Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-08-30
rFor tie Spirit of Jsfferson.l
A Day Spent at ifRookston."

August 23d, 1870, dawned q bright and
beautiful day. The genial smiles of old Sol
gladdened the heart of each anxious expece
tant, and with happy faces they fastened to-
the hallowed walls of old ''Rockston." The
first sound that fell upon my ear was that OF
the fiddle, and Glands across" and ''Down
in the middle" which carried me far back to
thepast-the days when was young. Soon
"sweet sixteen" and thoughtless fourteen
were mingling in the may. dance-with
eight fantastic toe" sped the hours away, till
the inner man spoke in peremptory tones the
hour for dinner. With graceful touch, one
of Virginia's fair daughters spread upon the
green sward snow white cloth, and in her
clear musical voice bade them Welcome
Chickens, biscuits and buns
Were soon devoured, by
The hungry ones.
With laugh and. jest, they whiled away the
hour, till the violin called them to partners
to their places" I followed again, but soon
felt disposed to leave them to themselves, and
seek food for my own fancy. Methought, as
1 wandered from place to place-each scene
halowed by the voices Of those who are now
slumbering in their narrow homes-thaL /
could behold the same stately forms that had
graced the walls an hundred years ago, and
the reflection of fair young face from the
old English mirror, now almost demolished.
And wandered in thought to the time when
the old ruins of "Rookston" once stood the
mansion Alas ! time works its own way,
and stops not for reflection. Its iron grasp
has crumbled to dust the old homestead of a
noble name, and borne on its wings the mas
ter, mistress, and slave. l then followed my
companion to the spring, from whose spark
ling water our country's hero had drank, and
upon whose banks the noble Washington had
slumbered, his only bed bulls skin, his
pillow the same arm that dealt the death blow
to the foe, and gained for the happiness and
prosperity of generations to come, the "Free-
dom of America" Not long did I remain in
silent admiration of 'sThe Father of our Couu-
try" before the familiar happy laugh of some
one awoke me from my dream of patriotism,
oppression and injustice, and drove away the
spell. soon forgot that even then, perhaps,
time was playing with my hair, leaving lit
tie silver now and then, and few lines about
my face, for this noble son of the "Old Do
minion" was converting into a goblet huge
vessel, which 80 excited my risibles that my
laugh was mingled with those of tenderer
years. He drew my attention to youthful
pair, roaming through the grove. | looked
at them with smile, but in my heart l shed
tear. How [ envied the sincerity of their
young fresh natures, whom intercourse with
the world had not robbed of truth. They
knew nothing of the vile deceptive fattery to
which those of maturer years are prone; in
consequence of which, truth has its throne in
their hearts. The brown eyed girl of four
teen summers, and the blue. eyed boy, just
escaped the restraint of military discipline,
felt and realized the power of being happy.
Oh thou halcyon days of childhood-where
are thy thorns2 All! it's when manhood
and womanhood creeps along, that we find
them. Where is there heart that could dim
the eye of a child with tear, or cast frown
upon the brow of youthful innocence Let
them live lily of the valley. Let them
alone in their purity, to enjoy Gods richest
blessings
All things have an end-so had our Pic
mic. At six each one wished happy good
night With many kisses and secret FLASHES,
they parted, all to remember the day spent at
"Rockston." A STRANGER.