Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-06-19
A Strange Story.

Inc TeelueOce OF MI. IIOOel' lAoi0y "SN'
College Grove, Williamson county, day
or two since, in the seveniy-third year OF
her age. The phases of life through
which she passed were OF the most wletd
and incompreheasbl character, and she
remained, until her death, the wonder oi
the hills among which she had been rear
ed, and where she lived three quarters OF
a century. The name Of Becky, the
Hermit, was we'll known TO almost every
child within ten or fifteen miles OF her
wild abode.
"a short sketch of this strange crea.
ture now that she has passed away. may
not prove uninteresling 10 our readers
"She was the daughter of respectable
parents, who had only been able to Sc
cure 10 her meagre knowledge OF the
more common branches OF education. At
the age OF thirteen she was left an orphan,
dependent upon her own exerlions for a
livelihood. Thus thrown upon the world
she resolved 10 earn her own subsistence
and TO manufacture her own clothing.
She no, only succeeded in sustaining her-
self, but made enough by spinning and
weaving to purchase seven'y-acre isrm,
composed OF lilte patch OF cleared land
and a dense growth Of forest trees, siiua-
ted among the hills some distance from
College Grove.
"PIor 10 the purchase Of this estate,
however, her heart was won by youth.
He had a good education and was the son
Of well-to.do farmer. Her poverty
proved an obstacle 10 their marriage.
The youthful couple, despite this oPPosi-
,ion, determined 10 carry out the vows
they had made TO each other, end she &C
cordingy purchased her wedding attire.
The nupliaIs, however, were finally pre-
vented. He subsequently took sick and
died of lingering disease. She brooded
over his death Unit she became partially
deranged. Not long after this misfortune
she purchased her farm, and had cabin
erected on the top of high and rugged
hill, amid an almost impenetrable forest.
Here she remained until the seventy.sec-
ond wear Of her age, living alone and sell
dom visited She often stated that she
had been crossed in love- and thus far
like her changed mode OF life. She kept
the white slippers and the apparel in
which she was 10 have been made hap
py bride until the day Of her death. 10
these she often pointed with strange mel
ancholy, and would brood over these re-
memuraEces for half day al time.
"Whenever the spirit Of sadness ias-
tened upon her che went 10 her door and
blew long tin horn bequeaihed to her by
her mother for hours a! time. She die
this, she said, TO give her relief. 1t was
always effective. She mingled but very
little with the world. The Bible seenet
to have been her study, and passing po'
ilica events it was her pride to be iamil
lar with. She was The subscriber TO one
newspaper, She permitted only few
select persons to visit her. Those sho
did no, like, she both cursed and stoned
away. On this account many people
were afraid even to come within her sight
During the war she neither met nor saw a
Confederate nor Federal soldier.
"During the latter portion of her life
she took fancy 10 colored woman nam
ed Eliza, who went and lived with her
until the close OF the war, and then de-
parted, which left her once more entirely
alone. Although she had been under the
humane care of Mr.. Haley since 1854,
she positively refused 10 leave her strange
home until she lell oul OF the door OF the
cabin. a wear ago, and was necessarily
compelled TO allow herself TO be taken 10
his house for attention, on account OF IN
iuries received. Her cabin is represent
ed as having been kept with the utmost
neatness. She seems 10 have liked her
benefaclor above all other persons, and
before her death willeG him oil her prop
erty, with the exception OF two acres OF
land, which she gave to the lruani Eliza.
Notwithstanding that she grew old
and decrepit, and emaciaIed and childish,
sbe never forgot her lover, whom she re-
membered even in death. She now lies
buried amidst the scenes Of her long life.
A Touch SToRY-l'he other evening
in our 'prlvate crlb," there was learned
dissertion subject. "Bedbugs and their re.
markable tenacily of life." One asserted
Of his own knowledge that they could be
boiled end then come 10 life. Some had
soaked them for hours in turpentlne with
oul any fatal consequences. Old Hanks,
who had been listening as an oulslder,her
gave in his experience in corrooorailon OF
the facts. Says lie, "Some years ago, l
took bedbug TO an iron foundry, end
dropping il into lsdle where the melted
iron was, had il run into skillet. well,
nv old woman used that skillet preIIy
constant for the last six years, and here
the other day she broke il all TO smash.
and what do you think. gentlemen, that
ere insect just walked out OF bis hole
where he'd been syin' like frog IN
rock, and made tracks for his old roost up
stairs But" added he, by way oil par
en,hesis. 'by George. genileDen,he look
ed mighty pale"
LABoR.-One NJ the greatest mlsfor-
tunes OF the world has been. and now ls,
either 10 despise all labor, attempting 10
live without It. or make false and lnVidons
distinctions in regard TO its varied forms.
We DO no. desire to put these two classes
the labor.despi-ing and those who
make false distinction in regsrd 10 labor
upon the same level; yet it cannot be
daniad ti,at The laiier class by their false