John Milton Binckley, June 1859 Travel Diary, Page 7

[John Milton Binckley, June 1859 Travel Diary, page 7. Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.

The handwriting is difficult to translate and transcribe. Corrections and clarifications will be ongoing.]
                                                                                           7

to plank a glowing spot, the nibble laughs it in the fragments with dimples.

Whatever I see, that is grand, or lovely or beautiful, comes like a missioned reminder to my soul. The sweeping beams that illuminate the whole landscape, this moment, seems like a messenger sent to me.

Hand, and a shovel, a novel connection, boys who dive in the one are playing with the stream, one brat is in the shovel, a large … weapon & the other by the handle hauls him about, I believe to the fun of both . . . Corn, just up a day or two.

I am thinking of one who years ago stood on the railroad side as I went by – a girl – there was but a glimpse close and intimate, eye in eye, but for one instant only. So it came, so it went, There is something almost sad in this for one moment seeing, passing & forgetting our fellow creatures. That girl became a priestess in my vestal. Her image is still there, and could no more be offered, their mirror of a star, to one gone blind. It was good that I saw her but one instant – no mortal could be so

[Written across the margin, sideways:] Be it ever thus, my beloved. May the Spirit of beauty that blesses our earth come always to thy heart as a messenger of peace. Bring to the Soul all the freshness of Spring and the morning – all the lost glories of thy childhood, and hopes of a Future more glorious still.

[John Milton Binckley (1831-1878).]