The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-02-26
or the Olden Time.
NUMBER SIX.
To the Editor. er.s .fassa Inss,tig.no.r:

the subject OF the young ladies in Bel Air
and vicinity Of the olden time, imagined l
would, before closing, work up all the raw
material at my command but had pro-
crossed but a few sentences before one old
acquaintance after another began TO come up
in memory, and found my programme
would be very incomplete without another
letter. Hence, with your privilege, l will
refer TO few additional men and boys who
lived in and around your village during the
first quarter of the present century.
In speaking of legislators in previous let
ter, forgot to mention Jas. w. Williams, who
lived on Deer Creek, not far from Husbands
lanyard. He was q tall, swarthy man, not
unlike some of our "F. F. Vs." who take
great pride in the very uncertain genealogy
that turns the current of Pocahontas into
their veins. land just here let me say in
particular that if one-halfof those who claim
to have descended from the Indian princess
are really such, Virginia, in her most savage
days, never had more numerous tribe of
malungeons than at presently AS before said,
Mr.. Williams very much resembled these
claimants, with his erect form, elastic step,
straight black hair, olive complexion and
brilliant eye. When / said that Elisha Guy
ton was the best penman in Hartford, / should
have excepted Mr.. Williams, who wrote the
boldcst and most legible hand of any distin-
guished man l have ever known. He was
man of thought--decp, investigating
thought-formed his own opinions indepen-
dent of the opinions of others, and was, with
al of high, honorable and generous impul-
ses. Did you ever notice, Messrs. Editors,
that the man who wrote bold, free hand, is
rarely capable of a mean action? and ON the
contrary, have you not noticed that the man
who writes compressed, diminutive, stingy-
looking hand, is rarely capable of magnani-
nous action fyou have not, l have and
l tlatte: myself that show me the autograph of
man, and will give you the measure of
his mind and morals. Everything that Mr.
Williams did was upon a broad and manly
scale. In elcctioneering, for instance, he
never "stooped to conquer" and would have
preferred defeat o. thousand times to success
through the wiles of the demagoguc. l was
Mt his residence when small boy, soon after
his barn had been struck by lightning and
oil his grain consumed, when he put his hand
upon my head and remarked--"This is
great calamity, my son, but He who unchains
the lightning knows where to direct it, and
have DO right to complain" The idea was
grand one to me, the resignation sublime,
and worthy of the man. He was, apparently,
OF delicate constitution, and may long since
have been gathered to his fathers. If not, l
hope he will pardon the license have thus
taken with his name-ifh he has, offer it as
q feeble but honest tribute to worth and
manliness.
Another legislator about this time was
Bennett M. Doran, who served, think, but
q single term. He was an incessant talker,
and very noisy man, with no peculiar char
acteristic as now remember, except the big
and the little u He was fat, funny and
friendly, and was about as tall when lying
down as when standing up. He had many
good qualities, not many great ones, owned
a good farm on upper Deer Creek, and was
better versed in agriculture than law-making
Withal, he was honest, upright and thrifty,
and if he did not make as much show in the
world rs some others, he made rs broad a
shadow as most persons.
John B. Ford was an aspirant for the legisla-
ture, but whether or not he ever succeeded
in getting there am unadvised. He GER
tainly had towering ambition in that di-
rection, and seemed to be determined to get
there ut least ty degrees, as he was standing
candidate year after year. If remember
rightly, was q candidate when left, always
sanguine and hopeful, and may be candi-
date yet for aught know. He lived at X
roads between Dublin and Ashmore's Mill,
and the last time passed that way he was
beating out sumac for the Baltimore market
and talking about future canvass. hope
he finished the sumac and got to the Legis-
lature besides.
Speaking of Ashmore's Mill reminds ME of
John Ashmore and his most excellent lady,
who in her younger days, had possessed
more than ordinary personal charms. In
deed years had failed to rob her of her beau
ty. Their only child was daughter, who
married Nathan s. Bonus Mr. Ashmore's
was one of my stopping places when post
boy, and their kind and cordial hospitality
always made me feel at home. Mrs. A. s father
I think his name was Beaty--lived with
them, was near 100 years OLD, and fearfuly
afflicted with palsy. Mr.. Ashmore planted
q hedge of walnut trees short distance
above his mill, and if they grew they must
have made an everlasting fence, and :lre high
enough for all useful purposes.
Aud now, Messrs. Editors, having referred
to all the grown for whom can find room,
without running this correspondence to an
unwarrantable length, will close by naming
few of the boys with whom / was most in
innate. Two ofthese were VIM. and Joshua
Morris, whose mother, in marrying, changed
their name in but one letter. She was the
sister of Alexander Norris, her husband was
Quaker, and owned the adjoining planta-
ton to that upon which she was raised
William and Joshua were noble boys, and
many al Innocent frolic and puppy-love ad
venture have we had together-particularl
William and myself, at certain factory then
just started on Winters Run. William
think, studied medicine, and was surprised
to learn some years ago, that Joshua had
chosen the religion of his father and had
settled down demure and quiet old Quaker
l honor him not the less, as my own dear
mother belonged to that unobtrusive and
pious people.
VIM Jones, only brother of Mrs. A. L.
Jarrett, was another playmate. He was a
very quiet, discreet and inoffensive boy, and
unlike myself and others of his associates, he
never invaded Col. Dorsey's orchard, Capt
Norris melon.patcf, or Goldsborough Dayis'.
peach-trees, or appropriated to himself any
other forbidden fruit =
Edward Richardson was another cotempo-
rary, and more noble-hearted boy never
lived or rambled. He took to the water like
duck, and the last heard of him he was
sailor on the wide waste of waters. He was,
the stay and hope Of mother and sister,
both in widowhood and was tower of
strength and comfort to them in their loneli-
ness.
Edward Howard was another, who also
took to the water, and was killed by fall in
TO the hold of a vessel soon after l left. He
was high minded, chivalrous boy, not very
fond of male society, but always in love with
nil the pretty girls within his reach. was
great admirer of his nautical costume, blue
jacket and white duck pants, the latter as
tight as the skin round the hips, but the legs