Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-03-13
DEEKFIELD VALLEY.

"Deerfield Valley is choice and seclud
ed spot in Augusta county, Va. immedi
ately under the western brow of Elliott.
Knob, with an altitude of 1000 feet, an(
the highest point in Virginia. The follow
| ing lines were occasiOned by an attendance
upon Lexington (Va.) Presbytery, which
held its sessions In this Valley at Rocky
Spring Church, October 14th to 18th, 1902
Hail Valley fair whose bowl of land
Is trimmed around by mountains grand,
The symbols OF eternities,
| And which, their submits in the skies,
| Now give us rare Autumnal views
| SO gorgeous in priSmatic hues,
As to suggest brilliant bow
Had fallen on the trees below.
Threading the obong dainty Vale,
AS sinuous as serpent'S trail,
The 'Big Calf down its quiet decline
Runs, sparkling like limpid wine,
OFT pausing in Its seaward way
In placid pools, where shadows play,
And where, as if in Pleasures Court,
The gamest tinny tribes diSport.
The sportsman with his rod and reel
And fowling-piece of woven steel.
Will find right here, him to entice,
The eangler-huntSman' paradise,
Where streams with fishes are supplied,
And game birds haunt the mountain side,
While deer and bruins hide, and keep
Their vigils in the cOverts deep.
The pastures green where cattle browse,
And hOmesteads old, that people house,
Tell of the brave Scotch pioneers,
The equal of the worlds cOmpeerS,
Who came, when all was wilderness.
And, gaining to its depths access,
The forests felled, and won home,
Whence few have ever wished to roam.
Religion came with them along,
The Bible and the Book of Song,
And soon the Meeting House arose
Near where the rIppling river flows,
And whittier, whether hot or cold,
Or whether young in years, or old,
All went for public praise and prayer,
And wOrshipped God together there.
Then, spreading out beneath the skies,
Haru by the Church, Gods Acre lies.
Where generations of the Just
Have long since mOuldered into DUST
Fen the fOre-fathers true and tried.
Who for their tenets could have died,
Whom angel wardens watch and keep.
And, as is fit, among the dead,
Two pastors lie with l0wly head,
Who served the people long and we'll,
And at the post of duty fell
But oh sweet Gratitude, ist true
That you have bid the Vale adieu?
For not board, or stone, or mound,
Show where those preachers may be found
Now, up bold EIliotts Knob we climb,
VirglnIa's highest point, sublime,
And there, in fancy. raptured stand
To peer down on the neither land
To view the dainty Deerfield Dale
70 mark its beauty in detail,
And see the light and shadows play
In fitful eyaneScent way.
Nine miles by three, so said to be,
The Valley in It's boundary,
But from our perch tits narrowed down
10 something like rural town,
Where houses dove cots seem to be,
While men are lilliputians wee,
And, tho we ken, we nothing know
OF what is passing for below.
Down there the redman, to and fro,
Chased deer, and bear, and buffalo,
Back in the misty long ago.
Ere ScOtsmen came to plant and sow,
But hardly since has foeman trod
Those dewy meadS OF velvet sod,
And yet, those yOemen, loud and clean,
Did once wars widest tOcsin hear.
All yes, and with their sinews strong,
With iron wills and battle song,
They went to fight for home and land,
For chartered rights, till death, to stand,s 4
And, like old Scots, ON moor and glen,
| On every field they fought as men,
And, dead OF living now they share
The glories that Immortal are.
One room down there, in home ornate,
10 Dixie's Cause is dedicate,
For on it's walls are ''StarS and Bars
And battle flags with Cross of Stars.
| While Lee and jackson, Kings uncrowned
| Whose fame has gone the earth around,
Are pictured there 'midsmuch that still
Calls memories up the souls to thrill.
Rare Valley by Jehovah plann ed,
A very cradle formed OF land
To rock to manhood from the birth
A sturdy race. and still its earth
| Will nourish heroes Of the best,
Supported in Its arms of rest,
And what it has been it will be
ThrO' time unto eternity.
Ah 1t is beautiful, unique,
The Vale from this commanding peak
Indeed, it seems huge tureen
Where in all earth by good is seen
To suit mans being as whole.
The body, mind and regnant soul,
Aud there, if Christ with him abide,
One may be more than satisfied.
Then arching all, is yonder sky,
So far off, yet so very nigh,
When sun, and moon, n stars serene,
Send down their radiance and sheen,
And whence the clouds distill the rain,
The cherisher of grass and grain;
And thus the Dale and dome Uf blue
Seem formed for Natures chosen few.
| God bless the VALLEY, far and nigh
Let Zion every foe defy
And may Religion Joy impart
To every home and every heart,
| And be in life the cause supreme.
In every mind the ruling theme
And, Savior, such as honor Thee
Thy glory Sometim es grant to see
And in the future give them rest
In the Assembly of the blert J!
R. M. TUTTLE.
1 Lexington. Va.