The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-03-25

Fbr The HgiS &c Latelhgencer.
RAMBLEs THROUGH HARTFORD.
No. 10.

If l remember rightly, Messrs. Editors,
my last letter closed with hasty glance at
the ancient village Of Dublin, in and around
which some of the best and most useful
citizens of the county resided in days of
yore, and whose descendants, 1 was told,
still fingered about the graves of their an
cestors, and worthily perpetuate the names
and deeds of the buried generations. Dub
lin has had "a habitation and name" al
most as long as any village in the county,
and longer than many of them, among
which are several that try to make more
show in the world. Having merely passed
through it, or rather across it, in October
last, with "little time to tarry," I met with
days, and passed on to spend part of day
and night with the family of VIM. Mccoy
on Broad Creek, his wife being my nearest
known relative in Hartford. His place, as
we'll as the surrounding country, had I'M
dergone but little change since had gal
loped through those hills in the olden
time, scattering the Bond of Union, and
enjoying the luxury of Ashmore apples,
sparkling cider, and the pleasant compan-
ionship of the rosy-cheeked daughters of
the hospitable and kind-hearted farmers
through all the chinquopin region.
Spending very pleasant afternoon and
night at Wrl. McCoy's, Mr.. Mcdonald and
myself-to whom / am indebted for unusu-
al and disinterested kindness-left next
day to return to Bel Air. We returned by
the way of the neighboring Friends Meet
g-house, and was surprised to find the
land so little improved on that road, if not
more sterile than it was forty or fifty years
ago. In passing Union X Roads, thought
of my old friend John B. Foard, who, |
was pleased to learn, had become Chris
tian, active in his work and humble in his
man knd ana a9d Md aofhs 1 R
He was not bad man at any time, but q
most inveterate politician when l knew
him, and standing candidate for the
Legislature from year to year, always hope
full but never successful. The same old
domicil still graced the crossing, where,
as | have said in a previous letter, John
talked politics and thrashed out sumac,
and must confess that l was disappointed
to find that the spirit of improvement man.
Tested in Dublin had not reached two
miles in that direction. The same stony
and sterile fields, the same badly graded
and unworked roads, that their fathers cul
tivated and travelled, are cultivated and
travelled by their sons.
From Union X Roads we proceeded on
to the residence of my friend Aseph w.
Scarborough, who was a friend and asso-
ciate of my boyhood, where we enjoyed q
short but pleasant reunion and an excel
lent family dinner. Aseph, as 1 judged
from his surroundings, had studied more
the principle of pro bono puJlico than the
science of agriculture, and / came to the
conclusion from what saw during my last
visit, that most of his time was devoted to
the common veal, to the detriment of his
own domestic interests. However, it will
all work out right in the end-for surely,
if any man deserves the gratitude of his
fellows and the rewards Of the great Here
after, more than Others, it is he who refus-
es not to adjust the MISUNDERSTANDING and
litigations of his neighbors and labors to
promote the harmony and fellowship of
those around him. was more than graft
fed to meet, under his roof his aged pa
rents, whom I knew in their prime, but
who are now among the oldest citizens of
the county, having long since passed the
allotted limit Of three score and ten. Aseph
is not only useful but a good man, and l
can but honor the nobleness of soul that
has prompted him to forego the pleasures OF
q bosom companion and prattling little
ones, that his undivided affections may be
lavished upon the "old folks at home"
Taking leave of Aseph and his well-or-
dered household, Mr. Mcdonald, at my re-
; quest, drove the rather circuitous route by
| - 81 Jap Hnf Tol IL =
on Deer Creek, where I had been thous-
, and times before in by-gone years, and
thence out past the Hickory, passing on
; the way the old Busy farm, the hill upon
which my poor old uncle lost his life by a
fall from his horse, and the spot from which
his unclogged spirit assembled to the rest of
the good and true. Thence we hurried on
/, to Bel Air, and barring the sad incident
! just referred to, it was one of the most pleas
ant and gratifying rambles have made in
many long year. In all this circuit, how
ever, could realize but little improve
, ment, except in and around Dublin. The
people, presume, live well and easy
enough, and being somewhat remote from
market, are not over anxious about sur
plus, and hence have but little incentive to
keep pace with the giant strides of pro-
gress. From the old Forwood house to
the Hickory, there has been some improve.
ment, but from the latter point to Bynum's
, run, the improvement, if any, had been SC
slight that could not perceive it.
In a jaunt with Mr.. b., toward Rock
Ridge, from within couple of miles be.
You'd Rock Spring Church to the Rocks
of Deer Creek, by way ofthe old mill which
belonged, think, to the Rutledge family
and the old homestead of John Clendenen
Ihave but seldom been jostled over rough
er public highway, even among the noun
{ tains of this remote corner of the old Do
minion, where some one once said the roads
We're