The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-10-26

LOUISIANA.
stand IN II mansion ancient. with
thoughts deep. sadly solemn,
Beneath. its polticu lofty, ITS massive
marble columns.
Huge towering upward, with their forms
rrandly S,vr:r. extended,
Without H. htnvss any, or splrnde'f ele-
.uallce of structure, ,
Til, walls with Stucco finished, Times
ruthless fingers have broken
The panels once rich with carved figures
curious, Arts tokens,
Which the artists skilled labor del'i'ht'
ed to emhrllieh; !.
But now tmpty. drfaced aud broket ~
man : vandal spirit.
Its corniccs elegant, beaded thick ; anG
set with swallows nests,
Like a Shadowy, mourning necklace
around tail woman neck.
The twittrrny cry and tlutter;ns wings
of the young tledgellnys,
Fill all the >ombrous silence with sound
like voice of speech.
FaSt~close,l the wooden shutters, rs en-
trance to tomb of the dead,
The broad and polished doors that once
stood swung back. wide open spread,
Giving to the mansion front hosp'table,
almost human smile,
Where the sunlight golden, fingered low
iugly on the shining hall,
Now sealed and silent, like lips of human
by icy death.
How the hearts pulsati0ns measured gro"
and hnsl!rd the deep-drawn breath;
As if standing before the portals boltod
Of an old tomb
On Georgetown heights, bearing namt
great and glorious.
Forever passed and fallen from common
g., speech of lips mortal.
Did the eye human, ever from portict
lofty and grand,
Dwell with expanded vision upon suc(
. lovely landscape view:
The forest in its rolls Of green meath the
breath of Summer swaycd,
Washing up into richest foliage, lSpplni
far away
TO where the ma jcstic Potomac winds 1t
" silvery flow. ;,
Here on the l.tt;.lies tho garden old
where oft, in times former,
Light forms merriiJ, gracefully moved
soft hands with taper fingers
Culed the flowers fragrant, Nature
beauteous offerings;
Now deserted Eden, no hand ITO To-
its wanton growth y
/. Yet still retains its pristine wealth
g gay and gorgeous flowers.
l. Before you lies the Capital, fair city
e Washington,
Il Where once assembled the Republic
l. wealth OF intellect,
Whose halls resounded to the voice
eloquent, words burning,
% Falling from lips now silent and hnshe
within the tomb's portals;
Patriot men, who by their Statesman
ship and great inte]lects,
Reared in grandeur the great temple {
Constitutional Freedom.
A monument, the worlds Offering to
nations founder,
OF Lifts its huge mass, a milestone might
4 resting on lap OF earth,
m ''To count the ages BY" and tell OF nj
m ton s reverence
For him who lives forever green in eac
patriots heart-George Washington
Straight out beyond the dome of II
Capitol,-a spiral bubble,
As if an ang els breath had blown it I'M
real existence.
He who here once proudly stood and ga
ed with soul-tlled beauty
Upon this panoramic scene of mans al
natures building,
S. Turned from the view, a patriot, who
. richly flowing blood
= Spurned despotic power, as did his a
cestors before him,
Went forth thrice armed in spirit to ba
tie 'gainst oppression,
With his heart believing, firmly,
truthfulness and honor,
In that cause sacred, which made o
great and noble forefathers.
7 Unfalteringly wreastle with the Britt
Il Lion in his wrath.
- Liberty! fair Goddess on the folds
thy slken banner
Are enblazoned these bright names 6
y Ous-WASHINGTON and LEE.
Push open the door reluctant, enter
70 hall deserted,
l" Its floors all Gov cred with dust, tim
lingering, silent footprints.
.c- Its frescoes and barren walls all dim WI
e.. tissue cobwebs;
'o The arches once fair, beauteous, all sta
nd ed and battered sadly;
ne A chain, dim and rusty, bangles from t
or ceiling lofty,
Where once hung suspended a Ian
whose light, pure and radiant,
th Shed it's sotteniug rays upon scenes bt
ev gay and festive,
" Now put out forever on those brilla
IT, scenes of former days.
The antlered heads of Virginia de
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