Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-11-13
POETRY Y.
RECALLED.
BY ". D BRIscoE.

hECHLLEDs
BY ". D BRIscoE.
Only a stone. where the wild vines wave.
A silent commentator.
Above the lone aud unkept grave
OF tn shrewd old legislator
Who left Aud Reckless castled heights, =
And classic shades of learning.
And crossed the seas, ere freedoms lights
Were yet but dimly burning.
With love of venture and the chase,
The natural traits that tally,
And mark old Scotland's hardy race,
He settled in the valley.
Rich in wisdom. bright in wit,
The trenchant with the graphic blended;
And his repartee or happy hit
The country round extended.
And here old Robin Rutherford,
The humOrist aud &C amer.
Lost, 'tis said. for festive bOird,
This old Colonial manOr.~As
The wood, came down The ragged hill.
Archins ravue and hollow
Where huttercup and daitOtil.
Came with the early swallow.
Beyond the margin oil the NoOu'
Dotting fields aud meadows.
Great oak trees, in silence stood
Above their sleeping shadows
Violets grew IN fairy rings,
Where nature did the planting;
And the murmur OF the Flowing Springs
Breathed lullaby enchanting
Welded the laughing waters Il we'd
To where the stream grew broader,
While dimples ON its surface rode
To lilies On the border
Here unseen hands their shuttle- ding
And weave ON bush aud hramh
Thnse m,siic webs where brognics cling
Or up the m0oubeams scramble.
Twas here. my Elsie years ago.
lu an the ar-lishts glory.
Your blu-hes came ike mornings glow.
Flushed by the same old story.
You hoy. and rir. seem learning now.
Without the all Of teUher.
Enchantmeut on her lovely brow,
Surprise. his striking feature
Mark YOU dear wife. the path We took
Tine iav the tile was q wihg.
And how the mill-r b ige'i the brook
You thought bis look too knowing.
on hy the stream. as crystal clear
With boyh0Od hopes assuring,
I've watched the schpnis OF miunows there
Glance or pOise Hluring
loved the sunlight on the hill,
The cool aud shaded holluws;
The brimming pool above the mill,
Cleft by buff vested swallows.
The hip-roofed mill the dripping wheel
The f,rebay green and mu>ty;
The very air with floating meal,
Made mill and miller dusty.
Peace seemed SOMEHOW theplace to woo,
Despite the whir ahi chatter;
And the miller he richer grew
Double. chinmed and fatter.
/ vet recall the open door
And his ruidy face connected
With stories of fOrg often tnto.
And the mirth his wit injected
The twinkle of his keen gray ewes,
The hHlf-wise smile cOncealing;
The caution of the mile wise
In all his worldly dealing.
The wheel has ceased it. endless round;
The mill its hum and Clatler
And the miller sleeps beneath the ground
Hisname? Well that's no matter.
He's ground his grist what would you more
The stream hlws ON II ever
And Charon. with mutfi al oar,
Boats all across the river.
Nv idvl fades-the mill. the brook
The SCENES nf yure acquainted
TAX. down the can7as cl"se the book
The PICTURES badly painted.
Robert Rutherford was the first representa-
tive from this section Of Virginia, sent to th
United States Congress.
-s Thomas and Robert Rutherford, brothers
came from Edinburg about the year 1850, am
settled in this county, Then Frederick no'
jefferson Co.. w. Va.
*tsRobert Ruthe'f 'rd after living here som
wears. became indebted to MIR. -- to tn
amount Of Is ooO for which he agreed to eiv
Mr.. -- 900 acres of land if the 5000 wa
not paid at maturity The day the money b
came due he rode over to Thomas Ruthei
ford's. on his way to "Fish-frN' at Sheeler
Spring. and Thomas said TO him:
robin haze We the siller to pay oil NJ
-'s mortgage. YOU know tits duet to-day
"Ye-. Tamme. but Gamma 20 10 Mr.. --
to-day, for haze pr mi-ed the chields to NEE
them a at Sheelers Spring and haze film
wi them-a day or twa will make ma ditferent
wi Mr. --.'
"weel. weel, Robin, said Thomas, "Ye wi
he a diel birkie, and daft to the end of }
tether. in spite of yer better sell
And so Robert went to the fry and forleite
the estate.
This conversation between Thomas and RoI
ert Rutherford. was related to me by one VII
heard it, or had it repeated to her by h'
,-apdmotber W. D.