Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-02-05
FROM VIRGINIA.
Notes OF Visit to Hedgesvffie
BLUE RIDGE,VA.. 4
January 30th. 1876.

TO The Editors Of The Independent:
Not long since IL was my privi-
lege to visit my old home In
Hedgcsville. Those only who have
gone from their native place TO
battle with the world, know how
precious Is the return to the scenes
and associations OF their boyhood's
days, no matter how humble the
place, il IL is home, there Is still an
attraction, even though most OF
the old companions are gone, as
happens to be the sad reality In
this case.
AS / walked around the old
town, i thought more than once oil
the good times we used to have at
the old Mountain Institute when
teacher and pupils were there
Now they are all scattered, and
new scenes have probably almost
erased from their minds the i'm
pressions Of the dear old past
There is one, however, in whose
memory the love of former days
still dwells, and who can never
forget the excellent lessons of his
teacher and the delightful COM
panionship of his boyish friends.
If / look back with pleasure to
those days, it is with still grea.ef
satisfaction that / hear OF the pros
perity and well-doing of all the
youths who constituted what we
were SO fond to call our gradual
ing class" Three are in the far
West engaged in mercantile pur-
suits. and by their promising
course are rejecting honor upon
their teacher and credit upon their
family. Another is doing business
in your city, and by his faithful
devotion to duty has won the es-
TEEN and confidence of his en-
ployer. Another has lately grad
uated in medicine, and has set up
his shingle at Bunker Hill, where
he has already given. evidence of
his medical skill. Another has
taken a wife and settled on his
fathers farm, near Hedgesville,
where he finds peace and profit in
his agricultural pursuits. All are
doing well, and from friends, old
and new, comes the wal NEST as
surances of their promise and USE
fulness.
To me, this is certainly welcome
news, for it tells me that the ear
nest labor of teacher, and the ar
dent hopes of friends have not
been in vain; but are now being
realized in the promising man
hood of the "village boys" With
wishes of further success L would
speed them on their way, and ask
them one and all, ever to remer'-
Der that they owe perhaps all the
honor to the parents and teachc .
who 80 earnestly strOve to ins''l'
in their youthful minds the grand
principles of success.
But other friends there were in
those by-gone days, besides the
noble youths whom L ever felt
proud to call my own companions
and friends; and it afforded me-
much pleasure to find them still in
health and prosperity. Per :
nent among them, in the memory
of former days, stand Jacob Har.
rison, Esq, who has so often had
my warmest thanks for the boyish
pleasure afforded by well-fitting
and substantially made suit of
clothes. He has left his former
quarters, and now appears in a
new and commodious room as a
merchant tailor. His shop is al
ways open, and his terms so rea-
sOnable that none can resist the
kind invitation to buy from "Un-
Gle jake at his old stand on the
corner. / still find my friend A.
G. Wynkoop, Esq, as hale and
hearty as ever, his locks not yet
gray, and with his congenial smile
every ready to greet the friends of
his youth.
There are many others whom 1
would love to mention, but time
and space will not allow, and /
will only say in conclusion that
Hedgesville seems to be the same
dear old place, Notwithstanding
the Improvements I noticed, and
the number of strange faces | saw
May she ever improve, and may
her dear old people be as true and
launch as they were "AuId Lang
Syne," is the earnest wish of one
other sons.
P0POCATAPETLE.