Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-02-01
w. B. F. L., TO REV. r. NJ. +.
DEAR GAZETTE:

Being called upon by the genial editor o
! Tire GAZETTE for an explanation why diC
not go to Florida, as he had published thu
fact OF my going some weeks since; beg t.
say that the publication was, of course, pre-
mature and Internationally at fault, but die
no one any harm. The publication, how
ever, induced my honored friend, the Rev
II. III. r., Of Collierstown Va, to indite some
beautiful sentinlci clothed witha richness
and fragrance suited 20 the Sunny South
Accompanying his letter, addf .s"d to me in
Florida, we're some beautiful cIn ;rgc.
In verse. One on the death Of Miss "
ME Davis, the other, Lament U. 7. Semi
nary" prince Edward county, Va.) What
could / do? i wasn't In Florida as Mr..
Barclay had recommended, and with many
misgivings as to my ability to write anything
that would pass muster" in worse, in reply
| to the smooth running notes Of my respect
ed friend in Collierstown. l was reduced TO
the desperate undertaking Of making the
experiment. invoked the muse that fired
the pen OF Virgil, Horace, and that fellow
who wrote the odes OF Anacreon, | appealed
to the heaven born muse Of Milton, and tried
to move the shades OF Chaucer, and failing in
this, my last appeal to the more modern
bards met with similar response; oven the
late distinguished poet who delighted the
English ear with his sweet and pleasing song
OF Men may come, and men may CO. but !
go on for overturned away from me in
sadness. The response from all came to me
like some one knocking at my chamber
door, :" only this and nothing mOre-''poeta
nascitur, not fit.
Nothing discouraged knowing that pro-
gress invites effort, ard effort reaches out
to the dangerous theory Of expansion, and
expansion is the godmother Of imperial
ISM" | started my little boat adrift, net
knowing what sand. bars it would encounter,
nor what sub marine battery would explode
her.
But here she gees q bold start and happy
landing.
The Rev. II, VI. T., Collierstown, Va.
My Dear Sir -
l our letter full Of jest and glee,
Came safely through the mail to me.
cannot tell cannot see
What Barclay means to send us three
Il cSouthem cline,
And out OF time,
Your humble friends OF 'lngleside."
II nature had conferred on me
The happy gift TO write TO thee
In measured terms, and timely lay;
I'd know. for truth, what then to cay, |
For your clipping"
So BETTING
Our sainted Nv innie" Of Dixie
Id tell thee, too, In measured strains,ss
How sad to read Of what remains:
In "*Edward's halls where science dwelt,
Where cody men in reverence knelt,
70 l
Their God obey
In all the walks Of life.
Those sacred halls, wheie men had striven
iPo teach the youth the joys OF Heaven:
And how to live, and how to rest
At last. on their Redeemer's breast,
Now left to rust
Dissolved In dust, {
With bats and owls their dirge bemoan. n
1t may be well we cannot say,
IT'S destiny that leads the way hi
We grleve and fret our lives away
Ger things that's past and gone their
way,
When we in fact
Should not look back
But strive to improve tho future.
One thought, just here should cheer
thy life,
Twas There she came to be thy wife
so what you've lost in brick and stone
Is recompensed, for she alone
Can best decide
Whatere betide
Thy foplsteps and thy wandtrings.
We'illeave thee now, my honore1 friend,
May Heavens best gift both thee d.
attend; n
And II on horse, or wheel you'd ril" W v
Come straight along to "lnglesidn. ~ ~
| mean you two - ~,
Naught else will do y
For two makes one and one makes two ~, >,
rince Edward. tUnion Theological S;r
nary. IA
Sincerely. w. Is. f. Il. tho