The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-06-15


like hooks of steel-standing by his friends
amid the frowns and sneers and even curses OF
the world.
could hover like a White-winged angel of love,
tranquility. and peace over this now distracted
and unhappy land.
the shamrock, 1 repeat, how thankful we
should be that our lot is cast In land like this.
And In speaking Of this brave d and nd chivairons
Of that number, who, as Union and Confeder-
ate soldiers lock ed bayOnets and strewed their
dead from the heights of Gettysburg to the
plains OF Texas would like to speak of James
Shfelds, who, linking his fortunes with the
North In the late struggle between the States,
and rallying the Irishmen of his section, went
forth to battle for the cause he had expoused
OF the gallant and intrepid Pat. Cleburne who
gathering about him an fish brigade. I'M
sheathed his sword under the stars and bars
and fell with the flagstaff of the Southern
cross In his hand, and over whose grave Iau-
rel wreaths are twined and over whose ashes
orange blossoms are sprinkled at each recur-
ring memorial season by the loving hands OF
Southern women
4 beieyer In the Christian religion could
not. II he would. visit the Holy Land, and en-
Ter The walled city OF Jerusalem, or stand In
the garden of Gethsemane, or battle In the wa
tArs of Jordan, or rest at the we'll OF Jacob, OF
walk the streets of Damascus without emo.
ton His soul would be stirred within him
with reysreptial sensibility. and he would
show in mis- action and express in his WOrde
the fuliness OF his soul.
so with Virginian, when he thinks of Vir-
gtnta's grandness and sublimity; of her eli.
mate of unsurpassed salubrity her soil teemin g
with fertility, her great rivers upon whose bO-
aoxos the nayles of the world might float and
whose waters could drive the machinery of the
globe her boundless mineral wealth, and IL
dioinal springs whOsewaters almost rival those
Of that fabled fountain whose taste conferred
immortal youth. When he thinks of the pages
at history illumined with the light OF her deeds
OF her Yorktown, where she ended the glorious
strife that gave to us a country and the world
q refuge; OF her battle-helds of late date some
nov covered with thelthistles and broomsedge
Others with the wavy harvests OF the husband
mas. When he THINKS of her heroes and sages
and PATRIOTS and statesmen, and orators and
Doets and editors; OF her Washington, Henry.
Jefferson, Madison. Marshall, Monroe, Mason.
Clay and Harrison flor "she rocked them In
her cradle and handled them on her knee"):
her Scott and her Thomas; her Stuart, whose
ringing "charge" was ever heard above the
crashing volley: her Ashby, the white plum ed
Navarro of the Valley; her Jackson, whose
tame the world procaims and sings its p@ans OF
praise; and now. as shall utter the name OF
that son. whom shall place az the apex OF
this pyramid OF her tllustrious dead, as Wash
fngt0n is the corner stone-let every head be
uncovered, every tongue be silent, every eye
cry Virginia household. and which will live
In memory's garden In sempiternal verdure-
ROBERT EDMUND LEE.
But while all these surroundings and tradi.
: lions and memories stir US with emotion, and