The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-12-15
4 TIRHzEDIsI HIVTiIIOI.


- a- - Es
1t was toward evening, or, as the home
ly country phrase goes, near tea-time,
in one of the old-fashioned stone farm
houses that dot the ridge which rise
above the salt meadows, q mile and q
half behind the Palisades, in Northerz
New-Jersey. This locality is historic
ground, having been the scene of mans
rlaneuVres of Washingtonis army dur
ing his prolonged stay at Hackensack.
Since the time when New York began
growing into a populoHs city its marked
has been largely supplied with country
produce from Ten Neck ridge, especially
with choichest fruits raised from its rich
soil. Tea Neck Ridge begins its gentle
rise from the meadoW-flafs In the valley
of the Palisades, at the village Of Ridge
field, formerly known as English Neigh.
borhOod, extending to where the line OF
New Jersey and New York States meet
at Alpine, near Tappan Zee. Twenty
years ago the farmers of this Ridge de-
voted their labors to supplying Washing
poultry. From early in the afternoon
until daylight next morning professions
of the great clumsy Jersey market wag-
ons, heavily laden, coursed slowly along
the turnpike. At the present time the
Ridge contributes but little to the New
York market, the early Southern fruit
trade having damaged Jersey traffic in
this district, and now it is only after
harvest that the old wagons are trundled
out to be loaded with sass for New I ork' s
chief market. Tea Neck Ridge is in q
rare state of cultivation, however. As
the original Dutch settlers, with their
stiff backed notions, have passed away,
their descendants have ornamented the
beautifully situated acres with ever
greens, flower gardens, rosaries, and gra-
peries, artificial lakes and rustic bridges,
until parks and farming country are here
combined. New Workers have raised
Gothic villas ON the sites where pecked-
rooted revolutionary relics stood; the
old settlers remaining, stretching as they
do their broad stone wings regardless of
the space occupied, are looked upon with
reverential curiosity being esteemed not
alone because they housed the staunchl
patriots, who fought for their country's
freedom, but for the solid comfort en-
joyed therein. Dutch farm, houses in
New Jersey have been remodeIed until
they possess the Iuxuries of British ma
nors, where English hands deal out hos
pitality with royal measure.
As the sun was quietly Withdrawing his
rays from the Ridge, leaving its meadows
greener-its fields more distinct in their
maize-colored fringings, an old gentleman
sat on the long piazza of a stone farm
house smoking his pipe. 1t was early in
July, and the old man, who was some
what portly, looked as if the cool air
which had sprung up at the approach of
evening was most refreshing to his scarlet
tinged forehead. The Ridge was in its
liveliest dress the. meadows beneath. it,
covered with high salt grass, seemed
almost as sea, the light breeze ruffiing
the long stalks till they appeared like
green waves rocking up and down. Fields
were carpeted with silky grass, and the
tat, tat, tat of the patent mower sent its
warning voice over the farm, reminding
one of that passage from the Holy Book:
"In the morning it fourisheth, in the
evening it is. cut down.. The delicate
odor of new-mown hay filled the air with
delicious fragrance. The atmosphere be-
came perfumed as it crept over the gar
den, stealing the scents from gayly-orna-
mented beds; yet these exhalations
could not compare with the breath of the
whitening grass, waited from fields back
of the house where men were making
hay.
There is no time when the country is
SO picturesque in landscape as in the be-
ginning of harvest, when the hay is
stacked in pyramids and the meadow is
cleanly swept between the golden hills.
How light and siIken and hoss-like appear
the strings of dried grass after being
tossed into the symmetrical heaps. The
immense wagon-loads of hay, their sides
fraying and dragging along the winding
roads, are most suggestive of bountlful
crops. There is no procession half so
beautiful as that which files along the
country road at nightfall. The sleek
coated herd tread slowly homeward, con-
tented cows and meek-eyed sheep return.
ing from the hillside pasture. Horses
Just loosened from pillow are driven toward
the barn, and the yoked oxen follow,
unconscious of their strength. Then come
the great hay-loads languidly sweeping
the quiet road the song of the reaperi
and the lowing of the cattle waiting a
the gate were the sounds to which thu
peaceful pageant marched. These sound.
and scenes were as music to the old mar
on the piazza, who looked worn anC
weather beaten, as if pastoral surround
| ings might be most grateful to him.
| General Duncan Airlie was In his sixty
g hi Il
older. The stars which he wore on hi
shoulders he had earned during our lat
war, having then been gradually promot
ed from a Captaincy, which he held Il
the regular Army previous to that time
When he retired from the service at tn,
close of the rebellion be apparently retir
| ed from everything, save smoking hi
meerschaum, drinking his lager-beer, an.
making his WILL The latter was hi
favorite occupation. His immense forum
he had settled upon his granddaughter 4
the death Of her mother, an only child
i Since then, however, he had frequentl
/ made requests to others for whom b
i would form sudden friendship. His fan
i cies changing, his viii would be altered
until, as il stood &C the time our stor-
i opens, with codiciIs added and scratche'
out, il WAS veritable legal curiosity. Th
i GeneraRs affections were apparently d
vided between his grzndchild, Ma
Maxwell, and q blmsk-anE Anterrief DOE
Betty, BY name@1ghg former being nos
i at beaading Ssshool-ths latter being d
ways at her masters side. The General
dog Wa Almost singular specinien Ct Il
canine speciss. She was addictedlt1 q