Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-09-14

~ Several years ago stranger ap-
peared in our community who, after
having stopped for . week or two at
one of the hotels in town, took up his
lodging. finally, at farmhouse in the
neighborhood, where he remained until
sometime in the summer of 1876.
He was quiet, modest, well-manner-
ed man, apparently about forty years of
age, of studious habits, correct deport-
ment and q retiring disposition.
Although he was very reticent, and
rarely spoke of himself, an occasional
allusion to personal experiences enabled
the family with whom he lived to learn
that he was . native OF Western Vir
ginis, and from one of the Translate
CLANCY counties Of the State.
Most of bis time was devoted to read.
ing, writing and piscatorial pursuits.
OF the latter amusement he appeared to
be particularly fond; and, during the
proper season for its indulgence, be was
in the habit Of spending portion of al
most every day in certain shaded and
secluded locality upon the river bank,
enjoying, rod in hand, what old Isaak
Walton was wont TO call ssthe contem-
plative mans recreation"
He went away somewhat unexpected
ly shortly after the receipt of long
letter from Alaska; and, from what he
said at the time of his departure, i: was
supposed that his destination was one
of those salmon fishing settlements on
the Northwestern coast of the continent
Before leaving he handed large
bundle to one Of the members of the
family, with request that it should be
taken care of for year or two, aud that
| if not called for in the interval by some
one duly authorized by himself to do SO,
it should be disposed Of in any way that
might seem best by the friends with
whom he had been sojourning. He
gave no intimation as to the contents of
the bundle, which was securely corded
and sealed, and which, having been put
under lock and key, on the topmost
shelf of closet. was not again thought
Of by the family in whose care it had
been left, until this spring, when, dur
ing the periodical process of "house-
cleaning" it was discovered that the
mice had made sad havoc with it-that
the strings which confined the parcel
had been knawed in pieces-that the
wrapper was destroyed and that most
of the contents, consisting of many
closely written manuscripts, were scat
tered about in fragmentary confusion.
Upon examination, the writings were
found TO be of a very miscellaneous
character, varying
"From grave to gay
From lively to severe"
Among them was a voluminoue and
much mutilated mock-heroic poem call
ed "The Piliad" i'm very humble imi-
tation, We suppose, of "The Iliad"-de-
scribing "the wars and woes unnumber.
ed" of West Virginia politics.
In looking over it we notice that dis
tasteful nominees are compared to "bit-
ter pills." from which we infer that the
title of the poem (so-called) has refer
ence to that fac:-the first four lines OF
it being as follows:
81 sing the pill, the bitter pill,
| Which, oftentimes against our will,
Is thrust down our unwilling Threats,
When called upon to cast our votes"
But it is not of "The Pilia6" we wish
particularly to speak; our object now
being simply to introduce to our readers
another of the mysterious strangers po-
etical trifes, which will be found below,
and which, having been written some
years ago in a distant part OF the State,
must not of course be considered as
having any reference whatever to the
present canvass or to any of our politi-
clans in this portion of West Virginia,
though We think that they, as we'll as
our people generally. may learn some
truths from its perusal which are not
altogether unworthy of consideration
because they happen to be disguised in
the homely habiliments of "rudest
rhyme"
So, We commend them to the patience
of our readers:
A WEST VIRGINIA WIFE'S AP-
PEAL, AND HER HUSBANDS
DECLARATION OF INDIE
PENDENCE.
A METRICAL DIALOGUE.
BY ONE WHO IS DRAMATICALLY OPPOSED
TO MACHINE POLITICS AND PACKED