Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-08-22
A TRIP TO MIDDLET0wH (MD.)
VALLEY.
Eds. I,adeDen7e,,f

VALL6I.
Eds. Independent:
How superlatively grand an,
beautiful is the prospect Of the far
famed Middletown Valley. From
an intersection of the CatOctin ans
South Mountain, on the north; i
extends. about twenty-five mile
south to the Point of Rocks, and i
bounded on the east by Catoctin
and on the west by South Noun
tain and the Potomac river. Thu
average width of the Valley is siz
or eight miles. A view Of this val
ley it was my privilege to enjoy
from the top of Catoctin Mountain,
as the last rays of the July su n
were lingering on the scene, inn
pressing farewell kiss on every
object as it passed beyond the
western horizon. No genius of the
painter, with brush and canvass,
ever has, or can, furnish so gor-
geous panorama. A cool, refrsh-
ing breeze famed my temple more
gently than an angel of mercy
could fan the fevered cheek of the
sufferer on the couch OF the dying.
Fleecy clouds f1oated along the
sky, tinged with gold, as if happy
children, clad in garments of
white were scattering roses in the
path of the retiring king of day,
or as II some radiant angel, as he
passed through the gates of Hes
penus, had dropped his golden man
tie as he flew.
In ecstacy / exclaimed, "How
beautiful are Thy works, o God.
How beautiful is this world, not
withstanding it has been blig hted
by sin and sorrow" But then /
remember it was reconsecrased
when Jesus set his sacred feet upon
it, and redeemed when he died on
the cross, and it is being sanctified
by grace and is yet to be purified
by fire. Hence, whatsoever of
beauty we now behold is only an
earnest and prophesy of what shall
be.
This valley is in the highest
stat of cultivation. The wheat
crop, which was excellent, has just
been gathered in, and in every di-,
rection it can be seen that ploW-
ing for the new crop has been COM
menceL. The growing corn, which
is just tasting and shooting silk,
promises a large yield. This val
ley is famous for the rolling char
acter Of its surface, springs Of wa
ter and running streams, so that
one is reminded of the words:
'sThe little hills rejoice on every
side; the pastures are clothed with
f1ocks; the valleys are covered
over with corn; they shout for joy;
they also sing"
The prevailing rock is white flint,
or quartz, and the soil is a deep
clay or rich loan. Almost every
hill and little valley is cultivated,
so that there is very little waste
land, and the prospect Is as II one
were looking upon q vast garden.
And the picture is relieved from
monotony by being interpreted ~
strips of the finest woodland. In
full view are the battle. helds q
sSouth Mountain" "Burketts.
villen and "Cromptom's Gap"
where sabers flashed Ia the son-
light and bathed In blood--whOro1
muskets ratified and carried death
to many q brave soldier, and s0r-
Tow and suffering TO naany . once
peaceful aud happy home-where
the deafening cAnnon proclaimed
the h0rrors OF war--whore the
earth drank the warm blood OF
heroes, and holds in sacred trust
the ashes or those who found not q
place In the chosen and beautiful
Gem etery--to be given up again
when the last trumpet shall sound
louder than the bugle OF war, to
call living and dead, colder and
citizen, to the last solemn review.
In one glauce Of the eye I can
take in Middletown, Jefferson,
Centerville, Lovettsville, Va,
Harper's Ferry, w. Va, Peters
vile and Burkittsville, with Its
prosperous Female Seminary, and
the seven prosperous Lutheran
church in these several towns, and
churches of other denomi-
nations, at whose affairs the SER
wants of the most high God min
lister in holy things, and the wit
nesses for. Jesus meet to worship.
But now it is that memory for
bids us to view the prospect fur
Their, and gathers up the treasures
of the past and places me In the
scenes OF the days that have gone
by. i yield myself to the mystic
rious power OF memory. Hence I
am thus at the old homestead. /
run over the hills, romp through
the barn, play ball in the meadow,
he.f n @nh Ia. 4. ~ 80