Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-07-21
Reteer from the Springs.

| Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette,
RAwLEY SPRINGS, ROCKINGHAM Co., Va,
July l6, S70.-Oppressed with the heat and
dust of the city, languid and weary from the
confinement and sameness Of every day doing
the same thing over and over again, and out
Of sorts generally, your correspondent some
days ago suddenly resolved to seek relief from
the halt sick condition to which he was reduc
ed, aud accordingly directed his course thithe7-
| ward, where cool mountain breez.s pure air,
new aces aud scenery, and medicinal waters
abound, and where invaded folks are said to
find relief from most OF the ills that flesh is
heir to.
The route to this watering place is via: the
Manassas branch OF the o., A. s. NJ. H. Il.
to its present terminus, fiarrisonburg, and
travcrscs country too well known to need a
description. 1t is hardly possible that more
fitting time could be chosen in which TO view
the richness Of this valley, its fertility of pro
duction and its material wealth, than was en-
joyed last week. The wheat harvest was over,
and the heavy sheaves had been gathered into
shocks, which s,cod thick all over the hills aud
valleys, or we're being loaded on wagons, or were
in progress OF being threshed out. The yield
of grain from this Shenandoah Valley from
Frott Royal 10 Harrisonburg must be immense,
Tor it seemed 10 the eye that half the Garth
had been covered with wheat.
Quantities of oats also are standing, not yet
harvested, which promise an abundant yield.
The corn fields generally look splendidly, and
are of large extent.
One is struck with the thicky settled condi
ton Of the valley country. All along at brief
intervals arc scattered little villages, some of
them approaching the dimensions Of respecta.
bic towns; while all about on the hill sides and
in the valleys arc scattered farm houses so
thickly in some cases as to give the appearance
of scattered village. A popularity of these
farm houses as class ia their dlminutiveness.
Some few, it IL true, are OF comfortable and
even luxurious dimensions, but by far the larger
number are so little as to suggest the idea Of
small families, until the noise Of the passing
train brings half dozen or more wee BARN"
to the door with curious eyes, while glimpse
is seen behind them of the matron with the
lighter infantry in arms. How they live in
these little cabins is mystery, we saw in one
place house with two rooms, and a shed, with
three children at the door, two at the upper
windows, and two on the shed roof. crowded
out of the house apparently. Should another
war come twelve or flten years hence, and
another Stoncwall Jackson marshal these
growing hosts to combat, the rising heroes,
born within sound Of the bugle call, and reared
10 the faith for the holding of which their
peaceful valley was desolatcd, would make
such corps as would delight the heart of the
dead hero. But alas Jackson sleeps at Lex.
iugton, and
when comes another such
Not think till the sun drop dead from the
. signs
But my pencil has wandered after these
children, and must note that whatever slze the
dwellings may be, the barns are always huge,
abundant harvests.
| remember the warning given by the judi.
cious editor some time ago, and repeated from
time to time, and abruptly stop. That dread.
ed waste basket in whose depths are sunk 50
many aspiring hopes appears to my fancy as a
monitor. Fl
Posi- OFFICE CHANGEs.-The Postmaster
General has ordered the 70 establishment Of
the Office at OAKLAND. Loudoun county. Va
and appointed Jacob b. Watson postma ster'
The office at Calls Mills, Amherst county,
Va, has been re established and Samuel j
Bailey been appointed postmaster. An office
has been established at Rawley Springs,
Rockingham county, Va, and Miss Cornelia
Sites appointed postmistress. r. S. Cruddle
has been appointed postmaster ct Shadwell,
Albemarle county. Va, vice Mrs. +. A. Buck
,signed W. +. Delaplaine is appointed
postmaster, Piedmont Station, Fauquier coun-
ty, Va, vice f. w. Ward, resigned.
The Petersburg Index, Lynchburg Republi.
can and other journals have commented sharp,
ly on the Educational Association for ex.