Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-12-10
L I'll X SEN TIN + l.
Friday Morning. =. December 10, 1880.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
IN THE COUNTRY.

However attractive the town may be, as
the nucleus of news, and life, and restless
energy, we always feel that we have been
exceedingly fortunate when we can drift for
few days oreven minutes into the country,
where the rumbling of carriages and wagons,
the scream Of the steam whistle, the inces-
SAINT tramp on the sidewalks dies into 81
lence and security before its light and noise
have penetrated far into the pine forests,
where all the envies and rivalries, the heart
burnings and unworthy jealousies of town
existence pass over the heads of the country
denizens like an idle wind, which scarcely
rustles onward before it is forgotten.
Yes, we love the country, and the more
retired and isolated, the more we love it,
Had we our way we would mark out cir
Gle of hundred miles in diameter and throw
around it the protecting egis of the constitu-
ton. 1t should be misdemeanor TO chop
down tree, felony to clear an acre within
its boundaries; we would have it a forest
forever, the old woods, having grown to be
monarchs, should be allowed to wrcstle with
the fury of the storms, till worn out by dis
ease or the ravages of time.
We love to 60 to the country; every hon
est shake Of the hand attests the sincerity of
the heart; where you can go a little ragged
or untidy asyou please without subjecting
yourself to remarks, or offending the nice
sense of propriety pertaining to conventional
NJ 10 f,Nrx hot
you say or do provided always that you do
not offend against the abstract rules of de-
cency or the requirements of natural deco
rum-where you can, if you so desire, drift
leisurely and quietly under the shadow of
the hills, ponderover the weired countenance
of great masses of rock that lie before you
like ruined wall, sketch your thoughts by
the beautiful spring that comes bubbling up
by the side ofsome moss-covered boulder or
from beneath the tangled roots of some
birch or maple, which have often stood as q
silent witness of many a story Of love and
romance,
Yes, we love the country in the spring
time, midst the birth of flowers and the song
of birds. We love the country in the sum-
mer-time, in the leafy months, when silver
mist hangs along the streams and dreamy
clouds float as softly along the horizon as
the parting of maiden's lips in her first kiss
of love-.when old "Brindle" and "Red"
stand doing in the marsh, horses are
grouped beneath the old oaks and the sheep
and cattle are painting at the angles of the
fences. We love the country in the fall
time, when autumn marches slowly on with
her rich burden OF sheaves and fruits and
the forests have put on their gorgeous robes,
fling out their banners of crimson and gold
TO CLEAN in the clear sunlight of the years
holidays; when the great temple of nature
is rich ruby in the jewelry Of God-when,
now and then, a crimson or yellow leaf win
nows its way slowly down through the
smoky light and "the sound of dropping
nuts is heard" in the woods and soft mel
low light rests DER hill and valley like
benedicton after prayer. We love the coun-
try in the winter-time, when 1.-THE beautiful
snow" everywhere shining in the sun and
blue in the shadow, with here and there a
group OF evergreens or the gray trunks and
branches of the thick woods to relieve the
eye, and over all, the azure of the pure
atmosphere The silence that seems to
hang upon the still air is broken only
by the cracking of the dead branches in
the woods, or the cav Of the crow
which flaps his wings over the high trees, or
the distant tiDkle of merry sleigh bells.
We love it even with such day as this
when the clouds are near the earth. Damp
ness is in the valley, and on the hill-tops the
mists hangs heavily. The wind with fitful
breath rustles with the dead leaves which
have taken refuge in the fence corners and
around the trunks of fallen trees Gloom
seems to rest over all, and the darkness
comes on early; the starless, murky night
Happy those whose hearthstones are bright,
and cheeriuness beams out from sunny
hearts Alas. how many hearts are shad-
owed by heavier clouds and murkier gloom
than that which darkens the earth to-day !;
and we wonder how many of our own ac-
quaintances may we pass in the next twenty
four hours that are free from the clouds
OF sorrow, sin or remorse. He who went
busting by ITO drive a thriving trade" was
he not harassed with care and anxious
thought She who smiled so sweetly as she
displayed her costly and luxurious fabrics,
made in the latest styles, her diamonds gilt
tering beneath the soft light of the chande.
Tiers, and eyes brighter than the Jewels
about them as she moved through the per
tume of the crowded saloon, was there not
an uneasiness about her heart, "A fear re-
greet no envy, no bitterness, no hatredY lie
the man of reputed piety and worth, whose
duty il Is to teach men to love one another
were there no misgiving in his hearth may
there not have been there the deep shadow
ofunknown sin! And they whose good
ness none may doubt, In their true humility.
were there no inward struggles and sorrow
full regretsg But we must stop morlzin.
and proceed.
For the past three or four hours VIC hav,
ben enjoying the newspapers. People in tn,
towns and cities have no idea what a luxur,
ii is TO read newspapers in the country
One feature which we have noticed. tina
country readers, when they receive their pa
per, commence at the first column and reae
ON until they finish the paper They rea,
the selections with more interest than I'M
editorial, and in this they show their goo,
sense
We are asked why are the newspaper
such treasure in the country-why is
that the post evenings are looked forward /
with - much eagerness, aud the possession
OF "the paper coveted 50 warmly. w
answer, IL is those OF towns and cities. VIII
when buried in the country, have that Year,
ing for the news, that daily quantum of e,
element. occupation of mind, which Is froi
habit a necessity-it is the townslnan VIII
has no business TO occupy his hours in ii
country, who ooycts the news-with III