Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-12-04
THE MESSAGE OF LIFE.

Twenty years ago was one OF many
witnesses of scene that has left upon
my memory an impress perhaps deeper
than that of any other occurrence Of
that stirring time. The sequel of the
story, which / learned some months at
terward, is narrated here with the prin-
cipal event; and both together deserve
a larger audience than any that has yet
heard them, because they touch the
heart and arouse those feelings of SYM
pathy which make the whole world kin.
1t was in February, 1865. was
staff officer of q division Of the Union
army stationed about Winchester, Vir-
ginia; and military operations being
then practically over in that region,
had succeeded in getting leave OF ao-
sence for twenty days. The time was
short enough at best, for one who had
been long absent from family and
friends, and two days were to be con-
sumed each way in getting to and from
nv northern home. | lost no time in
making the first stage of my journey,
which was brief one, from Winchester
to Harper's Ferry by rail.
Reaching the latter place after dark,
found to my great disappointment,
that the last train for the day for Balti-
more had left an hour before, and that
the next train would start at five O'Clock
on the following morning.
There was no difficulty in finding
lodging, poor as it was; but there was
trouble in getting out of it MS early as l
wished. Previous experience warned
me that the state of agreeable excite
ment and anticipation that possessed me
that night was not favorable to sleep;
and fearing heavy slumber in the ear
ly hours Of the morning, when should
at last lose myself, gave small re-
minder to the negro servant, and re-
ceived his solemn promise that he would
arouse me at four o'clock.
The result was exactly what feared.
In a most exasperating condition OF
wakefulness I lay until it seemed GER
tain that the night must be half gone;
but an examination of my watch by the
light of a match showed that the hour
was but a few minutes past ten. Is
there anything more annoying than the
Intellectual effort to sleep, when nature
is fairly crying out for sleep! Every
noise of the night came to me with the
most painful distinctness; the bark of
the dog, the tramp of body of soldiers
as they went their rounds, relieving
guard, the laugh and song of some bois-
ferrous revelers, and even the musical
ripple of the Shenandoah river just be-
low me.
The long and vivid story of what had
happened to me since last leaving home
passed through my thoughts-and only
added to their excitement. All the wise
remedies for insomnia that occurred TO
me were successively tried-and found
wanting. Again my watch was con-
suited; it marked 11.30. Twice after
this heard the guard relieved; so that
1t must have been later than 2 O'Clock
when sleep visited my weary eyes. A
rude disturbance at my door awakened
me, and / became dimly conscious Of
the voice of the negro outside.
"what is it?" cried, testify. "What
do you wake me up for, at this time Of
night?"
"Deed, sab, I'se sorry; 'pon my hon
ah, / is, sab! but de train hab done
gone desc two hours"
1t was even so. Broad daylight
O'Clock in the mornin-the train gone,
and no chance to get out Of Harper's
Ferry till twelve more precious hours
of my leave had passed-this was the
unpleasant situation to which l awoke
upon that dreary February nc. ling.
To make the best Of it, is the true phi
losophy of life; in fact, it is folly TO do
anything else; but human nature will
assert itself and grumbled all to my
self that morning, as most of my read
ers would have done in my place.
Breakfast over, strolled around the
queer old place, not TO see its sights,
for they were very familiar to me, but
to merely while away the time. or all
the places in this land where man has
made his habitation, none is more re-
markable from its natural situation
than this.
Here the Potomac and the Shenan-
doah unite and break through the lofty
barrier OF the Blue Ridge; and Harper's
Ferry, located at the point of their con-
fluence, is environed by lofty noun
tains, up the steep side of one Of which
the village seems to Chamber and cling
for support. From the lofty top of
Maryland Heights. opposite, wonder
full panorama may be seen; and Of this
view Thomas Jefferson wrote that it
was worth a journey from Europe to
see it. But if you are set down in Har-
per's Ferry, at the base Of these great
hills, your view is cramped and circum-
scribed in every direction.
went back to the hotel after an