Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-07-27
DEAR HERALD

! DEAR HERALD
| Perhaps you would
like to hear from your Rockbridge cores
! pondent agaili.
| If my letters come oftener than you
| like, you have place for all sslch. The
| Commencements at the V. VI. l and the
w. 4 L. U are the centres of attraction
| in the social circles here. The young
people seem to enjoy greatly the boat-race
and athletic exercises at the one. and the
drilling and marching and countermaich-
! ing at the other and above all. the balls
at both. The University has received a
magnificent gittin the Museum which has
| been bestowed upon it by some unknown
hand 1t is a fine collection of bones and
stones. 1t is really worth SOME trouble to
see it. Here. in a few hours you can get
better notion of the Geological world,
that existed before the present, and pre-
pared the way for man, than from long
course of reading.
However, ! have nv serious doubts
about chat discovery of science, that in
six days the Lord did not make heaven
and earth, the sea and all that III them is
And, between me and you, the wonderful
fossil remains, with jaw-breaking names
that J examined in this Museum, did not
am an old fogy
WheE the thermometer stands at 1000
in the shade warm, does net describe the
weather. Hot, very h5t is the world
Don't you think this climate has lost its
right to the good name, it has long
enjoyed. 1t deserves to be classed among
things intemperate rather than among
things temperate. We not only cat in the
sweat off our face, but sleep in it too. We
have had no rains for month. Vege-
tation is perishing. The rains of the late
spring made it very tender, and it wlthers
a way in the drought. The wheat crop
is better than it his been for several years
both as to quantity and duality. Abun'
dance of hay is being put up.
l have read the proceedings of the
political conventions, their platforms and
a good deal about their nominees. COM
pare the platforms but stop, L never
knew preacher to talk or write politics
that did not make an ass of himself, by
advancing some absurd, impracticable
nonsense. So will forbear.
Since began this letter. the sad news
of the death Of Col. D. II. Walton has
come 10 hand. count it one of the
greatest blessings of my life, that in the
| providence of God, 1 was permitted to
form the acquaintance of such one as
he. Nature and grace combined to make
him good man. Duty was his watch
| ward. Cleai' and positive in his convic-
| tidlis, he was firm and resolute in carry
ing them QUE. He Was always ready to
sacrifice himself to what he believed to
be right. | have, in an extended &C
quaintance, come in contact with many
men that, 1 thought, were good but
without exception he was the hest man |
ever knew. lie was one of Nature 5
noblemen, but what is fur better he is one
of Christ's redeemed.
Though 1 was afraid the news of his
death would soon come; still cherished
the hope, that he might recover, and the
tears would come while l read the ac-
count of his death.
Thou TT gone to the grava-but we will not de-
plore thee
guide;
He gave thee; he took thee; and he will restore
thee;
And death has sting, for the Savior has died :"
His lite, as | knew him, was claim to
that promise-Be thou faithful unto death,
and l will give thee crown OF life
July 18th 1876. w. o. r.