The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-07-29

Issued Every Thursday Morning
$500 A Year. Invariably in Advance.
.'OId Cambridge
AT THE DINNER IN MEMORIAL HALL, JULY 8, 1875.
And can it be you've found place
Within this censecrated space.
Which makes so fine show,
For one of Rip Van Wrinkles race,
And is it really SOP
Who wants an old, receipted bill
Who fishes in the frog-pond still
Who digs last years uotato-hill
That's what he'd like to know!
And we're it any spot on earth
Save this dear home that gave him birth
Some scores of yeats ago:
lie had not come to spoil your mirth
And chill your festive glow
But round his baby-nest he strays.
With fearful eye the scene surveys,
His heart unchanged by changing days;
That's what he'd have you know.
Can you whose eyes are not yet dim
Live DER the buried past with him,
And see the roses blow
When white-haired men were Joe and Jim,
Untouched by winters snow?
Or roll the years back one by one,
AS Judah's monarch backed the sun,
And see the century just begun?
That's what he'd like to know!
came but as the swallow dips,
Just touching with her feather-tips
The shining wave below,
To sit with pleasure murmuring lips,
And listening to the flow
OF Elmwood's sparkling Hippocrene-
To tread once more my native green,
To sigh unheard. to smile unseen,-
That's what I'd have you know
But since the common lot I've shared
1--WE all are sitting "unprepared"
Like ealprits in a row,
Whose heads are down, whose necks are barred
To wait the headsmans blow,
I'd like to shift my task to you.
BY asking you thing or two
About the good Old times knew;
Here's what want to know: =
The yellow meet'n'- house-can tell
Just where it stood before it fell
Prey of the levelng foe
Our dear old temple, loved so well,
By ruthless hands laid low.
Where, tell me, was the Deacon'S pew
Whose hair was braided in que?
(For there were pig-tails not few
That's what I'd like to know.
The bell-can you recall its clang?
And how the seats would slam and bang
The viol and it's bow?
The basso's trump before he ssng?
And sweet-voiced Nat. Monroe?
Where was it old Judge Winthrop sat?
Who wore the last three cornered hat?
Was Israel Porter lean fat?
That's what I'd like to know.
Tell where the market used to be
That stood beside the murdered tree?
Whose dog to church would go?
Old Marcus Reemie who was he?
Who were the brothers Snow?
Does not your memory Slightly fail
About that great September gale
Whereof one told moving tale
AS Cambridge boys should know.
When Cambridge was simple town
Say just where Deacon William Brown
(Look round in yonder row.
For honest silver counted down
His groceries would bestow p
For thes were days when money meant
Something that jnged you vent
No hybrid like the nickel cent,
I'd have you all to know
But quarter, ninepence, pistareen.
And fourpence HAPPENINGS in between;
All metal fit to show,
Instead of rags in stagnant green,
The scum Of debts We owe.
How sad to- think such stuff should be
Cur Wendels cure-all remedy
Not Wendell H., but Wendell p
The one you all must know.
question: but you answer hot
Dear me! and have quite forgot
How five-score years ago.
Just on this very blessed spot
The summer leaves below,
Before his homespun ranks arrayed;
In green New England's elm Dough shadei
The great Virginian drew his blade
King George fall we'll should know!
Q George the Third you found it true
Our George was more than double you,
For nature made him so.
Not much jeweled cap can do
If brains are scarce and slow.
All, not like that his laurel crown,
Whose presence gilded with renown
Our brave old Academic town,
AS all her children know!
To-day we meet with loud acclaim
To tell mankind that here he came,
With hearts that throb and glow;
Ours is portion of his fame,
Our trumpets needs must blow!
On yonder hill the Lion fell
But here was clipt the Eagles SHE'LL
That little Ratchet did it we'll,
We mean the world shall know!
--.TOlyer Wendell Holmes.