Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-09
For the Spectator.
SIMPLE ANNALS OF FUDGETOWN.
BY CHIPS.
CHAPTER I.

''Tall oaks from little acorns grow"
Fudgetown is quiet and unpretending little
town embedded in the mountains of one of the
Southern States, (or rather Territories, at the
present writing.) The inspired poet might
term it "a pearl set in emeralds;" for the way
worn traveller, while viewing it from the rug
| ged road that winds down the mountain slope,
cannot but be struck with the contrast of the
cluster Of white cottages with the deep green of
the surrounding hills. The streets of the
| town-if such they might be called-are
neither straight nor level, for the first settlers
had no idea of it's ever arriving at its present
| dignity, and therefore thought it needless ex-
| pense to employ a surveyor. The COWS, on
their way to and from the pasture, made very
safe path, which path eventually became road,
and which road became a street as the neat lit
tie frame houses sprang up on either side of it.
The spring where the cattle used to slake their
thirst, in the course of time became the public
well convenient meeting place for the boys
and girls, who thought it no harm to while
away little time in love-pleadings and soft
nonsense, while the clear, pure water in their
buckets threw off its ''chill.'
In the progress of time-as the nation grew
in greatness-so Fudgetown grew with it. A
large portion Of the settlers we're Scotch Pres
byterians, and so they built neat little Calvan-
istic Church and supported truly amiable,
though not very eloquent pastor-not in luxury,
to-be-sure, for the good man wanted ''but little
here below" They gave him plenty to eat and
| tyUIa q oF o1o
After awhile the members of the old established
Church of England thought there was wealth
enough among them to rear structure where
the Episcopalian doctrine might be preached
through the established forms. Consequently,
a neat white spire arose in the midst of beau
tiful oak, grove, and a young theologian from a
fourishing University was installed guardian of
souls
Still Fudgetown kept growing, and the dis
ciples of Wesley began to look round for place
where they might commune with God in their
own way With the aid of other Churches of
the same persuasion and a few donations from
Independent citizens, who had an eye to popu-
larity, modest building soon added to the i'm
portance Of the thriving little town. The
schoolmaster then made his appearance, and
the light of education began to chase away the
darkness of ignorance. A tavern being essen
TALLY necessary for the accommodation of trav-
elers-most, of them drun1naers from large cit
ies-a few enterprising men invested their cap
ital in the hotel concern, which was truly a
novel affair, being built of brick, and three sto-
ries high. Young doctors and lawyers thought
Fudgetown an excellent place to hang out their
shingles so they commenced practice, with a
determination to grow with its growth, and by
their presence introduced the good people to
sickness and contention. Next came along a
printer with new font of type and fast work
ing press, and the simple-minded people were
wonder stricken when they saw scattered among
them weekly journal entitled the ''Fudgetown
Mountaineer. From that moment they began
to talk about the affairs of the outer world
railroads. rise and fall of stocks-national and
state politics. This last was a stride toward
greatness that they had not dared to imagine.
Town lots arose in value, and claims were laid
to the honor of becoming the county town.
There was a desirable lot for Court House.
However, prosperity did not spoil Fudge
town it lost but little of its pristine simplicity
and purity by the new ways of the new comers.
To be sure, the natural beauties of the settlement
were little marred by the introduction of
bricks and mortar, and the vain endeavor of
the town commissioners to straighten the cow
path which now had assumed the imposing
name of Main street, implying that there were
other tributary or branching off avenues. It
was found by the Commissioners, after very
mature deliberation, that the future city could
not be laid off in perfect squares while Main
street preserved serpentine course. The wise
fathers knew that acute angles never would do,
and that after generations might call them min
mes were they to allow crooked thoroughfare