Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-09-19

ll6 OOlocl Vi Wos EcltIleI HCdlLuJ Hui ~
creation, but serious, sober business That is tr
say, we were "hard up" for "a paragraph" and
deemed il within the range Of probability, tina
several might be started up between this famous
city Of Stanton and Bells Valley in the county
of Rockbridse. We were net disappointed, for
the cars had proceeded but a few miles, when one
of our companions, pulled his notebook hurriedlJ
from bis pocket, gazed out of tho window with
mingled admiration and delight, and demanding
our attention to the passing scenery in voice
tremulous with agitation, exclaimed:
.'Behold the crops See! the frugal husband
man is toppin corn"
We cast our eyes backward, and caught a
glimpse of the receding eornfeld, but were not
favored with sight of tho industrious laborers--
Ever and anon, however, some newly discovered
wonder called forth an exclamation of rapture
from our companions.
elbow beautifully romantic does it appear" a
postrophized one, as we passed brskly by Hebron
Church. We were not nsensible to the attrac-
tons of that spot, for with it is associated many Of
our earlier recolections.
After leaving Hebron, the road passes through
the rich and fertile valley of Middle River, expo
sing to the view Of the traveller some very fine
farms. Within few miles may be seen the es-
taes of Mr.. Shumase, Mr.. Sterrett, Mr.. Brown,
MIR. Yesslsr Mr.. Swoope Sc. Owing to theslp-
perry condition of the rails, we made slow prog
ress up grade, had a fine view Of the Buffalo Gap
property as we passed along, touched our hats TO
the landlord who was standing in the porch, and
finally reached the Summit"
Just before we came to this point, however, an
incident occurred which we jotted down for .a
paragraph" and will give it now. Seated in the
front part Of the coach, our party had well nigh
fallen asleep, weared by constant view of:bleak
mountain sides, land worried by the slow motion of
the train. At this moment our reveres were dis
turbed. A fat, burly gentleman-rather fine
looking than otherwise-came rushing up the
aisle, making far ''better time" than the engine.
Agitation was depicted upon every lineamont of
his countenance. On he rushed, opened the door
in double quick time, and reaching the platform,
pulled the signal rope with all the energy Of des-
pair. We had noticed baby in the lady's cabin,
and our first conjecture was, that the 'dear little
innocent" had pitched out ofthe window. Just
then, however, we were relieved from this pain
ful apprehension, for elevating our eyes TO the
rope at which the traveller was tugging 80 Justify,
I'll. a. h,t. j.
gineer needed not the bell, the train moved on
even more briskly than bolors, and the gentle
mans beaver remained on the mountain side, far
back in the distance, ao e
'For horrid hyanas and jackals to ate"
The beresved gentleman presently returned 10 our
apartment, little cloth cap sitting cozy on his
head, and expressed the opinion "ihat the train
might just as well have stopped"
From the Summit we went down the grade
at rapid rate passing the little village Of Craigs
vile in which we noticed a number of new build
ings in course of erection. Between The "Sun-
nit" and Craigsville it was, that one of our CON-
panions pointed 10 tho eh, and exclaimed
"TherO is Ellio,t's Knob-the highest moun-
tain in Virginia."
We had seen it often before, but never from
this point, and therefore looked as our friend de-
sired. Unable 10 desery it, we applied to our in
formant for more exact instructions:
"Oh you are looking in the right direction"
said he, "Elliott's knob is certainly there, but SO
completely envslopsd with fog just now that you
cant see it," We hssitaed whether to give him
our hat, or sell it at big profit to the gentleman
with the cloth cap on.
From Craigsvile, we ran in fifteen minutes
to the terminus of the road, some distance above
the residence Of Mr.. VIM II. Bell in the county
of Rockbridge, and about thirty miles from this
city. At the terminus we found about seventy
FIVE or one hundred passengers awaiting us in the
rain-men. women, children aud poodle dogs-all
of which were soon comfortably seated in the cars.
Coming back we made better time, and reached
Stanton about O'Clock. The road so far as
completed west of Stau nton is in excellent condi-
ton, smooth and apparently we'll settled. Ont
train, we met with the President, Col. Fontaine,
who is almost constantly on the road attending,
with an ever vigllant eye, to the interests OF the
company We also met with Mr. Henderson, tho
excellent Division Engineer, at Craigsvle, who
seemed at loss 10 determine where he should
lodge for the night. We invited him to return
with US to Staunton but he declined on tho ground
that he had no clean shirt with him. We offered
to furnish him one of ours, but he seemed rather
inclined to believe that he would find some diff
Guilty in getting into it-so we had to leave him
standing in the woods at the terminus. Wemust
not forget to mention that our friend Mr.. Chesey
Trout ALSO joined'6ur party at Cragsville. He is
the Conductor on the morning train; stays at the
the terminus until o'clock in the morning, and
comes in to Staunton by 5o'clock. We presume
there will be but little use for this morning train
in few weeks.
We cannot conclade without mentioning that
upon our arrival home, one Of our companions dis
covered that his pocket book was missing, and he
conjectures that it was distracted by some mem
Der of the light fingered gentry on the cars. IfsO,
the thief has found out before this time that he
was operating upon one of the light purse gentry,
for, as is generally the case with an editors wal
let the pocket book contained no, cent of money.
1t was filled up with accounts for subscription job
work, and advertising. We are authorized to- say
that the rogue may keep the papers, if he will re-
turn the pocket book, as the owner ia satisfied
that he will not be able to collect five cents in the
dollar having himsefbeen engaged in an unsuccess
ful effort 10 ge! them converted into cash for the
last eighteen months. We would advise the thief
to follow the example of "brother chip" under