Reminiscences of Cuba, Part I [pp. 566-575]

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price of fortune, and dazzled by the glare of
success-his affections and his sympathies
may cluster
"Where guilty glory glows,
And despicable State,"
but woman proffers her homage at no shrine
save that of virtue. Man is misled by
the phantoms of his own pursuing. It is
his ambition-it may be his destiny to be
great; it is woman's higher ambition-her
heaven-born mission to be good.
Men of Virginia-in the name of the
daughters of this Commonwealth we appeal
to you. We ask of your generosity no gift,
we demand of your-tardy justice a debt. If
there be in your birthright aught that is valuable-if in the memory of your past, the
fruition of your present, or the anticipation
of your future, there is anything around
which the affections nmay cling, or the hopes
may cluster-if you claim any part or parcel
of the glory that attaches to the emblems of
Virginia's sovereignty, or the striped and
spangled insignia of the Confederacy, then
you are a debtor, and we charge you in your
heart of hearts to nleasure well the quantum
of your debt. To you, above all others, does
this enterprize appeal for sympathy and active aid. To the custody of your own Commonwealth, is it proposed to confide the
Home and Grave of her peerless son. It is
an appropriate designation, for though his
name and fame in some respects may be
greatly claimed as common to mankindyet in him Virginia becomingly asserts a peculiar property.
"He is her own,
And she as rich in having such a jewel,
As twenty seas if all the sand were pearl,
The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold."
Then speed this sacred enterprize. Encourage the hearts and strengthen the
hands of your patriot sisters. Let the glorious work be consummated. In the name
of woman, let the home and grave of Washington be consecrated to mankind, as the
Mecca of Republicanism forever. From the
dome of the homestead he deserted only for
a habitation on high, "a house not made with
hands-eternal in the Heavens," let the
banner of his own Virginia ever wave, and
o'er his sacred ashes let her with a mother's
tenderness a constant vigil keep. She will
not-she cannot prove recreant to the holy
trust. Whatever fate the future may hold
in reserve for her, though the common doom
of nations be hers, her glory pale and her
strength wax faint-in the decrepitude of
age as in the bloom of youth and the vigor
of maturity, around that consecrated spot
she will hover an unslumbering sentinel
"How sleep the brave who sink to rlest
By all their country's wishes blestWhen Spring, with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their ballowe'I mould,
She then shall dress a richer sod,
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
By fairy hands their knell is rung,
By forms unseen their dirge is sling;
There Honor comes a pilgrim grey
To view the turf that wraps their clay,
And Freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell a seeptred hermit there."
REMINISCENCES OF CUBA.
BY TENELLA.
It was a cold, datnp morning in February
that we left the city of New Orleans where
I had spent six weeks so happily that even
the prospect of visiting Cuba could not quite
reconcile me to bidding adieu to the many
kind friends who crowded around us on the
deck of the steamer Crescent City. In order to cross the bar at the mouth of the river before dark, we were obliged to make a
very early start, and the clock had not
struck eight when the bell warned off all but
the passengers, and put a speedy end to the
"last words" and hasty kisses of those whom
we were leaving behind. I know of nothing
more dismal than an early start on a cold
morning, no one is amiable, and bright indeed must be the beauty and cheerful the
spirit that can stand such a test.
Tired out with the hurry of an early
breakfast, and the excitement of leaving my
friends, I hastened to my state-room as soon
as we were fairly off. I found it filled with
mementos of the thoughtful kindness of those
whom I had left. Books, fruit, flowers and
confectionary strewed my berth, while safely
stowed away in one corner was a bottle of
566
Reminiscences of Cubct,.
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