would appreciate my perplex.
ity. I spoke to her kindly said Ny
dear sweet lady, 1 am travelling man, / am
from far country-I am very much troubled
people won't iietl me anything-I don't know
What to Hdo-will you be kind enough to help
me little?' She raised her spectacles and
looked at me as quzically as crone. 'sReally p
says she, you want information! Poor limo
cent thing A mighty helpless, harmless,
sucking bird you are Aint you afraid the
COWS will take you for a green owl?" I wilted