The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1870-03-18
QUE COUNTRY HoxEs.

Wea so much pleased with the fol-
lowing from the Petersburg Index that
our brother editor must pardon US for
copying itin full: -"In the stirring times
OF war, when Virginia was a battle
ground and her people leader. in a
struggle as glorious as 1t was vain, wheE
We were ever the prey Of great excite.
ments. now in the de!irious joy OF vic
tory. now n deep despond, as some
disaster wrung cur hearts i'm those
days the present Was MI. each houi had
It's appointed work, little time was had
Tor thought. none for regret. But a
harder task than War WAS to be ours.
TO live through deadly years of uncer-
sanity, Of chaor. Of hope deferred, aud
TIE heart sickness that follows it,
Then, We had full time for fear OF the
future, for WEAKNESS Of the present and
idle, sickeaing, yearning for the past
that may never csme back. But now.
st length. we begin to pluck up heart
and to front whate yer is before us. And
now only, can we justly weigh the loss
e. We have met and fully appreciate
what is left to us. The broken and tn.
melancholy, who, though their hand
DC pnt to the plough, yet must eve,
look back; these form one estimate.
while far different is that OF the voupp
TIE ardent, and the aspiring. The on.
points to our lost autonomy, to ,ur
Scared and deserted felds. &c our great
debts. to the thousand mound. Tn,
cover tho beloved dead, who died IN
vain.
NOT In vain, say the other; their cause
was Virgihia's honor, their death won
her glory. We have lost greatly. but
We have gained new and nobler name |
among men; We, the youth, the new
virginia, risen from the ashes Of til.
war, have gained experience, modera
''on self denial. discipline. persisten-
ey, energy; good things all.
{. Some how thus, the balance might be
struck, ana not unjustly, tor the war
ana the years, called Of peace. since APP
pomsttox sunday, have been mighty
teacher. Nor, when We reckon I'D our
condition, must We forget, the sun
shires aud the earth brings forth her
increase, now, as e en-. We have lost
great possessions; but ourselves remain.
The family, aud the home are not gone:
me virtues which strengthen and the
graces which adorn land are not ner.
shed. BY many wandering stream,
many sheltered valley. OH MANY a
,entle hill, by Potomac and by York.
" James and Roanoke, on mountain
nd on plain, still shine the hospitable
lghts OF our country homes. There
XII the stranger is welcomed; the poor
TIL make good their claim; still the :,
nipple piety Of old guides the house
Old, whose daughters grow to comeli-
ess aud virtue. whose sons to truth
nd honor. Still, at the Christina.
de, gather to the old home its children
nd its grand children, to join the same. =.
Ter widening circle, to hear the le- :.
india their fathers heard. And. as here :;
I'd there is q vacant space, tho chill !.
'en listen with bated breath to learn. =,
~ their cousin died among the guns :.
Gettysburg or drew his lasts breath =,
the sum went down OH Shiloh. Time -
bs the tale o: its bitterness; we make =.
our sons and brothers our ancestors, do
d, In their glory we rejoice. Around W
hesrths of our country homes. what AN
'mories gather, what noble hopes 10
se. There. spite of battle and siege an,
:: ront, still lives that nnbonght grace las
nations. which Burke once mourned.
dead In France. For is /, has not
d, nor shall. So long MS sun shines {,
water flows, for v,rginia-so long IA,
nestle in our homes those house in
d virtues. truth. and horor and char noi
: OF which the grace OF life is but the lin,
ver. rec
neopie's virtue suffers no defeat in Ere
/, no, Is lost whom worldly goods are MAJ
E, it Is .ather the cloak 70 which we H.,
z in adversely, and which prosperi- is, I
warm sun sois'stimes makes weari- stea
.. II the Virgins of the past be .ior
: to as. indeed, we Will cherish its OF II
nory, not with rain replning nor iron
despair, but with a noble pride in S S,n,
memory, bidding us so to shape our
.Sat ne, In our turn, shall be dear
lose wI,6 come sfte- us. TO such an n,
no people ever lacked the means. ors.
Losses we have suffered Will. day niue
ay, grow smaller AS tine bears US Will
but. were they an hundred told looS
ter. yet think what remains TO US; with
elves and our native land hope, by v
oar country hemes." atta;
tura