West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-10-05
COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. THURSDAY, OCTOBER S. 1916.
1.-THE LOST LAND
BY MCCLURE MASON

returns memorable day OF my youth
my first school day. 1 indulge the
fanciful but beautiful thought that the
day is thus preserved in fragrance.
To avoid having cherished whim
dissipated. have always Stunned a
discovery OF tho physical source OF the
blossom producing this scent, the dis
covery of which. l fancy. must effect
the belief have I'm the ethereal exist
ence OF this airy prompter OF pleasant
memories.
On account of the spiritual manifes-
tations and the personal devotion I'M
piled, feel IL admissible, even de-
serving, that l make return by re-
cording these-will l say-trivial fam
cies. Presuming still further upon
the readers patience. 1 will ask him
TO hear my theory OF the method en-
ployed TO the end stated: After had
entered the school room on that first
morning and had been greeted by the
eXhalatlon OF some bloom that stood
among others in vase on the school
mistress desk. an unseen hand lifted
the fragrant flower from among it's
radiant companions, carried IL away
to some immortal land where -four
ished memory's garden and planted Il
| therein TO become thenceforth an i'm
mortelle-its frangrance charged and
laden with happy memories. After
| destined intervals. a blossom is pluck
ed and being brought graciously to my
notice, returns to me the loved and
lost land OF my youth and live again
day that would not forget.
| have always been grateful for the
presence OF both the picturesque and
the pastoral I'm the scenery amid which
my early boyhood was passed. I'm
pressions of such days remain wildly
with us. and I'm the evening OF lIfe
the tired traveller, closing his eyes
to dusty ways, may tread again the
green paths of youth, refreshed by the
memories OF the morning
Our village lay in level meadows
protected by river" hills. the Cheat
flowing closely along the base OF the
one rising steeply on the west
There was n single street or road,
and paths led across the fields. Dear
old familiar paths! Connecting
hearth with neighborly hearth, errand
highway. fastened over by the eager
gossip and fingered along by loiter-
ing lovs'-
spring showed earlier en the hill to
the west, while yet thare was ice In
the sugar troughs beneath the ma
pies on Bishops hill. warm life was
already pulsing through the greening
woods across the river; while winter
still fingered on the eastern side.
spring In it's early tender emanations
was trustfully opening on the breast
of the heights opposite.
Elliott's hill! Rising steeply, loft
lily. fronting full to the east, only the
rivers width from us held up to our
view entrancingly mirroring. the sea
sons as they In succes put their
impress upon II. For US opposite Il
was the parade ground where nature
went through her evolutions I'm divine
ly commanded review. When q sum
mer's storm was to be launched, the
cloud artillery was massed Just behind
the crest; bolts OF lightning forked
and zigzag, played wildly against
huge black clouds as they boiled up
from q generating pit and darkened
the landscape In fearsome gloom.
Then the discharging OF the solid shot
OF the heavens, apparently spheres OF
great weight seemed roollnR from
abyss to abysa TO fall with deep ac-
oumulatlng and earth -jarring Impact.
Then would follow the infantry fire OF
the rain, we would see the foliage
droop and cover as the shower came
crashing down the hill, then--to
change our metaphor-there would be
a silyery dance OF multitudinous feet
across the water and pell nell a clat-
tering tattoo rattling on the dry roofs
OF the village. And now TO us amid
the worlds distractions comes memor-
les Of how after the sudden impetu-
Qsity at these summer showers they
weuld subside into a nights length OF
soft and soothing rain; how after the
blesaedness OF siumber. that rests and
heals, we wake to see the rain-washed
world, refreshed, shining ia the glor-
ious morning light,
Wordsworth's description OF an Eng
lish landscape does not exactly apply
here, but II Is such a vivid picture OF a
morning after rain that quote Il to
complete my own:
There was a roaring IN tho woods
all night
The rain came heavily and fell in
foods
But now the sun is rising clear and
bright
And the birds arc singfng IN the dis
tam woods"
"Au things that love the sun are out
OF doors,
The sky reioiccs in the mornings
birth"
And all the air IS filled with the
pleasant noise OF waters"
After . rain sufficiently long and
heavy, Cheat, Wild child OF the noun
tains. would surely always show the
metal OF its birth The misty morn