Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-04-07
"WAYSIDE MESSEN 3ERS."
NUMBER FOUR.


ton with us why so many of our young
men go West. The boy grows up in
our midst, gives promise of great nse
fitness. and just when we are hoping
that the vein of youthful strength Is
to be introduced into our rather drow=
sy industries and our towns become
enterprising and furnishing, that
Young man goes West" Wepity any
one who has a spell of Western fe-
ver," and if they would remain until
their invaidism could be patiently
treated at home, we are very sure the
disease could be reached and cured
but no, they start ont while the fever
is high, pulse registers 100, and travel
on, on, on | And sometimes "the land
of the setting sun is reached ere they
recover their strength and look around
for suitable employment. Some of
my readers will rHawthorne's
hero, who went searching all over the
world for treasure that was to be
marked "Efode" dig, and will smile
as they remember how after fruitless
Efforts he returned home and found it
;ut on the post of his own door,
There is more truth than fiction in all
this; and we do believe if tie s, me
willingness to work. the same self-rel.-
,nce, the same spirit of enterprise was
entered upon here at home, Il greater
result would follow, richer reward
he granted to the toler 1t was
very sorrowful story we listened to
not long since. A friend travelling
through the State of Kansas CHANGED
to meet one of the companions of his
youth, who had gone west to seek his
fortune; what a disappointment his
beautiful manhood wasted. his hand
some form but poorly clad, and upon
the inquiry, "why not return home 2
came the answer, mo, I'm too proud
for that; I'll have to work it Out
here" This is not an isolated case
| could place before you other pictures
which have come under my notice, die
my space allow. The old farm is neg
lected; the bookkeeper's position VIZ
thought that brightfaced boy woulc
fill, is given to a stranger. The ole
mill is fororn picture of decay thu
patient, toiling parents, father anc
mother, going down to the land G
shadows, looking -" through the misl
and vapors of these earthly damps'
for some hopeful news Of their absen
boy, while, alas alas the years glid,
by in painful silence. In answer t.
your comment "there are numbers Wit
do succeed. would say, granting
young mans success is certainty
would not the same effort in his East
ern home bring about the same result
Here, protected by the influence o.e
friends bring to bear upon our necessi
ties; cared for in times of need anc
suffering by those who have loved III
from infancy helped here, encourag
ed thereon, tell me, is it not better
when we remember the exceeding
weakness of the flesh, to shun the way
Of temptation? How grand and beau
tiful stand the palaces of the evil ONT
in the midst of our large cities; theil
velvety doors opening like soft
downy wings" to embrace the wan
derer. Returning to my home, l fine
a letter from a friend awaiting me. 1
is from one who is busy among tn
wretched in one of our large cities
He writes: Sunday before last
played an accompaniment to Home
Sweet Home, for a young lady who
sang before the Sunday Breakfast AS
ISOLATION, where were gathered five
hundred of the outcasts of society,"
After an allowance of five sandwiches
and three cups of coffee, they listened
to the pleadlngs of earnest souls in
their behalf One Sunday one humid
red signed the temperance pledge, and
fully thirty kept it. What a grand
proportion for those who feel them
selves slipping so fast into perditior
that they would fain grasp a twig tc
arrest them, some crying out, Oh
please keep me up !" III leave this
picture before him who is turning his
eyes longingly to the gilded centers Of
life's busy crowds, growing weary il
may be of the sweetness of his bloom
ing orchards and fields of waving
grain, that he may think upon his own
strength before placing himself in the
| ,o;J,t of dopror Human noturo 10