The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-02-04

GUS wisdom of the Great Disposer ofall hu
man events, and it becomes us, therefore
to bow i'll humble submission to His RIGHT
eous dispensations.
About this PERIOD DR.. VIM. j. McIlhen
ney, who had been living in Campbell
county, Va, returned to Bel Air. He was
a nephew of Mr.. Stephen Jones, and was
one OF the finest looking men in the coun.
ty. He was general favorite, honorable
generous and manly. and excelled in all
the sports of the day. often heard him
speak of the hospitality and chivalry ofthe
Old Dominion, and the money he had of
ten seen sticking in the chinks of the loo
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 painted-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, a 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 proportion to his external dimen-
sions, and embraced in it's affections all his
acquaintance, particularly that portion of
them who usually appear in calico. AL
though not wanting in plain practical sense,
he had more heart than mind, and would
go any length, or deny himself any graft
fication, 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 ra-
pacious creditors determined to appropri-
ate the proceeds of his patrimony by fore
ing sale. To this he demurred and the
consequence was he took his residence in
the old stone castle opposite the Court
House, where he remained month after
neutrality-suspicious., year after year-with the
privilege of the enclosure, ard never I'M
der lock and key. During this period,
many OF my leisure hours were spent with
him, and many night have l shared his
hard pallet, in the attempt to cheer his
solitude and Tighten his sorrows. We thus
became very intimate, and l can say even
at this day, with what experience has
taught me Of the morals and emotions OF
men, that never have met man, in my
somewhat checkered and diversified inter-
course, with more generous and honorable
impulses than Alphonso. have not heard
of him for forty years, and if he is still liv-
ing and should happen to see this letter l
hope he will let me hear from him. In
deed, | would be too happy, if each one l
have mentioned, who may see my letters,
would drop me few lines, at least
VIM. 5. Hays was another very promis-
ing and handsome man, but some years be-
fore left he married a very lovely lady,
bought number of negroes, fixed up sew
eral teams, and took the long and toilsome
journey to Alabama, where he intended to
embark in planting. VIM. P. Beall accom-
panied his wagons, but soon returned
How Mr.. Hays succeeded, or whether he
ever returned, have never learned. He
was sprightly man, full of adventure and
energy, and hence, thought, well qualified
to battle his way up in life, which I pre-
sumo he did.
lbelieve | have said nothing about John
McKenney, Jr., farther than that he edited
paper in Bel Air short time He was
postmaster and mail contractor for many
years, and discharged his duties with great
promptness and fidelity. He was one OF
natures noblemen, backward and unassum-
ing-almost as much so as Miss in he1
teens and unlike his jocular and merry
old sire, he was thoughtful and sedate, but
always polite and gentlemanly. | never
knew him to partake Of the sports of the
young men Of the place, but was always
found at the post of duty. He was bach
elor as long as | knew him, although any
young lady in the county might have re,
garded him as a prize.
| have nnma1 Inbp MornocS IN onn -,
two preceding letters, but have said moth
ing about him, except that he assisted Mr.
Jones in serving his guests on public oc-
casions, and had II charming little sister,
John was rollicking, jovial, heightened
mischievous, industrious, managing piece
of fat humanity. loved to share half-pint
witha congenial friend, and lived like
nabob at his own pleasant and COM
Portable home. He owned large but
sterile tract of land, which he cultivated
in patches, but by some means, although as
liberal as most good-natured men, he made
an abundance to live on, entertained great
deal of company, and at the end of each
year had surplus to lay up for rainy
day. He was excessively fond of female
society, but when the subject of matrimony
was mentioned, he locked at it askance, as
turkey looks at n snake
Wm Gillespie was another of my an.
cient acquaintance, and more active
energeti9 enterprising man l have never
known. He was, by turns, farmer, mer
chant, trader-then trader merchant, far
mer. A horse-race in Hartford without
VIM. Gillespie, was no race at all, and he
scarcely ever failed to ride one of the hor
ses, and almost invariably the winner
There was sorrel racer in Hartford at that
day called Prince George, and there was
not a sportsman in the county who would
not have risked his pile on him when VIM
Gillespie was in the saddle. He was a ge.
NAL, happy little man, always ready fol-
amusement, speculation and adventure
and never failed to have something to do
Whatever he had was at the command OF
his friends, and nothing seemed to give
him more pleasure than to contribute to
the happiness and comfort of those around
him.
There are Others, Mcssrs. Editors, to
whom would love to refer, but these let
ters like all things else, must have an end
and prudence admonishes me that it is
time to be looking for it. "reminiscences
like an "oftold tale," become insipid, and
it requires more tact and discretion to know
how and where to quit than how and where
to begin. am afraid have already gone
beyond the line between reason and the ridi,
culous, and therefore propose to wind my
long yarn into ball. In doing this again