The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-03-12
EscCctIec.io,,s oTthc OIdcss Time
NUMBER EIGHT.

TO the Editors n TIC -Eg;S DC LteiiiJencer
MEssRs. EDITORS Il trust may not he
charged with afectation when | say that |
feel that my Inst letter was so near failure
that have serious misgivings as to the pro-
priety of attempting another upon the same
general subject. But, in taking a retrospect
] find there are still many of the past gener-
alton in Hartford to whom | ought to refer,
and in doing which, | shall throw myself
upon the fnrbearance and magnanmity of
yourself and your readers
In Il former letter had occasion to use the
name of Fox hunter" Tom Bond, without
reference to him or his characteristics. He
was well advanced in years when | first
knew him, and WAS register of wills for the
county for nearly half a century. He but
seldom visited the office, and certainly never
pretended to perform any of the duties. lie
was II qucrulous, testy old man, usually seem
ing to be i'll an ill-humor with himself and
everybody else, but those most intimately
acquainted with him knew this to he more
seeming than real-an ecccntrcity, or Whim
that had by indulgence, become second nature
lie was not very select or reyerent in the
choice Of words, and would just as soon
shower imprcCations as blessings upon q
friend. This, however, was foreign to his
natural feelings, as he would go as far as any
olilel man W ACCOMMODATE nelSllDOG, anu
would divide his last shilling with friend
He had, in some sort, reduced profanity to a
science, and swore more gracefully than many
men talk piously. He loved his toddy, his
friends and his dogs.
His son, little" Tom. Bond, attended to
all the duties of The office, and discharged
them faithfully and well. His disposition
was the opposite of that of his father, OK
ceedingly kind and gentle in all his inter
course He was ola vivacious and joyous
temperament, sometimes a little mischievous,
but amiable towards ALL without regard to
their standing or condition. He had fam
lily, and lived at what was called the white
House." near where | imagine "Fallston"
to be located, without knowing, as there was
no such place in my day. His residence was
some four or five miles from Bel Air, yet
Little Tom. would ride in on his iron grey,
work all day, and then ride back at night,
and always had pleasant word or Joke for
all he happened to meet. Although his
father seemed to take pride in being abrupt
and morose with al others, he invariably
spoke kindly to Little Tom.
Another of the Bond family was Little
Joshua" so-called to distinguish him from
Lame Joshua" He was the brother of
VIM. B. and 4. A. Bond, and the Lord never
put bigger soul inso small body. Although
afflicted and thus deprived of many of the
pleasures and pastimes of others of his age,
he was endowed with Il liberal share of hu-
NOR, and employed many droll and laugh
able expressions. He detested a mean ac-
ton, and detecting such in another, was sufli-
Gent cause of alienation. | remember hay
ing heard him say, on one occasion, rather
than do another an injury he would sink
himselfto the bottom of the bay and crawl
under an oyster-shell. Poor little Joshua,
| pp Mt ppp n M in oplx pI
but not before he had given evidence of SUI
perior intellectual endowments, singular
purity of nature, great righteousness of char
acter, brave TO a fault, and as gentle and af-
fectionatc as a woman. He died at the resi-
dence of his aunt Sally, in the old stone
house at the corner, and when he was laid
to rest, his grave was watered by many a
sad and bitter tear.
A few short years after the death of Little
JOSHUA he was followed to the undiscovered
country by two noble young men with
whom he had been raised and was very in
innate | allude to Parker Moores and
VIM. Johns. They both fell in the prime
and pride of manhood, just as they hadbegan
to appreciate and pursue those higher and
holier aims which lead to usefulness and
honor. | was boy then, but old enough to
mediate upon that mysterious Providence
which thus blasted budding ambition in Il
moment, while the worthless drone was
spared-that cut down the joyous and buoy
ant aspirant at the very moment the world
had opened out all bright and beautiful be-
fore him, while the misanthrope and hypo-
chondrac were allowed to linger among
scenes and associations for which they had no
fondness and from which they would gladly
depart But we cannot fathom the mysteri
Gus wisdom of the Great Disposer of all hui
man events, and it becomes US, therefore, to
bow in humble submission to His righteous
dispensations.
About this period, DR.. VIM j. McIlhenny,
who had been living i'll Campbell county,
Va, returned to Bel Air. He wasa nephew
of Mr.. Stephen Jones' and was one of the finest
looking men in the county. He was a gene
raj tavorite, honorable, generous and manly
and excelled in all the sports of the day. 1
often heard him speak of the hospitality and
chivalry of the Old Dominion, and the mon
ey he had often seen sticking in the chinks
of the log cabins in his professional visits. |
do not know but that the first thought ever
had of making Virginia my future home.
was based upon the pictures he pained-all
true to the life in my experience, except the
money part, though have never lived nearer
than within two hundred miles of Campbell
where he saw the blessed sight
Alphonso johnson, young giant in stature
and strength, but as peaceable and harmless
as child, lived in Bel Air at the time of
which am writing His heart was in pro-
portion to his external dimensions, and en-
braccd in its affections all his acquaintance,
particularly that portion of them who usually
appear in calico Although not wanting in
plain practical sense he had more heart than
mind, and would go any length, or deny
himself any qualification, to accommodate
and serve a friend. BY some means-and
presume it was the fault or misfortune of his
generosity-he became pecuniarily involved,
and his rapacious creditors determined to APP
propriatc the proceeds of his patrimony by
: forcing q sale, TO this he dcmurred, and
the consequence was he took his residence in
} the old stone castle opposite the Court House,
vi or" lie remained month after month-per-
hlI,S year after year-with the privilege of
the enclosure and never under lock and key.
During this period many of my leisure hours
were spent with him, and many Il night have
/ shared his hard pallet, in the attempt to
cheer his solitude and Tighten his sorrows.-