Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-09-28
A HEART OFFERING.
Memorial Tribute to C. II. B. Rouss,
Died April 25th, 1891.

AMIDST q silent city Where repoSSu, IN
tender keeping, historic peoples dead
of many generations. It was the hour
of quickening morn. The gray dawn
was fast pushing the. dark veil of night
aside, and the eastern sky was purpling
with gorgeous splendor which an
nounced the coming OF the King of
Day" to greet an all-expectant hemis-
phere The timorous cricket, which
loves to 1inger about the dwellings, of the
dead, had ceased the twittering that
breaks the nightly stiffness with its weird
notes and hied beneath concealing ivy,
from the full-orbed. gaze of the risen
sphere, and merry birds. rejoicing in ev-
cry tree and bush and shrub, were trill-
ing their morning song of gladness in
honor of His glorious advent.
Yesterday was Decoration Day" and
loving hearts from every section of the
beautiful Valley had brought rich offer
ings from the floral realm and laid them
in all their beauteous wealth of wreath
and cross and fragrant clusters upon the
graves of their heroes and loved ones,
and now, in the departing twilight of
breaking morn, a spangled glow of sad
ness came forth from every mound. as
upon each bud and blossom and leaf was
seen the glistening dew-drop tears of
grief, while everywhere from the eyes of
bending willows had fallen. on heaved
tenements, big drops of weeping sorrow.
1 was thus early at this sacred spot to
bring floral offering, ere the impatient
train would leave that was to bear me to
my distant home. 1t was placed upon
the grave of Chas. II. B. Rouss, young
man of thirty summers earthly life. l
knew him from his infancy and had
watched his expanding progress. as. of
his own inherent worth and leaning upon
the strong arm of loving and courage
Gus father, he triumphantly struggled to
reach that goal which brave and anbi-
tious conqueror Graves. Suddenly l saw
a dark cloud move toward where ne was
climbing and it overcast the dizzy heights
to which the young victor had leaped.-
1t was the dark shadow of Death. From
that pail of gloom came forth 4 voice
which halted a career scarce beyond the
threshold of its imperial possibilities. =
Soon that manly form was clutched in
the embrace of a spectre tyrant who had
never been known to release his prey
Then came the weeping of bereaved
ones then the sad assemblage then the
solemn procession and lastly the grave.
l witnessed all this. and l stood beside
the striken father when they laid the body
of his beloved one at rest. As / looked
upon that lowered casIcet 1 thought how
sad, how terrible, the taking away of the
first born of such Princely promise, the
Young conqueror of kingdom and the
heir to an empire This was years ago?
yet the flowers which laid to-day on the
grave of this young hero were the offer
ing of a heart in which his memory is as
green as at the hour I saw his lifeless
form lowered into his tomb. That manly
figure, that genial manner and the al
ways kindly salutation are as freshly
present now as when, in his living Wig
orous manhood he stood before me as
my cherished friend,
As l stood beside that stately shaft,
erected by parental love which fingers
ever at that spot, and looked around
upon utmost reach of vision. l thought
how beautiful the surroundings where
he sleeps | wondered if more glori-
Gus scene had ever met the eye, as it
behe1d the distant mountain range
stretching its long azure line southwark
overlooking historic valley rich in land
scapes, rich in soil and rich in abundant
harvests. but still richer in fields of
glory where matchless heroes had lived
and fought and suffered and died; then
northward continuing its blue line along
equally glorious scenery and historic
ground to where the wooing waters of the
Potomac and Shenandoah meet in en-
bracing wedlock and wend their bridal
journey in conjugal union TO the sea. Be-
holding then from every view the forests
dressed in their garments of living green.
the 1impid streams and verdant hills
and wales where 1ocks and herds were
grazing and flowers were blooming and
fruits were ripening, while, over all, the
happy husbandman was rejoicing in the
blessings of requlted toll; and not forget
ting the rural city of glorious memories
which lay in attractive beauty at the
western base of this commanding eleva-
ton, together with the bounding slopes
with their ores and mines of marvellous
richness that lead to the Alleghanies be-
yond. and You have grasped wealth OF
scene and deeds and thought for contem-
plation that would flood the poets inspir-
ations with rapturous visions, and, while
furnishing the artists pen and brush and
chisel with ideals of highest conception,
would give to faithful chronicler knowl
edge of race of heroes whose achieve
ments would set his story ablaze with his
toric glory.
But. turning from this enhancing scene
to the silent sleeper, vino rests all uncon
scious of its grandeur. there comes the
query, shall we meet this cherished one
elsewhere, in other world or state? And
the answer of the soul responds, yesi yes
Why, yes, with such emphasis Because
if there be no hereafter we would not, aye
could not think of, much less could we
vearn for immortality, for surely it wouid
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