Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-23
A Trip to the Mountains

- fiAFff
New MARSrr, July l6.-Since my h.,
from Sperryville, We have visited Wa,M,,
ton, the county seat Of Rappahanno,k
very neat village. aud surrounded T.,
beautiful and fertile country. IT'S her. ,l,.
johnson was hung Il few weeks agu for H..
murder of his wife. From this place =,
drove over to Woodville, IA pleasant Inn.
town, and inhabited by Il very hospi,sL.
people. From here We start in a s,utb.,l.
direction, and after few honrs' drive srI
ourselves IN most charming valley. shut +,
by the surrounding hills. This Is ra,I.t
the +. L. Valley, (my travelling friend ~,
gests that it be called the Happy Valley
The original owner, Frank Thornton. r...
received II grant from the Crown for cerrsin
lands here, aud the boundary trees of >,t
lands bear the initials OF his namr-L.r..
the origin of the F. 7. Valley. Their. il.
also Baptist Church here, named the + +
Church, the grove in which it is lorat-i
having been given by Mr.. Thornton for tina,
purpose. This is II very charming country.
here the residences are handsome, and N.
visited this valley for the first time, Va.
surprised to find hid away from the great
thoroughiares, such Il pretty neghbnrhu.!
grazing appears to bc the most important
part performed here. How happy, thought
| |, may any one be in such home a. tn,
Tor look which way you will You find fell.
Of richest yerdure, and covering them al,
with the most beautiful cOlorS We hi, III.
setting sun lighting up both earth and cloud
Can it be possible that in this valley hcal,.
heart, anxously looking forward To tie
time when this quiet home shall be desc.
ted for the tinScl and emptyn-Ss of fashion.
able city life? if No. felt | should Ike T.
have found such IN one, and Ia have urge!
him to be- content. But We must get alons;
yet withal We can't help rxcaiming, what
State-what proud old State do We live H.
There appears to be no end To her natur4
resources; and yet the question comes ~
can she ever he great in every thing tia,
constitutes true greatness. whilst her SON.
and her daug hters desert her to aid in III.
building up Of other States, now them.
selves, becoming giants, aided greatly by tn
energy and wealth expended by Nirgiuiau.
which if spent At home wouii make al,
wilderness blossom ~ the rose. Look g.
example, at Ohio, Kentucky, and Nilsson
All. when will we all agree to abandon h.
old exploded +. +. Y. doctrines, aud all IL.
mud muscle, and mOaty, II combnatua
that if properly and inteligently applet
would make us FIRST ~ a State. FIRST 4, t
people, and first in point of wealth aud 10.
tluencc.
From this valley We pass out into very
poor country. | was very much struck at
the contrast between this and the nrighbnr.
hood We had just past, aud yet believe all
this land could bo reclaimed by the u.e g
proper fertilizers. From here We pass on l.
Madison Court House. and at a point called
James City, some waS has nailed up whrf.
two roads cross, Il sign board on which
painted 1900 miles Ia California The ,ay
was II hot one, and We were very tirri
yet We could not help ndulging III heart,
laugh Madison Court House is very urs
little village. There are several very hrI.
mercantile concerns here, most oi whom
trade to Richmond owing to the fact, the
say, that the Railroad freights, &c, To AieI =.
andria force them To do -. IL pains Ii, o
hear these things, for We want 70 dBS
trade. not drive it away. From hel" W
pass back again to the valley, and mu..
again cross the Blue Ridge, but at por
further south than We crossed in our last IT.
ter We struck the mountain ut about hr
o'clock in the evening, and before We We.
half up its eastern side We encountered CO.,
Of the most terrific storms We ever witur
SEED. The lightning was terrific, aud u.
thunder the most awful, as it reyrrhrmir
among these mountains The water u. ,
ia torrents down the road, covering It s.
over, and giving it the appearance 81
swift running stream. 1t is impossible
give you any thing ike description Of tl'
storm-human Imagination cannot begin I
paint 1t. | had often wondered II the St1rl'
among the mountains We're not more seN,'
than in the valleys; but never did sup
them SO much more terrific. We wrrt.
mong the very elements the hghtnn'
appeared 10 play about our carriage, a. %"
came flash after FASH from constantly bras
ing clouds and the heavy peals OF hra'ra
artillery that followed each flash. came "
thc HoSt CIiChN, lH'"'
and re- echoed amid the surrounding m.
tains; and 10 add to the picture, it sull'h
became very dark. So amid all thi, iaa
ness and light, (tor every moment . Dr.
and then darkness, and again light -a'.
up in hlgh mountain, amid the most IT,
full warning Of the elements, you have a 10
description of this storm, before winch
stoutest heart must quail. We were, b.
ever, safely preserved, and reached
mountain top IN safety. both feeling VI
thankful To the great director 81 th" ~"
for Ills care and protection. After CAN
the top and the storm being past, the m
welcome light helped us soon 10 run j
into the Page Valley, and at halt pa.
o'clock We wire safe and sound at 4"
where after good nights rest. "" -Iar
for and reached this point. You may :.
from me again. Truly. "
EAKM FOR SALE.--A highly imlr
i aud conveniently situated FARM. conts
THREE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN ~
ia Fairfax county. Va, OH the Little River
pike, six miles from Alexandria and nrn'
Washington city, with turnpike leading doc :.