Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-06-03
Letter from rper.s Ferry.

Mr.. Zittle-Much longer time has
elapsed thao / intended since / last
wrote You. But sickness, and spring
with all her beauty and brightness,
brings plenty Of work, and mothers and
house keepers but little leisure I'm.
here are the children with their I;,,Ie
friends, ready for their evening walk
having promised shall accompany them
However l will carry my portfolio. and
write you few stray thoughts, as they
may occur. Whilst they continue their
pererations, shall await their return
uphn "Tod Dukes Rock, so called at
ter Talbot 5. Duke, whose name is ia
miliar to many of Jefferson County
Here he might be seen when young
man for hours-yes days, carefully pc
rusiug some good and substantial work
How often have | sought him, full
of thoughts too great for my poor un-
Outstanding to comprehend. l hope to
carry through my life green memory
of the good counsel and help he always
generously gave me. The strong points
were seized and analyzed, and when
they had passed through the crucible Of
his understanding, the pure metal was
easily discerned.
On some occasions, being warmed by
the subject and circumstances; he spoke
with an animation and cogency which
exhibited his higher powers of argu-
mentatiye eloquence though ordinarily
Homers description Of the oratory of
Ulysses might be partially applied,
''But when he speaks, what elocution
flows,
Soft rs the tleeces of descending SHOWS"
Eloqueuce is not mere words, it is
not the pompous parade of speech, it is
not emphasis, ejaculation, gesticulation
or intonation. The orator is not he
who can roll off periods on sesquipeda-
lion words, or emblazon feeble thought
in brilliant rhetoric. but it is he whose
mind most powerfully grasps ideas, and
with unerring logic pours them forth
III fitting words TO the public ear When
the sun Of a bright day declines below
the horizon Il sottened radiance fingers
among the shadows of approaching
night, and so it is when good man
goes down to his resting place in the
grave. Streaming behind him is the
effulgence of al exalted character TO il
lumine the way for others and tighten
and soothe the sorrows Of bereavement,
he will ever be held in grateful and al
fectonate remembrance.
There is enough to attract any eye in
this beautiful prospective. Look at
those moss covered rocks, and clinging
vines, and never changing eyergrecns,
and the wind, that bears fragrance
from those ccdars thickly set with pale
blue berries, and of the mighty spruce,
which throw their still shadows over
the grass, while beneath me flows the
waters of the Potomac, whereon the
romantic spot, Byrn's Island lies 1t
is sweet to liuger here in these peaceful
shades among the fitting birds. How
they sing, those little fellows on those
branches. An eternal hymn of praise
going up TO the God of life.
Not lcng since when storm was
rising and seeing the children sat with
out fear, watching its approach, l en-
deavored to lead their minds 10 the sub
Unity OF nature, teaching them to adj
mire the grandeur, as well rs the beauty
Of creation. God, thank thee for the
one power Thou has given me, it is
this, with which 10 enjoy nature
Could 1t be possible, | asked myself,
that anything but the most paternal
goodness dwells in God who takes
such incesSant pains 10 afford Us pleas
ure, as by the continual creation Of such
wonders7 No, it cannot be, He is good,
He is kind But ! hear the dear chill
dren coming. 1t is from all sides moth.
ing but peaIs OF laughter and enthusiast
tic admiration at the planest bug, or
the simplest blossom. The gay little
band hardly know what to do in their
fresh delight. ''See the beautiful flow
ers, here is one for you Thanks, |
did not know we had such on our hills,
it is Camelliform, white, prettily edged
with pink" Now while We arrange
our velvet jackets, johnnyjumpups, hon
eysuckle, will you please continue that
Missionary story--fOr have thought so
much about it. How | would like to
grow to be good and marry a minister
and 90 away ever SO far
"Yes, used TO think thus as a girl,
but now am wife and a mother, and
the sweet drawings of home ties are
stronger than early yearniugs
NO." says little voice, "tell US Of
heaven and the angels "Not this
evening, my dear, but if YOU want to
be an angel in heaven, you must begin
TO plume your wings now, for it takes
a long while to soar 50 high. Come, it
is growing late, and while we are walk
ing along, want to ask you TO repeat
these lines with me, aud ask yourselves
what return shall ! make When the
glad Summers gone.
Nothing but leaves; life lived in vain,
And, OH, how the good Master grieves
To find that for all he has suffered for ns,
We come laden with nothing but leaves.
Nothing but leaves; Oh, God, shall II be,
That the life shall so fruitless be found:
No, graft Us anew, with thy spirit OF love,
For without it We cumber the ground"