Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-04-16
A RETURN TO lEWISBURG.


Back in some ECStcr year;
A melody bourne through the
DIR lifting haze
OF lifc's forgotten days.
The tumult dies around us,
strangely thrilled
With roar of traffic stilled,
Our eyes are dinmed; our hearts
turn back; and then
We dream old dreams again.
Sometimes beneath Loves new
found smiling skies;
Remembered perfumes arise;
An incense from the violet or rose
Where summers south wind
blows,
Lost fragrance from old lanes of
mignonettc,
That Love cannot forget.
And in the twilight of the dawn,
We turn to where old affairs burn,
The ncwfound Love must bidc its
moments then,
We dream old dreams again."
The noisy little car of the l.. s. r.,
stopped at the station and a strang-
err alighted. she was a woman well
on in years and though she seemed
fairly confident Of her surroundings
there was q light Of adventure in
her faded blue eyes and looking
about her she took the road 10 the
town cemetery.
The old 81. +. l." (no longer so
called) lay smiling in the afternoon
sunshine, The maple trees on the
avenue were not yet in leaf though
the air was full Of the promise Of
coming spring.
The young ladies of the inStitu-
ton We're as of old strolling about
the grounds, with here and there a
studious one. resting, book in lap,
on the terrace.
The woman seemed quite sure Of
her self and without hesitation she
stepped into the shadow Of The COM
parativcly new Sunday School build
Ing.
Where in the days gone by the
beloved Session Room" had stood
Il stately building reared its new
fashioned head. she paused as
though all at once noticing Il change
then seeing the familiar monument
to ihc memory of the late DR.. Nc
just between the new edi-
flee and the "Old Stone" Church,
she hurried on.
She stood before the chain gate
for moment, as though undecided,
whether 10 go around and over the
fence by the stairway UP and over
hui remembering her time of life
she opened the gate and with more
than the other way would
have afforded, she entered Goods
Acre"
Five graves lie with their head
stones toward The road. Toward
these she walked. unkept. neglected.
forgotten they appeared.
She looked down upon the last rest
ing place Of "A soldier of The Con-
fcderacy," his wife, son, a daught-
cr. and an aunt of the visitor.
With a sudden impulse the strang
er stopped and plucked crocus
from each Of the tombS murmuring
as she did so: "A flower from my
angel mothers grave" then with
sigh she turned away.
Still stands The red brick court
house. II one did not know that
nearly nineteen years had passed
since she had looked on the porch
of the building across the street
from the courthouse. one might
think that she expected to see the
familiar form of one who used to
sit there, or TO distinguish childish
figures moving about; but the old
house is the property of strangers
and the "Colonel'' as she knew him
would never again sit on The porch
and the children that she had in
mind are grown men and women
one gone beyond recall. The others
battling with the world as we all
must do.
Ii was in the house that she had
known as the 'Old Cooper home"
that she was entertained that night
after visit to the Community House
Many a time she had been child
ISL guest in This house. well she re-
called the swee. patient face of
Sarah Lizzie Cooper" who lived
so sanity q life and died so
triumphant Il death that il would be
hard for one 10 forget her. Among
the throng at the Community House
were many that she had known in
the days gone by. As she enjoyed
the delightful refreshments served
by the committee, the friends of
her youth filtered by, some she
recognized--few recognized her. A
wonderfully praiscworthy enter
prise is this new step in the trend
cf the times. A place where the
weary may go to rest Or wait for
the train, a place where if one is
overtakcn by illness one may be
cared for, a place where the ladies
may gather for conference, Il place
where good books may he had for
the payment Of small sum of