The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-01-16
For the VIR0INIAS
TRIBUTE TO A LIVING HERO.
ODE TO DIR. L. P. BLACKBURN,
EY GEN. Thos. HARRIS.

ODE TO DIR. L. r. BLACKBURN.
| TY GEN. THos HARRIS.
! Feeling sure that many true hero has fallen
| his post of duty and for the want of recording
| hand has been forgotten, l venture to add my fee
| BILE words TO spread the influence OF q hero, al
| account CT whose heroic deeds during the gloomy
| season that has Just passed over the "sunn,
South" must inspire a noble response in ever.
soul earnestly bent on benevolent enterprise.
From all ranks OF society they come forth ant
retire. leaving their impress sometimes Will
praises unsung, and sometimes handed to the III
ture all glowing with the attractive of self sacri
fee.
Arnold Won Winkelreid, centuries agone, woI
the place OF hero in the rank when the freedom
loving Switzers gathered around the silvery lake
| OF Lucerne to beat back the Austrian host, fol
when the line Of Austrian spears was too tnict
and deep to be bent or broken, and Swiss valol
was at a standstill. he rushed forward, gathered
his outstretched arms full Of spears. fell, ane
/ thus over his body and through his heart, tn
Switzers marched to victory. No less does tbs
| hero whose deeds of death-daring were the occa
| sion OF the accompanying poem, deserve place
in our Preside stories as well as in the history
self-sacrifcing nobility.
The character OF the poem speaks for its gifted
author. G. NJ SHOTT,
Louisville, Ky.
From unknown land or undiscovered source
A dreadful Monster takes its fatal course
Laden with evil and direst woe to man,
Hurting destruction DER sea and land.
No marshal strains herald tn advancing scourge
Its march of triumph is the funer'l dirge
Power to man has neer been given
To avert tn impending wrath OF Heaven.
In the deep'ning shade and glad'ning sunlight
The refreshing morn and tranquil twilight,
! Hidden it turks, lmplanting on the air
| Its fetid poisons to wreak despair.
Pitiless as vampire, ghoul or gnome,
Invading every happy home;
| Horror. winged on zephyr's wave.
Sowing seed to harvest for the grave.
| The rav'nous scourge; insatiate to englut
From stately mansion to the freedman's hut,
Subtly extends its foul embrace,
| Loading with poison understanding space.
Oh land of chivalry and woe,
Prepare to meet thy deadliest foe;
Not with column, through battle driven.
But with plaintive voice to Heaven!
| The dread work begins, and, mid despairing cries
Mercy wings her flight into the skies
Expiring hope, crushed at the awful sight,
Through PHYS tears restraints her flight.
Mother and daughter. sire and son,
Min sitting friends, through affection won
In fatal alienation fall
Beneath the Monsters funer'l pail.
Doctor and urse, priest and layman,
Like tribute pay the dread highwayman-
Zen music OF the infants prattle
Is hushed in Deaths discordant rattle.
Heaven. curtained with its clouds OF gloom,
Corses Fastening to the darksome tomb.
Poison burd'ning the cumbrous air.
Leave all to desolation and despair.
Augmenting this condition drear,
Want and famine now appear,
And at the threshold of the fallen brave
Greet returning mourners from the grave.
Desiring without hope. fear chills the brow.
Means smite the air. Death speeds the pillow;
The harvest garner'd, the Monster finds
To fresher fields its course inclines.
With noisless tread and invisible approach.
Destroying with its pestiferous touch;
Poison the air with infectious breath,
Denoting presence by Its knell of DEATH
No tocsin sounds the dread alarm of war;
No succoring legends hasten from afar;
Norpomp, nor pageant, nor glittering show,
Invite to combat with the deadly foe.
In this dread hour of sombre fate,
Fen heroes honored by the State,
Pale with fear and sore with alright,
Seek safety in inglorious fight.
Who'll face the foe !? is loudly asked,
Pretentious heroes stand aghast;
When Blackburn, through the dreaded fen,
Seeks the Monster in his den.
We oft are told in fable lore,
OF honors dyed in human gore;
Won by Knights of val'rous fame,
Transmitting glory on their name.
Oft, tits true, mid battles strife
Heroes freely stake the life,
Buoyed with shouts of loud acclaim,
Wringing their deeds t. immortal fame.
But glory won on battlefield,
The palm to better acts must yield.
Achieved by those with virtue shod,
Performing works inspired OF God.
| Shielded by no coat OF mail,
Our hero strikes the Monsters trail;
Pursuing then the horrid pest,
Denies himself both food and rest.
No cheering banquet nor 'plauding throng
Enlivens our hero's course along,
But misery dire and most forlorn
OF every kind and nature known.
| Most dreadful was the bitter draught,
When friends of yore our hero sought
To find their homes now filled with gloom,
| Or noisome corpse bereft of tomb.
| But sadder yet, to heart SO kind,
| On ent'ring mansion there to find
| Orphaned infancy, in tatters drest,
| Tugging at dead mothers breast.
| Such fearful scenes might well deter
! And chill the bravest heart with fear;
| But Blackburn bent on mission good.
| Steadfast as Gibraltar, stood.
Succoring distress; with tender care,
| Supplanting Hope for fell Despair;
Both night and day, thro' storm and raf1.
He hastens to the bed of pain.
| Scoring the worlds ignoble pelf--
| Heroic! thinking not of self
Rich and poor in common share
| Alike his time and tender care
| Unfaltering, in his work Of love
Relaxing not till from above
| Mercy, from the Lord of Hosts
Returning, brings the saving frosts.
Oh! Kentucky. If.e'er occasion gave
| Inspiration to reward the Brave,
| On the topmost round of fame
| Inscribe the noble Blackburn's name.
His noble acts will ever shine
| Undimm'd through endless march Of time,
| Till Gratitude's heroic verse
| Wrests homage from the Universe.
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.
Tho annual ,,,aat;rr - tho Cbaeo nos L.
and Ohio Railroad Company was held ii
Richmond on the 18th. President Hunting
ton in his repOrt saws . ssWhile the bushes