West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-01-03
RETROSPECTIVE
RETROSPECTIVE
AND PROSPECTIVE.
An E ssaV
Read by Th0s. T.. L0ar. OF Rcedsyille.
At The LOar Re.Union. Sep.
TENDER 18th, 1894.
lPnbll.hrd hv ronnn.l

In the ages past over in the Orient,
beautiful custom came in vogue when
friends separated from friends TO ex-
change messages of friendship, that the
spark OF affection might be kept alive:
so " hen the time OF meeting came
again each 10y the other would not be
forgotten. This custom long ago found
its way into our proud America, and
has enhanced the happiness of all par
tici PANTS by keeping alive the sacred
ties OF love and friendship II former
associations Hence away back, almost
IN time iInmemorial, il was that the
venerable Murray YIELDED To the '.fates
which shape our dvstinies" turned from
home that cynosure of the hearts ten.
derest ties. % fulfill the mission which
tod designed for him. Being of an az
fectionate and sensitive nature. he
alone knew what the sacrifice. nobl. ms
1t was cost hun But the years went
by, an il might have seemed to the
casual observer that through the multi
PFC ty of affairs which surrounded this
exemplary life, all memory of home
and former ties had bsen forgotten -
But was it so? Tossed day by day up-
on the rough and stormy o.ean of life.
Embarra ,sed by worldly cares and per
licked by worldly inquietudes. did he
lose sight of that sweetest type of hea-
ven-his early home? Let us see. A
letter came-the representation showed
pasiied hand. The covering was rent
and II only needed the sight OF the
words from home" to touch every fl.
her of his soul Yes, it was from his
mother, asking him TO visit heranl the
old homestead once more. "Ah, YES"
sail he. Il shall go. Ny brothers and
sisters will meet me there, and well
have reunion with mother in the old
home once more And this oripina.
ted, from the writin of this message
though it scarcely contained more than
the words come home" the first fam
lily reunion of which we have any ac-
count Now the custom is grown ana
widespread, and to-day our heart is
thrilled as we stand and gaze into these
happy faces the youth with all his
bright young life before him, the mid
dlc-aged who have scaled the summit
and now stands on the western slope
of IFS long jorney, ana the aged.
whoes silvered heads tell us their Jour
ney Is almost over, standing. as it were
IN the twilight of eteruity-ail in happy
reuaion once more. Yes. they are all
here-father. mother sister, brother
ali who hold each other dear; bless
then this meeting and the spot. and to-
day let every care be forgot 1t is not
often thus around the old familiar
haunts we'er found. We are all here.
No, we are not all here; some are away.
many who mingled with you in the
gay-hearted joys of childhood are far in
other lands, while the cruel grave hath
ITS share. But even they are not for
gotten and our hearts are rendered by
the memory of the absent ones.
Now the retrospective In our i'm
aginations to-day we see the old home
stead up among the Alleghenies, where
these men and women whom we hon.
or to-day IS cur fathers and mothers
were light-hearted boys and girls to-
gether To them life was a fairy tale
just begun, and the great indefinite fu-
ture was yet unveiled 70 their youthful
minds. But time unheedinr. unrest
ing went on, and each, as youth rnerg-
ed into manhood and woinanhood. were
attended by new cares in new situa-
lions which called them far from the
play-place OF their carly DAYS:
They grew in beauty side by side.
They hl,ed one home with glce:
Their homes arc severed far and wide
BY mount and stream and sea"
Then sacred be this family reunion
TO those 20 whom the twilight OF year,
IS near at hand, and the slanting raw,
Of LIES setting sun have turned the
brow TO whiteness. causing the steps e
falter, net with tinIidity. but becaus,
the journey has been so long. Happ,
be each retrospcction And in seek
ing 20 20 back by che traces of recolle,
tion % the times made sacred by YOU
early associations. may you be carried
80 compile tely into the scenes Of rccur
ling Riaducss shat new world ma,
dawn upon you. :, And " bile you wan
der in these memories. may they hav,
sweet and secret pleasure OF thei
ofn many pleasant places presenting
Themselves TO stop at, aud thence re
vie with sweet sadness. through th,
Ions saIe n past days, some distant