American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-03
1IALHs OF LONG AGO"

ring IL u OuT SOiuHH@s hhS"h"
that the space it occupies is well
filled
All nature was flushed in calm,
peaceful repOse; a strange, sweet
perfume filled the air from the
myriads of flowers that drcked the
hills Il al plains in all the loneliness
of spring.
Yielding to the magical influence
of the hour, and giving free scope
to imagination, l was ,'orne on
Fancy's wings to the beautiful
realms of" long Ago"
Methought q sparkling stream
flowed by, and from its tranquil
depths rose an island bright and
fair, on whose surface appeared a
stately mansion, in which Memory.
the presiding genius of til lovely
spot. resided.
As she perceived our approach
she advanced 10 meet us.
Learning Our object WAS 10 visit
the realms OF Long Ago. she
ramb.es. With many thanks we
willingly assented, AM! at one, pro
ceeded on our way.
Many and varied were the beau
tiful scenes through which we ram
bled, and not Que stern reality,
with its grave image, dared obtrude
upon our view.
Guided By unseen spirits, we
passed crumbling palaces, stately
pillars and maj site archways-so
light, so fantastic, they appeared
the work of fairy hands.
So swiftly were we borne on the
wings of fancy, that at one moment
we were floating upon the Adriatic,
gazing with enraptured eyes upon
Venice, the beautiful Bride of the
sea, beholding the gOndOliers as
they passed rapidly to and fro,
whilst the stars kept time to the
music of the waters.
The next instant We wandered
through Pompeii. aud saw it, not as
it now is, but in all the beauty of
it's buried greatness.
Now heather Rome rises before
US as the proud mistress of the
world.
We wander through her crowded
streets, looking upon the triumphal
PROFESSIONS as they pass in endless
succession, when far in the dis
lance the coliseum frowns upon Us.
We enter. Again it is thronged
with human forms eager, expect
ant faces peer into the bloody arena,
and with the hum Of voices and the
roar of Wild beasts are mingled the
stified cry of the victim.
Like the ever changing scenes of
a panorama, it passes away, but ere
it fades from view it changes from
the crowded temple to crumbling
ruin, and the cross, triumphant
symbol of our redemption, towers
majestically above that city whose
soil was 50 often bathed in martyrs
blood.
The mind grows weary Of the
gorgeous objects that are crowding
upon it.
We turn from them all, and
hasten back to the beautiful isle.
There we seek repose by gazing
idly in the tranquil stream. when
10 in the depths of the golden
island what is it we see that causes
the heart to quicken and the eyes
suffuse with tears !
Yes, the happy home Of or child
hood, nor dimmed is its lustre be-
side so much splendor.
Again we revel amid cherished
recOllectiOns, See our favOrite haunts
and the loved ones who were wont
to share our joys and sorrows. We
hear their voices floating sweet and
clear on the evening breeze, and
gather again the flowers OF love,
and hope, as in tie halcyon days of
the Long Ago."
On we wander through green
sloping lawns and f1owery wales,
past babbling brooks, i'll which our
childish feet were Sd often layel.
Once moro we turn from those
bright scenes, as from the depths Of
a woody knoll, deep hidden III IA
messy bank. the graves of the early
loved and lost rise peacefully before
as. Oh! what food OF CHERISHED
reccltections IItoiieS over the soul as
our eyes rest upon those silent
mounds. How eloquently they
speak of the joys and sorrows OF
other days! We dreamed that in
this lovely isle the magic waters of
Lethe would blot from remem-
brance past SORROWS, but. all! no,
one clear idea wakened in the
breast by mem'ry's magic lets i'll
all the rest"
SorrOwfully we turn from this
mystic isle as memory bids Us
adieu, and slowly return to the
present, for our golden islet that
sleeps on the river Of Time is but
an tgnMs fatmns that lures us from
sad realities, leaving US almost dis
consulate for the pleasures we shall
nev er again experience.
| But should we not look hopefully
to the future, believing the golden
glimmer Of the past is still around
us to guide and cheer US in this our
earthly pilgrimagef
How earnestly then should we
strive to make our lives good and
pure, that when Imagination leads
us through these blissful realms we
may see no lurking shadows of vain
regrets or misspent hOuIs, iDcreas
ing the pain and marring the
pleasure We experience in recalling
those by gone days of the Long