The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-02-26

Highland airs, fine-looking and sprightly,
and have long since forgiven him for want
ing to whip me the last time wemet, when l
didn't deserve it,
William was younger, and alittle boy while
the rest of us considered ourselves tolerably
big. I was gratified to see in after years
that he became an eminent lawyer but was
grievel when heard ofhis death few years
ago, cut down Ia the full tide of his brilliant
career.
Charles Bradford was u few years older
than myself. He was a TALL sedate boy, and
when / left Just about entering upon that Pc
Rod when boy is little too young to be
called a man, and little too old TO be called
boy. He was staid, sober and thoughtful,
and could cross the street with fewer steps
than any other boy in the town, for the sim
pie reason that his legs were longer. Were
Il to describe him in a word, would say
that he was rather useful than ornamental
Thomas Hays was q very robust, rosy,
manly boy-could beat US all at marbles, and
was the best scholar 1.-THE academy, and only
rivaled by James Archer. He was the only
son OF his parents and almost idolized by his
affectionate sisters. He had big heart in
him, and never affected superiority over poor
er boys on account of their poverty and rags.
He had all the essential elements for great
improved them have never learned.
The foregoing, believe, were all the boys
with whom was more intimately acquaint-
ed. William Jeffrey, of whom spoke in
preceding letter, had just entered upon his
early manhood. He was in precarious
health, caused by close application to bust
ness, and for want of exercise in the open
air. The death of his brother Vincent had
devolved upon him the care of a helpless FAM
lily, and if he receives no reward for it in this
life he will in the next, for such devotion and
benevolence to the widow and orphan as he
exhibited, is not often witnessed in this calcu-
iating anil unfeeling world.
And now, Messrs. Editors, having exhaust
cd my stock in trade permit ne to tender
you my grateful thanks for your long and
patient forbearance. ii have entertained,
or amused or edited, even one OF the huml-
lest of your readers, shall have accomplish
ed more than / expected and am rewarded
for the waste of time and paper, though you
may not hc for the waste OF space. The pic
lures have attempted to sketch are as faith
full as memory could paint Mt this distant day
lfmy letters have served no other purpose
they have at least carried me back in imagi-
nation to he happy and innocent days of
childhood, when mothers gushing affcc-
tions and tho pure love of a circle of sisters
all of whom have long since winged their
way to the spirit land-guided my young and
hayward footsteps in those better paths from
which at tim may have wandered.
In closing this hastily written letter, II close
my, correspondence upon the subject of the
Olden Time, but will, with pleasure, rs oppor-
tuni'y may permit, furnish you letter upon
m scellaneous subjects, such as the physical
features OF this mountain region, its minel al re-
| sources magnificent waterfalls wild scenery
&c, shou d you desire me to do so. am
aware that every sentence and every line of my
letters are subj ct or rather liable to criticism,
but when tell you that have not the leisure
to copy or revise them, and as you see for your
selves that neither erase nor interline, / am
sure you will make full and liberal allowance
for my many and gross imperfcctions
| Again thanking you for your courtesy and
forbearance, and wishing you long life end
great success in your useful and honorable
vocation,
l am yours, most respectfully,
G. G.
| ABINGDON Va Feb 1859