Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-10-23
The Old Path and the Fake Leo
der,


Far out on the Western plains there
is q valley known as the "vslley Of
Death" II Is about ninety miles in cir
conference, and is walled in by cliffs
mountains hundreds of feet IN height.
In the distance it is grand, inviting
beautiful to look upon. Yet il seems
that even the wild Indian, in his wan
derings was never known to enter with
in its dismal walls.
In the year 1850, several hundred
emigrants left Salt Lake City to seek
homes further West When few days
on their journey, some concluded to try
. new route. The veteran leader aud
guide urged that they should keep in
the "old path" the one known to be
safe, ard for the reason that il aboun1ed
ir water and grass fou their teams and
herds and that there was no danger of
being led into desert in seeking new
routes. The tragic fate of other trains
that hac quit the known and tried route
was called to mind, all, however to no
purpose. A new leader was chosen by
those who wished to try q new route;
eighty-seven families, more than three
hundred persons, followed him.
It was sad hour when separation
began. Tie voice Of warning might
have been heard in almost every camp,
among those who could not be induced
to quit the old road. II was answered
with jeers and often contemptuously.
Soon the trains were out Of sight Of
each other For days the train Travelled
without interruption, nothing occurred
to cause any regret for their abandon
ment OF the "old road" Il was not
long, however, before it was found that
their supply OF water was exhausted.
This trouble was soon relieved by the
word being passed along the train that
a beautiful valley was In sight, that
abounded with lakes of clear water. All
was hope and hurry as they pressed
down the declivity and descended into
the broad valley which lay out stretched
before them with its promised cooling
fountains. Water was the necessity,
and this they imagined they could sss
just in sighf-an hours drive ahead.
A days travel did not bring them TO
water, but to the centre Of the desert,
where, instead Of lakes Of water, to
their utter dismay they found found
white sand banks, rejecting o heat like
a powerful furnace, which increased
their thirst rather .han diminished.
There was no sign of life a. they could
see-not q sprig Of grass nor o drop OF
water. All was death-like. "What .
delusion What mistake How much
better il would have been for us to have
continued on the road we abandoued !"
were among the lamentations of tn nm
fortunate travellers. For few minutss
there was utter dismay. Parents turned
pale and little ones wept as If their
hearts would break. The cry was ava
teri" from their parched lips. Now.
for the escape The train was turned
towards the walls. Here they found
no outlet not 80 much as where they
entered. Around the gloomy walls they
began their doleful march. Bot Il was
was the march OF death. Their focks
stretched themselves under the soorch-
ing sun. Then the little children cry
ing for water, died at their mothsr's
breast; and mothers, In turn, laid down
to rise no more. Here and there might
be seen the father, mother and little
ones all stiff in death. In little while
but fUo remained out of the three hun
dred. These escaped to tell the tragic
story of their comrades.
To this time, scattered along the bor-
der OF this dismal valley, are the wagons
Of this ill-fated colony with their teams
attached; and side by side Ia the lonely
waste are to be seen the shriveled skele.
tons Of parents and their little ones
ghastly and frightful monuments of tho
folly Of those who treat with contempt
the counsels of the aged and experienced.
"Whst q sad fatel They should
have kept on the old road" nj will say.
Yes, and you are right. But did not
those unfortunate people act just like
many little boys and girls, even like
grown up people, who grow tired Of tl,s
old paths pointed out to them by their
parents and friends, and who seek new
ones TO their shame and ruinf Boys
who quit the Sabbath School or the
church ~ roam on the street, or hunt.
are quitting the "old paths" for new and
dangerous ones. Those who lay ssids
the Bible and the religious book or pa.
per for such publications NJ the Chin.
ney Corner, Days Doings, the Ledger
or the New York Weekly, are sLss.
doning "old paths" for those those thss
lead them to the real valley Of DEATH
the dark vale Of eternal perdisioa.
Young people should close their ears 20
those that call their parents '4old fogiss"
because they insist that they arc righs.
Many are laughed at because they hang
to their namas apron stringA Better
this than to hang:o the end Of . rops
from gallows.
Alb! how many that once were things
Of beauty--desr, darling little sons and
dsughters-tbe pride Of dOting passuss
and friends, are now the loaihsosss, shs
shfiyeled skeletons, the victims wbo fa
dishonorable graves, and whose souls
are 10 the vale Of eternal night-sIl
this because they abandoned Che cd,
tried paths Of truth and virtue ~ thoss
Of pleasure and dissipation. Tsks wsru-
ing children. When tempted 70 do evil,
to abandon the teachings OF Gods word,
think Of the ensigSsnf fssis thst W.