Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-05-29
one NICHE THE HIGHEST.

The scene opens with view OF the
great Natural Bridge in Virginia. There
are three or four lads standing in the
channel below, looking up with awe to
that vast arch of unhewn rocks, with
Which the Almighty bridged over those
everlasting butments, "when the morn
ing stars sang together" The little
piece OF sky spanning those measureless
piers is full of stars, although it is mid
dav. 1t is almost five hundred feet from
where they stand, up those perpendicu-
lar bulwarks Of limestone to the key OF
that vast arch which appears to them
only the size Of mans hand. The ST.
lence of death is rendered more impress
sive by the little stream that falls from
rock to rock down the channel.
The sun darkened, and the boys have
uncovered their heads, as if Standing in
the presence chamber of the Majesty Of
the whole earth. At last this feeling
begins to wear away they look around
them, and find that others have been
there before them. They see the names
of hundreds cut in the limestone but
ments. A new feeling comes over their
young hearts, and their knives are in
their hands in an instant. "What man
has done, man can do" is their watch
word, while they draw themselves up
and carve their names foot above those
of a hundred full-grown men who have
been there before them.
They are all satisfied with this feat Of
physical exertion except one, whose ex-
ample illustrates perfectly the forgotten
truth, that there is "nO royal road to
learning" This ambitious youth sees
a name just above his reach, name
which will be green in the memory of
the world when those Of Alexander,
Caesar and Bonaparte shall rot in obliv-
ion. 1t was the name of Washington.
Before he marched with Braddock to
that fatal field, he had been there and
left his name a foot above any OF his
predecessors.
1t was a glorious thought to write his
name side by side with that of the great
Father Of his Country. He grasps his
knife with q firmer hand, and clingiug
to little jutting crag, he cuts again
into the limestone about foot above
where he stands; he then reaches up
and cuts a place for his hands. 'Tis
dangerous adventure; but as he puts his
feet and hand into those gains and draws
himself up carefully to his full length,
he finds himself foot above every name
chronicled in that mighty wall. While
his companions are regarding him with
concern and admiration, he cuts his
name in wide capitals, large and deep,
into that hinty album. His knife Is still
in his hand, and strength il his sinews,
and new. created aspiration in his
heart. Again he cuts another niche,
and again he carves bis name in larger
capitals. This is not enough; needless
of the entreaties of his companions, he
cuts and climbs again. The gradatious
of his ascending scale grow wider apart.
He measures his length at every gain
he cuts; the voices of his friends wax
weaker and weaker, till their words are
finally lost on his ear. He now for the
first time casts look beneath him. Had
that glance lasted moment, that mo-
ment would have been his last. He
clings with convulsive shudder to his
| little niche in the rock. An awful abyss
awaits his almost certain fall. He is
faint with severe exertion, and trem-
bling from the sudden view of the de-
struction to which he is exposed. His
knife is worn half. way to the haft. He