Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-03

warning hand of Providence-they yet remem
| bered that the Trailer Mayhower, freighted witt
the hopes of others tried like themselves, haC
passed over the deep waters in safety. They
trusted that now the fullness of time for then
departure had come, that the measure of then
sfflictions in this land was full, and home in
this new world would fulfill, for their relief, the
promise Of their God, SO often hopefully dwell
upon in all their congregations: For thou U
God hast proved US; and thou hast tried US as
silver is tried; thou broughtest US into the net,
thou layedest atflctiou upon our loins; thou
! hast caused men to ride over our heads; We
went through fire and through water, BUT
THOU BROUGHTEsT Us OUT UNTO WEALTHY
PLACE.
Gathering what little of worldly gear was left
| from out of their troubles; many with naug ht
| save the Bible, bat which alone had SO often
| before. in their sorrovful history, seemed to
suffice for even more than spiritual susteuaDce
in many weary day-precious as the one
draught OF sweet water that cheers the patient
camel through the weary wastes Of the desert
sadly but trustfuliy they turned away, as they
we'll knew foreUer, from the homes land the
graves of their fathers and fathers fathers for
long centuries gone. Without any known or
definite destination within that distant land to
which they turned, they hopefully embarked,
and in long and wearisome voyages crossing a
wide fatnomiess ocean that rolled its waves
like the dark water of Letne over all the crowd
ing memories of their past. they only knew that
now their anchors dropped upon the silent
shores of another continent, within whose
| trackess forests they fondly hoped to End at
last that peace for body and soul elsewhere so
| vainly sought. Ihe outcasts Of Eden were not
more deso;ate-
| Some natural tears they dropt but wiped them
soon;
The world was all before them where to choose
Their place Of rest. and Providence their guide"
1t was upon the banks oe the Delaware they
landed, and some rested for a season in the
province Of Penn, naturally looking for sympa-
thy from people WHO 10 the old world had
suffered like themselves for conscience sake
Others following their native Instincts passed
on towards the blue mountains whose towering
peaks and waving outlines along the distant
horizon recalled the memories of their child
hoods home amoag the bills and heath-clad
highlands Of SCOTLAND. Ascending the tops Of
the kiaocatinny- Indian term for Blue
Ridge-they gazed With charmed eye upon this
lovely Valley, blooming in all its pristine beau
ty before them, as on some fairy land they'd
longed to see." 1t fulfilled their fondest dreams
OF that promised land Of pesge, as it lay EN-
wrapped il, lis primal silence, broken only by
the sigbing OF winds among the forest trees,
The song OF the birds, and the sounds of mur-
muring waters. The long lines Of mountain
peaks, fading away in distant view, stood rang
ed on either side like guardian sant;nelg, while
clouds OF purple sna Of gold, gathering along
the ioltIest crests, h1og round the blue hori
zon, like waving banners OF welcome.
Tradition relates that the various Indian
tribes long held this Valley sacred as Q neutral
hunting ground. Tie growth of forest trees
al bx,, fri. - al 1F
the hunting season, and thus It's fertile soil by
each returning summeg Wogla spread the wav-
ing grass oReg ail its plains, and the Towering
dog wood, the redbud, szalla, rhododendron,
and laurel would crown all its hills with
beauty. Lowing herds of buffalo, the stately
elk, aud the graceful deer u countless aVmbers
found the;e fsgoprite haqnts among the green
pastures shd beside the still waters Gf this beau
tiful vestal land. Aka .ao classic isle of Leuce,
it wa5 : modern Elysium: where the forest war
riors, elsewhere foes, might here ia perfect
truce pursue together the pleasure OF the chase.
Here the wanderers found a genial home, and
within short score of years following their
first permanent set;.sraent in -TFS2, spread
creek in the Northern portion of the Valley,
aud soon over all the waters of the Cohongo-
ruton, and far up its branches to the triple
forks of the silvery Sherando-o original name
for Sheandoah Or ''Ss.lver Water lWhiie
many osmo TO Augusta by this route. the first
settlers CAME by Williamsburg across Swift Run
Gap, or direct from north Of IRELAND through
Pennsylvania, as befo,a atated.j Pressing on
SoQthVa.d and Westward. they settled the
sources OF he James and Roanoke, the Green-
brier, and The head waters OF the HosEon,
The government of Virginia with wise pol
icy encouraged these infant settlel,epts by libe-
raj grants, total exemption from taxatlop for a
! term of years. and guaranty ior freedom In ali
their torGls OF religious worship. Inus was Sc.
| cured for tho frontier a bold aud hardy and
| loyal people, palisade of defence 10 savage
| warfare aud proper nursery for pioneers to
push her empire Westward to the lavitlng val
| ley Of the Mississippi.
| The mopntell b0uDdarlss OF this isolated
| land stood as obstacles alike to visitors from
abroad, and wanderers from their own folds
Settled in clusters of families of the same faith
and fatberand, Strangers to all others on this
side OF the broad Atlanta their SOCIAL desires
were satisfied solely within the confines OF their
own new homes. The lpxuriant soil, and abpn-
dant game Of the forests, afforded In proiusion
| the comforts os their simple life. The pack
horse now aud then weading solitary way
across rugged mountains and through trackless
forests to the distant cities Of Newcastle or to
Williamsburg, ''when tt.ay needed money
! to pay their quit-rents, measured their COM
merciai intercourse with the outside world.
| They could be but peculiar people. With
all the piety, they had noIe Gi the asoetlc sane
| tity OF the Euritan with a jealous sense o1
honor, they had something like the. .chivalry OF
the Cavaliers, yet without wealth they escaped
| the enervatiug influences of luxury. Ine CON-
mon sacrifices Of sli their tortpnes IN long con-
tests with tle oppressor IL their native country
left all poor alike, and common suffering and
kindred sympathy suodged all social distinc-
tioua Theis untiring struggles for freedom o
thought and life, 'bequeated from bleeding
sire to son." had brought through succeeding
generations physical and mental training that
made them independent In spirit, seli-reilan
in strength, and hardy as the Nemean lion
nerve" True types Of tAelf ancestral Scottish
character. Wlrieh over shows to most advantage
in adyetsity, and has been well hkened to the
sycamore of their native hills, that scorns tC
be biased in its growth by sun or wind or tenn
nest. but shoots its branches deGant.y in every
direction, shows 10 weather side to the storm
aud it is broken before it will ever bend
When these men commenced controversy
it was ever most stouty aud perslsteptly main
tanned tor they were seldom convinced agains
their will and if vanquished, would argue still
An old resident of Hays Creek, in Rockbrldgt
county. contended all his life for bis particular
theory. az TO what tribe OF Indians were In
tered in the mound on that Greek; and or
his death. bed made it his most solemn reques
to be buried on the hill facing th9 lndlar
, graves. that he might, I'D ne said, be "the frs
to see the truth OF his theory established at TIT
/ rasurroctiOn -