The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-05-08
N, VIRGINIA, THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1890.
The Diamond Ring.

Written by John Lewis PeytOn, 81 years ago,
and reprinted at the request of a correspondent
residing at Huron, South Dakota, from the Stan
dard newspaper, of Richmond, Va, January
18TH I875.-Editor VALLEY VIRGINIAN.
1.-THE following weird and graceful lines, the
maiden, and, as we believe, the sole essay In the
service of the muse, Of their author Col J. Lewis
Peyton, of Staunton, Va, so widely knownin other
fields of literature by the productions of his
graphic and finished pen, were written by him
some thirty years ago under provoking banter
companion of the authors youth days Col ThOS.
Shirley, OF Chicago still living) who charged him
barren of poetical sentiment and conceit. The
immediate stimulant was wager, which it is
company of mutual young friends assembled at
the palatial residence Of Col e. ID. Taylor, Mich
igan Avenue, Chicago, to hear the rival poems
read, and then to partake of champagne sup
per to the author Of 1.-The Diamond Ring"
though no aspirant for Parnassian honOrs.
In our humble estimation the poem resembles
closely in rhythm and style. the productions OF
Sake. The imagery is undoubtedly most happy
and the moral unexceptionable.-Dr. r. A.
Brock, Editor OF the standard"
Twas near the closing of a summers day,
The sun was lingering with a parting ray;
In hues of fading light he took his leave,
With all the glOries Of a sunset eve;
When dusky as the shadows of the night,
horseman in his clanking armor bright,
Rode to the ancient abbey Of St. Pierre
Twas said much treasure had been buried there.
Through solemn aisles, with slow and cautious
tread,
He eager sought the treasures of the dead;
And as he moved with silent step to trace
The dark recesses of that hallOwed place,
He saw a human skull beneath his feet
A shattered throne, proud reasons vacant seat
He quickly paused to lift it from the ground,
And musing as he turned it round and round
great,
To have been buried in this church of state;
But whether good or bad, fool or wise,
An honest man, or demon in disguise,
No one beyond the limits of this cell,
OF all thy fellow men can truly tell"
He sought among the dead for jewels rare,
And long he sought-not finding any there.
At last, in snowy shroud a maiden fair
He saw. with pallid face and glossy hair;
And round the virgins calm, unclouded brow,
He saw the garland flowerets faded now.
"Thou beauteous maid,r he thought, "hadst
thou not died,
l would have wooed thee for my cherished
bride''
Then on her hand, tiny taper thing,
He saw brilliant gem-a diamond ring.
He seized the prize, and hurried from the spot
Q'ercome with joy at this his happy lot
Once poor now rich, but filed with silent dread,
He placed the costly gem beneath his head.
To sleen he essaved but twas all in vain:
For startling fears and gloomy. anxious pain.
D;sturhad bis vision with their varied train
AZ obastIv forms To rac,, his tortnred hrain.
Irnt;I. he enasn,ad ON this nnhannu night
rohhar saizad the rino and toaE To fs1aht
He startad wildly in this trouble1 scene
M oct tho ..f,er, os ,urast rav serenen
,,as sa 20. and while no oa rod mon the hauhle
mo xuratcbad souvoa of all his nightmare
trouh1e-
Jye vow,d that ere tbe sim again shou,d dawn.
ITnon that same fair hand If shonld he drawn.
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