Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-06-07

FOR the SPECTATOR.
Peetic Gleanings.

I'll FOR the sPncrAToH.
sI Poetic Gleanings.
ri
THIRD PAPER.
i Mrs. Lucy Randolph Fleming, who's
stories and poems are now under re
view, is fast becoming widely and fa
v0rably known for her successful anna
teur authUrship. As yet she has pre-
pared no volumes for publication
Though solicited to do 90 by those whoa
counsel II worthy of implicit and ready
compliance.
From early youth Mrs. Fleming hal
shown decsded literary capacity. anC
her taste has always been for solid. in
structive reading. It would be difficult
to find person Of her age for whom th'
Psalms and the Pr0phets have more lit
erary attractions, along with heartfelt
reverence for their sacred teachings
The writings of Shakespeare furnished
bountiful portion Of her juvenile read.
ing, something that rarely occurs. It ID
very possible, that this famous Auth0l
could almost count upon his Angers, his
special admirers among the girls of eight
ana ten years of age.
i While free a. IN artless child from all
pedantic pretensions, yet this lady
seems, intuitively, to grasp the deepest
tquestions and most important inquiries
treated of by living writer's, In the most
profound. departments of modern re-
search and speculative thought.
This gifted writer elaborates her work
in the Woodstock Manse. Here she has
access to many of the newest books and
ablest periodicals, and keeps well in
formed as to the more important social
and religious topics, about which our
busy, perplexed, and agitatated world
talks and writes so much. Mrs. Flem-
Ing has heart full of sympathy, which
makes it q matter of loving service on
her part, to give patient attention to
many of the more earnestly practical
questionings that perplex tired mothers,
heart broken tOflers, and the impOver-
ished ones of noble lineage, to whom
life means but mere struggle for ex-
istence, or q WearisOme conflict for ap
| pearances.
Under such inspiration she writes
story, and it goes forth with q message
as timely as that borne by the angel to
that discouraged one in the desert, tell
ing her to raise her averted eyes and be
no ample relief just at band.
The Illustrated Christian Weekly
seems to have something like the mo-
nopoly of her pen, yet half dozen 9th
er jour ais pulish many of her produc
tions. About two years since, your cor
respondent became conscious of her
power through q Christmas story,
named 'Bertie's Ravens" He has read
"Our Fathers Care' and "Wee Davie";
but he would be conscientiously i'm
pellet to award the premium In favor of
"Bertie's Ravens were he called uprn
to decide which was the best calculated,
in his judgment, to touch the heart,
strengthen faith, and stimulate to benefi
cent service from purest motives. A
quiet old lady, not much given TO pious
deeds. once read "Bertie's Ravens" and
passed this homely criticism: ''It isn't
often cry about any ythiDg read OF, but
tell you had to cry when read about
BERTHE. I can't see how any one could
read about her, and not feel like doing
somebody good"
Were your younger readers familiar
with this useful writer's early history,
they would learn lesson of timely and
most needed import, illustrating what
may be attained by Virginia girls in
spite of grave hinderances, when the
heart is set upon mental and spiritual
improvement. Her education, to q large
degree, was acquired and completed
during the four years of the war, partly
with the assistance of an elder sister at
home near Richmond, and partly under
the direction of her Pastor, Philip B.
Price, in the Church Hill Manse =
While thus becoming we'll educatcd and
elegantly accomplished In books and
society requirements, she also practi-
1vxyvr or n%s,l <x$ thn
culinary art, In which she displays very
graceful efficiency. So Mrs. Fleming
may be justly regarded as q typical
Southern weman under our changed do
mestic environments, and many of her
prose articles reflect floods of light on
subjects found to be very wearisome and
perplexing in many home. To your
correspondent 1t seems very manifest,
that one feature of her life's work Is to
write words of cheering counsel for her
sisters in their cares and much serving.
Whoever of our lady friends may be so
fortunate as to hear Of, and read . pub
location, issued by the American Tract
Society, Mrs. Sangster's "Hours with
Girl, ,"-will find one of Mrs. Fleming's
best pieces given in full, in one of the
most interesting chapters of that new
and fascinating book.
The various topics discussed are usu-
ally illustrated by opposite quotations
from some poet. The poets cited are of
high distinction in Europe and Ameri
ca, except the one whose work we are
considering in our humble way. But
nothing from these noted authors serves
its pur ose any better than what Nj
Sanxster found In our young friends
portfolio. One or more stanzas are Civ
en- here,-
We do not know. we cannot tell
What scenes may fit across lies skies;
But yet. whate'er the future holds.
What task each hidden day unfolds,
| Well walk together, you and 1.
God only knows. His hand will shape
All that is hidden from the eye;
Still may our footsteps heavenward bend
| With trusting hearts. until the end;
Well walk together. you andI.
| A poem that impresses your cores
p0ndent most of all for its literary fin
ish, and as one that affords q truthful
exponent of her genius and consecrated
aim in her beautiful work, is now given
in closing up this article.
SOWING.
LIZ 1t thy part to SOW
Beside some open way
Where quick devouring foes are found,
| Or sowest thou on stony ground
That gives no harvest day9
Is 1t thy part to SOW
Where 1t doth seem but vainf
There is a blessing cen for thee
Although it be not there to SEQ
The precious ripehed grain.
Yet cast the seed in hope;
For dim and short our sight,
It may be soon the downcast eyes
Uprise to view In glad surprise,
The fields with harvest white,
Aye. cast thy seed in faith:
| Some blade mayhap thou'lt find,
"At morn or eve hold not thy hand''
Until thou pause at His command,
Who may have sheoves to bind.
Mr.. Editor, my work grows upon me.
Ma thew Henry quantity observes, he
that observes prOvidences, will have
| JnrOvidonpoa nheorvo ApA