Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-10-23
Aeitei. from Esaspe,'s Ferry.

town OF my home and the scenes surrouud-
ing it. | have had the extreme pleasure oi
visiting Caarlestown, and So delightful and
absolutely perfect is the ride tilther, and
from there by either route, that my heart
was full of admiration while sQiourning in
its lovely precincts. do think
There is not in the wide world valley 50
sweet
Is the vale in whose bosom the bright waters
mcci
On the last rays of feeingand life must depart
Fer the bloom of that Valley shall fade from
my heart r.
Perhaps | have broken one Of the rules
of etiquette by failing 10 make this sister
town the subject Of NY first letter; II so, l
shall find refuge in the Old adagc, . Charity
begin, az home" and fold thomantle of con
ISOLATION round the Injured party by whls-
pcring these words, "if il really begins at
home. il will net end there
Leaving Bolivar just at 9 o'clock in the
morning. we passed the old Picket Post by
the hill, on the Heights. where the guards
of the conteuding armies played at hide
and seek day after day during the long
years OF the war. Near by arc tie old
breastw0rks lci, to rs a. great heirloom
of that mighty period.
Balls Hin IS on the left, with It's cver-
green hills, deep cayerns and lcgcudary as
sociat;ons. Ohcn when Il child lave ! with
frightened glance, peercd down into It's deep
wicrd shadows. with au aryi0us fear of see
ing the ghost of the man without a head,
who wandered up and down IL, s;rcamlets
bv the moonlight. in the hollow leading out
to the sparkling waters Of lie Shenandoah,
where
Zach wave somc sweet old story tells
Here rests Harry's Island, just above the
Fails. clothed in IL verdurc of green and It's
Jewels of mussel shells,-its transcendcnt
beauty magicaliy drawing us nearer, until
we feel ~ If We were treading on enchanted
ground. Weary long years the old man
lived there meath It's calm and beautiful
shades, padding his canoe from shore to
shore over the dancing waves, until one SAD
day when the water, rose and became angry,
and in the fury OF their wrath rushed over
its shores. and in one moment he wa plung-
ed into he everlasting waves OF eternity
Nav we hope tha, he heard that same voice
that once STAYED the waters, kindly proclaim
rest and peace TO his soul. How b1auu-
fully smooth Is the silycry sheet of water
above this lsland-ft mirror for the stars rs
thcy coquettishly smile and arrange their
toilets on festive nights.
How well we remember all these things
as We Journey on, see-saw fashion, up
Hill and down dale over the turn
pike. never firing of the varied scenes
before s.-bcau,ilul picture OF iarmhon'es
with the mcandering paths leading up to
them wherever it was most convenient to
make them Away in the distance we see
the forest trees, and nearer are the old
fruit trees. boUntifully laden'yith irait, and
we hear ever and anon an apple dropping
upon the cloth OF green spread under their
branches, where many gay little rabbit
party finds It's lunch-tab.o already prepared
when it is out picnicing. Occasionally we
We pass miniature lake, with ltsducks ana
eecse diving under and gliding over It's wa
tiers. summer with i,s dress OF green rs
dyingslowly-
Crowned with the sickle and the wheaton
sheaf
While Autumn nodding Ger the yellow plain'
Comes Joyial on,
clothed in its beautiful hucs Of gold and
crimson. Here are the walls OF the old
Stone School-housc, how Jolly we were to-
rethcr when all our lessons weTc said and
we built moss houses under the great oak
trees. Farther on is ilalltown, noted for us
Grove of Willows under whose branches we
are told the Phantoms dance, and for thepa-
pcrmill with the cmOnot0BOus sound OF ITS en-
eines indu-lriously working away Almost
unconscioa IS the .imc passes a. we dream
ilv move along until wc see the monuments
Of the CITY Of the Dead" cold and white.
Marks of distinction We see in the
hours of this city Just as We find in life,
rich and poor, friend and foe, lying side by
;de-5ut allsaro sleeping quietly under the
same covering. What contrast to the
bu-ting busy town of the living We are Just
cn.cringl IlcTe ne liHl the tasteful yards,
msthcmaticallv devised. with their neatly
trimmed grass plots and yarigatcd beds Of
flowers nodding and Walking 10 ,hc music
of the winds behind their curtains Of ever
Green. Above all we slc ,he Gamma, rising
mn in II, m~les,ic grandeur as II monarch
of an IL surveys" All seems tO bc On time
with the exquistctastr and cultured intellect
attributed to your town. How rich and
beautiful is the foliage Of that lyya- II cilngs
sondiy % the walls oi that old Church! May
ittrulv be ancmbicm Of the faith ard love oi
is sworshipcr--may they cling as l9ndly to the
Cross of Christ Many new Improvements
have been made since my lastyis.t Among
others the beautiful new railroad depot
After viewing the town. We rode ont some
distance into the country. Returning, and
vending our way home, just as thc Church
bells were ringing q call to payer We
were not Maud Muller, neither WAS 10 the
judge who kindly filled our small tin-cup
with icc-watcr. and we drank the good
health of the town. there in the twilight
Il was plcasan; .,ature of the Journey, ana
we hope 10 remember The kindly act just as
long a. Maud remembered her Judge. The
night being dark, silently folded my arms
AS we moved homcward, and looked al tho
dark mountains and trees looming mp before
us and the bright cottage lights fickcring
among them. One by one the stars came
out, dimly lighting up the great panorama,
while the familiar voices Of the kaiy-dids
and crickcts sang lullababy songs in their
little hooks Oh the roadside. In this beau
tiful valley
"-hou calm could rest
in thy bosom Of shade with the friends love
best.
Where the storms that we feel in this cold
world shall cease
And our hearts. like thy waters. be mingled in
peace
Respectfully yours;
NIEGiSIA.
Harper Ferry, september 1880.
Thirtv-six hours waiting for tickets vas
the occupation of a long line Of men last
week in front OF Booths Theatre New \ ork