The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer

A Compliment to Wheeling

A

the Way From Germany.

A young gentleman who resided a

number of years in this city, and who

was a clerk in one of our hardware

houses, and who returned to Germany

some three years ago, writes us a letter

from his place of sojourn (Birringen) in

which he encloses us the following verses,

expressive, as he says, of the higher es-

teem in which he holds the city of Wheel-

ing and the people thereof. The verses

are headed "A compliment to Wheeling,"

and are prefaced with the name of the

writer, Mr. G. Ehni. They read as fol-

lows:

Three years it has now almost been

Since I have Wheeling people seen;

I cannot forget them on account

Of having them so lovely found.

So many days I there have spent

and was well pleased and was content,

Sang songs along the river side

When I did on the Island stride.

The steamboat whistling so I hear

With joy still in my memory's ear.

You ask me wherefore I did leave?

Because somewhere else was my sheaf.

The world is large. To look around

I always thought, I was bound,

My longing heart told me to see

The Lord's eternal majesty.

And what I saw was bright and great

On land and sea in every State;

O Lord, thou art so wise and mild

And happy am I as thy child.

Great Lord, save all my Wheeling friends

From any danger, woes and fiends

And let them prosper, day and night.

And never be out of thy sight.

The homely hills, the valleys green

Are still as they have always been

Sweet recollections when alone

I think of them and Washington.

Therefore if I should soon return

My heart will lively beat and burn

To see the land and ladies sweet,

And gentlemen and hear them greet.

Till then, I hope they will content

Themselves with such a compliment

As this, I long and pray to see

You soon in peace and liberty.

The people in Ohio State,

With whom I was so intimate

Are precious in my memory

Though some of them have cheated me.

This fact molests me day and night

I hope they will soon make it right.

God bless every honest man

Thence: Buckeye man do what you can!

And thou a friend, thou noble soul.

Who is as thou, from pole to pole!

It is thy true and faithful heart

I seek all blessings to impart.

There is a vulgus in the land

With whom I would not shake a hand;

To those I have no word to speak

For I do love the mild and meek.

For Wheeling give three cheers at last

It dwells in my attachment fast;

Virginia, land of Washington,

I loved thee since I have been gone.

When I come back as single man

I went to try just all I can

As soon as possible to catch

A girl to love and have a match.

But what I do as man propose

Might otherwise the Lord dispose;

To Him I put mine esperance

And from His hands I take my chance.