Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-07-26
Letter 10 G. B. Rouss.

am Inc printed mallet - ~ 'O'J '"Se'
ing to me that wish, with your permission,
to keep it. The building is simply magnit-
icent. and we'll worthy Of you. Your Por-
trait reveals a clear index to your character
and life. The face is intensely sad, but Its
stern lines are sOftened by pathos that can
be seen and felt, but cannot be described
The ewes have that steady light and far
away expression found in such men as Ma
poleon Grant, Bismark and very few born
leaders. The brow is tremendous note
that YOU wear your hair in the Andrew
Jackson STYLE. Did il ever occur to you that
YOU are lust exactly like him in vim, hon.
esty Of purpose, energy, daring, push, con-
quest of all obstacles in your path, hrmness,
concentration, will-pOwer, success and great
heartedness? Well, tell you plainly that
YOU are. This will be the verdict OF history
The more I know of and about you, tue
more I am astonished. You Overwhelm my
capacity to estimate you, and shadow others
As peak in the Rocky Mountains would
tower above the hills around my home
The nearer one gets to you the bigger you
seem What a glory and honor you are to
your native Southland.
And the bright, handsome, manly young
man. the pillar on whose stalwart strength
the coming years of your life should have
leaned the brave young oak on whose limbs
the old oak might have bent, but never fall
en-. in the cyclones Of business life; the
face that should have bent over yours when
all was white and still the eyes that should
have flashed the fires of commercial genius
over al the commercial marts of the world ;
the sweet and noble ways that gladden. and
bless business and domestic life no more /;
the hopes. aspirations and ambitions that
have gone into eclipse the young eagle
that has plumed for the last flight upward
and across the space Of time.
There are some things hard TO under
stand"
With everything on earth to live and hope
for, your son Charley has gone where not
even a grain Of sand on the seashOre is need
ed the summer roses and the wintry snow
are alike UNDECIDED and still, in his unbro-
ken dream, it is we who miss him; he miss
"a Us not. Oh the human heart cries out
along the highway of the centuries, why Is
the wall so high, aud the midnight so black,
and the silence so deep that we cannot climb
over and awaken them by our means and
see them? Surely the parting is
not final. Surely you and that splendid
boy must meet again.
Now, consulting the honor Of my own
heart, wish to weave a garland Of verses
from the flowers Of song, and offer you as a
tender and tue "Ip Msm0riam" for that
quiet form who, under the skies Of Virginia,
sleeps the years away, awaiting the joyful
resurrection
Par away What does il mean,
Are hearts the slaves or lords of space
Can time part constsnt souls / ween
Ii cannot since the Sileu tear
says iar-away means far-more-near.
take the liberty Of offering you several
written copies of my poems, being all am
able to offer. In 1883 my mother and self
formed partnership" with Millionaire
Company" and after years of torture from
their agents aud tenants, they have failed,
owing MS over $4,000, not one cent of which
we can get but the sad part is, we had to
6le bill in equity to get possession Of our
land
Every dime that maintains Us comes
through my pen at my desk at night, and
managing our farm in the daytime.
want 10 show you some tributes from
friends who know me we'll They will prove
my spotless good name. have received
more public honors than any woman in this
State. I do not dance, touch wine in any
shape, play cards or deyiate in the most mi
mute detail from a modest and humble sense
Of my own talents. / would rather be call
ed industrious and pure and good than "a
famous genius"
If you would furnish me several hundred
copies Of the May number Of your Monthly
| AUCTION Trade journal, each copy wrapped
and stamped. will be pleased to address
and mail them for your benefit and for the
benefit Of my friends all over the South and
Mexico. | don't see how l could render
any greater favor to them than by calling
their personal attention to an honest man
and his line of business. The sensible advice
YOU give in each number is worth hundreds
Of dollars to them, whether they trade with
you or not, while the chances are ten to one
in your favor, that they are sure to deal with
you
I would thank you if you will promptly
forward one copy each to the names furnish
ed on the enclosed list
Repeating the assurance Of my respect,
beg 70 remain, very sincerely,
MARY GORDON DUFFEE
Two doctors we're recently riding togeth-
er when one Of them lifted his hat to a lady
whom they met "A patient ?" asked the