The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-01-30

occupies handsome residence, and nearly
east of the Abingdon road, in what was
tangled wildwood in the lifetime of bis
father, William Sawyer has erected a large
dwelling, commanding, l believe, fine
view of the Chesapeake. Thence to Bel
Air the changes are not very great, except
that l missed Frames blacksmith shop on
the wayside, in the place of a thicket on
the opposite side the well-tilled farm and
handsome residence ofMa1sel Morrison and
the fields of John Magness forsaken by the
pillow and allowed to be taken captive by
cedars pines and black jacks. On the OPP
poste side of the road, the lands once &C.
cupied by the Jones's, Graftons and
| others, have, learned gone into the pos
session of Mr.. H. D. Farnandis, and really
it may be said that so far as these lands are
concerned, the evidences has been made
to blossom as the rose"
While in Bel Air had the pleasure of
meeting with several ancient acquaintance,
and was delighted to find my old and es-
teemed friend William Jeffrey still jogging
cheerfully and quietly down the declivity
of life, true and faithful from youth to
age, in all his relations with his fellow-men.
He has, I believe, been longer a citizen of
Bel Air than any of its present inhabitants,
with the exception, perhaps, of one or two
ladies who were born there, and whose
ages, even if know them, it might be un-
lawful to reveal.
The Sabbath that spent in your village,
between Christmas and New Years, | at
tended the Presbyterian Church, which
stands upon the spot occupied by the
house in which many of the happiest hours
of my childhood were spent. thought
had gotten into the wrong pew" or at
least private one, when saw the name
of"J. II. Wilson" upon it, but lady and
gentleman soon after coming into it, saw,
or imagined that l saw, that they were
gratified with the opportunity of sharing
their seat with not very bulky and rather
sedate looking stranger On this occasion
l had the pleasure of hearing an excellent
and practical discourse from the Rev. Mr..
Finney, from the lips Of whose father
had often heard the gospel more than half
century before. One fact | gathered
from his sermon was, that he was rather
skeptical as to the dogma of "Apostolical
Succession"
In the afternoon we attended service in
the Protestant Episcopal Church, which has
been erected since my last visit to your town,
making, by its peculiar style OF architec-
ture, and neat rectory adjoining, a very
striking feature in your improvements"
The church was decorated with much taste
and beauty for the Christmas season. We
heard from the rector, Mr.. Snowden, an ex-
cellent sermon, and my friend Clarke was
afterwards delighted to find in him a
brother "North Carolinan."
shall now bring this letter to a close,
reserving for future one, or maybe two or
three of them, my further rambles and OBJ
servations in dear old Hartford as we'll as in
the city of Baltimore, provided you will
thus indulge me. My next will take. me
from Bel Air by way of Dublin and OAR
lington to the Susquehanna, in which my
descriptive powers, if have any, may be
severely taxed, and the patience of your
readers, perhaps, as severely tormented.
Respectfully,
ABINGDON, Va, Jan. 90, G. B C.