The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-03-29
Letter From Ringwood.

RINGwooD, y. c. March %, 1894.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF Mrs. J. J.
Allen. Of Louisburg, has been visiting
her venerable mother and brother Rev.
A. e.. Wilcox, near Brinkleyville.
Mrs. Allen is fine cOnversationalist,
takes life philosophically, and is a
model wife and mother in every re-
spect.
One of Mr.. l.. Wilson'S spirited
horses ran away with him yesterday
throwing him and colored man on
strange to say not hurting either badly.
1t looks like May, trees budding,
flowers blooming. &C., &c. Look out
for cold though.
| notice a call for meeting of eX-
Confederates at Littleton on May 10th,
and am in full accord with the move
ment. Whether the cause for which
they fought was intrinsically just or
unjust we know they went forth fight
ing for what they believed their char
tered rights, the honor, the glory. and
the freedom Of their native land. They
did not measure consequences or weigh
results. Their section was assaulted
and they knew it and that was all they
wanted to know. They did not en-
quire the rate Of compensation or the
amount of pension they were to re-
ceive. They never thought of it.
They looked about them to make some
arrangements for those who depended
upon them. Shouldering their muskets
as the men Of Lexington and Concord
shouldered theirs, they marched with a
purpose and determination as heroic
as was the sacrifices of the men of
Valley Forge and Yorktown. And
many as we all know died far away
from the land they loved so well, ask
ing nothing in their sublime resigna-
ton, save the parting kiss of the
mother who bore them. Surely these
heroic deeds Of valor and patriotism
should be remembered by the rising
generation and at each annual return
of spring time flowers should be strewn
upon their graves and every true heart
feel as he approaches their last resting
place as the poet so beautifully eX-
presses it:
Tread lightly, tits soldiers grave,
This lonely messy mound,
And yet to hearts like mine and thine,
1t must be holy ground.
Tread lightly, for this man bequeathed
Ere laid beneath the Sod
His memory to his native land
His gallant soul to God.
And the living eX-Confederates
should assemble, and recall those days
of trial and endurance and preserve
the memory of the gallant heroes to
future generations, and say this too,
with no disloyalty to the country, for
| pray that we may have a grand, great
and lasting union, and ever more.
''God give us peace, not such as lulls to
sleep,
But sword on thigh and brow with pur-
pose knit,
And let our Ship of State to harbor sweep,
Her portals all up her battle lanters lit
And her leashed thuDders gathering for
their leap
And ever more, God give US men
true to the high ideal and true to the
illustrious type seeking to fulfill their
destiny as sons Of a great Republic.
Yet enough on this line, but as long as
patriotism and heroism are virtues to
be applauded we should be glad to say
what we can Of the noble band of men
many of whom have ''crossed the flood
and some are crossing now.'
| am pleased to note that Mr.. Walter
r. Henry is about to be recognized by
the government and given a position
which he should have had long since,
| also that he will enter the lecture field
until that time. Those who can do SO
should hear this gifted orator. In the
last campaign l heard portion of a
| speech delivered by him at Halifax
and under the influence of his rich and
fervid imagery, his happy and graphic
illustrations, his mastery grasp and
inner meaning, his trenchent thrusts
and touching illusions, his stirring ap.
peals and deep pathos, and in a word
his magnificent and resistless eloquence,
the audience was stirred, enraptured,
enthused and carried away as if by the
spell of a magician, and all doubt and
dependency and hesitation of those
who followed the Democratic banner
dispelled as morning mists before the
rising sun under the spell of his mas.
terly eloquence. Long may he live an
honor to his State. G.. E. NJ.