The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-01-21

persons.
John b. Ford was an aspirant for the
legislature, but whether or not he ever sue
ceeded in getting there, | am unadvised.
nc certainly had towering ambition in
that direction, and seemed to be determin-
eel to get there at least by degrees, as he was
a standing candidate year after year. If |
remember rightly, was a candidate when
lett, always sanguine and hopeful, and may
be candidate yet for aught know, He
lived at X roads between Dublin and
Ashmore's Mill, and the last time l passed
that way he was beating out sumac for the
Baltimore market and talking about a fu-
ture canvass. hope he finished the sumac
and got to the Legislature besides
Speaking of Ashmore's Mill reminds me
OF John Ashmore and his most excellent
lady, who IN heryounger days, had possessed
more than ordinary personal charms In
deed years had failed to rob her of her
beauty. Their only child was daughter,
who married Nathan S. Bemus. Mr.. Ash
more's was one OF my stopping places when
a postboy, and their kind and cordial hos
pitality always made me feel at home.
Mrs. AS father-I think his name was
Beaty-lived with them, was near 100
years old, and fearfully afflicted with pal
sy. Mr. Ashmore planted hedge of wal
nut trees short distance above his mill.
and ii they grew they must have made an
everlasting fence, and are high enough for
all useful purposes.
And now, Messrs. Editors, having re-
terred 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 I
was most intimate. Two of these were
VIM. and Joshua Morris, whose mother,
in marrying, changed her name in but
one letter. She was the sister of Alexander
Norris, her husband was a Quaker. and
owned the adjoining plantation to that
upon which she was raised William and
Joshua were noble boys, and many an in
nocent trolic and puppy love adventure
have we had together-particularly Will
liam and myself, at certain factory then
just started on Winters Run. William. al
think, studied medicine, and was sur
prised to learn some years ago, that Joshua
had chosen the religion of his father, and
had settled down demure and quiet old
Quaker. honor him not the less, as nv
own dear mother belonged to that unob-
trusive and pious people.
VIM. Jones, only brother of Mrs. A. L..
Jarrett was another playmate He was a
very quiet, discreet ana inoffensive bow,
and unlike myself and Others of his asso-
ciates, he never invaded Col. Dorseys or.
chard, Capt. Norris melon patch, or Colds
borough Davis peach-trees, or appropria-
ted to himself any forbidden fruit.
Edward Richardson was another con
temporary, 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 a
mother and sister, both in widowhood,
and was tower of strength and comfort
to them in their loneliness.
io""iu 'h' 49, ! 100 another who also
took to the water, and was killed by a fall
into the hold of a vessel soon after l left.
He was a high minded, chivalrous boy,
not very fond of male society, but always
in love with all the pretty girls within his
reach. | was great admirer of his nauti-
cal costume, blue jacket and white duck
pants, the latter as tight as the skin round the
hips, but the legs big enough for bushe
of bran each. He was Il grandson of Buck
Ter Bond, and nephew of'Lame Joshua"
VIM. p. Beall was stout, rough hewn,
but genereous-hearted boy, honest, amiable
and industrious. He was the grandson of
old Mrs. Preston, and the nephew of Ben
and Scott, to whom | referred in previ-
Gus letter. His habits and temperament
gave promise of a good and useful man,
and if living, am sure he is useful and
honored citizen.
John, David and William Maulsby were
also contemporaries. John had an. old
head on young shoulders, and was an ex-
ception to most boys in the maturity of his
intellect and the generosity of his nature.
He would pick up bone and moralize
on it for hours together, and when in a deep
study would gnaw his tinger-nails till the
blood would follow He, too, took to the
water, was midshipman in the navy, and
told some queer stories of what he had
seen in Africa on his return from his first
cruise. Poor boy, he got more than his
share of the water at last and was drowned
in Delaware Bay many years ago.
David was IA jovial, rollicking, open
hearted and open handed boy, a splendid
singer of Highland airs, choking and
sprightly, and have long since forgiven
him for wanting to whip me the last time
we met, when didn't deserve it.
| " lhi"'h w 90 duIl u llbJlC UOy,
while the rest of us considered ourselves
tolerably big. was gratifed to see in af-
ter years that he became an eminent law
yer.
Charles Bradford was a few years older
than myelf. He was tall, sedate boy, and
when | left just about entering upon that
period when boy is little too young to
be called man, and a little too old to be
called boy. He was staid, sober and
thoughtful, and could cross the street with
fewer steps than any other boy in the town,
for the simple reason that his legs were
longer. Were to describe him in a word,
would say that he was rather useful than
ornamental.
Thomas Hays was very robust, rosy,
manly boy-could beat us all at marbles,
and was the best scholar at the academy,
and only rivaled by James Archer. He was
the only son of his parents and almost idol
lied by his affectionate sisters. He had a
big heart in him, and never affected supe-
riority over poorer boys on account of
their poverty and rags. He had all the es-
sential elements for great and useful man,
but how he cultivated and improved them
I have never learned
The foregoing, | believe, were all the
boys with whom | was more intimately ac-
quainted. William Jeffrey, of whom |
spoke in a preceding letter, had just en-
tered upon early manhood He WAS in