Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-09-02

In company with friend we went
to the country few days ago in pur
suance of experience hitherto enjoyed
in that direction. Say what We will
CT town life, the rural districts possess
complement of real advantages fol
pleasurable recreation not to be dis
counted or compromised by any facti-
tious objections as to facilities and &C.
commodations for one of the fatrada
mental purposes Of life.
We began our winding way" up
Big Savage, chatting cheerily of land
scape glories and other topics physi-
cal and metaphysical. A few hundred
yards beyond the residence Of Mr.. Ar
mold, on the highest plateau next the
summit, a beautiful fawn jumped out
of the bushes into the road, and made
straight toward us. We thought the
animal was tame, and stood still
awaiting its friendly advances. But,
raising its head and catching view
of US, it turned suddenly and with
quick bounds was away into the wilds
again. This was the first incident Of
the day, and the heroic possibilities of
a supposed capture and triumphal
entry into Frostburg was the theme
of the next half hour. We trudged
on-over Big and Little Savage
and halted at the large, old-time
mansion of the johnson Bros, where
we found a welcome equal to the
most cordial of the ancient Maryland
style. Before dinner the antique por-
traits Of Governor johnson MARY
lands first Governor and of whom
this estimable family are lineal de-
scendants,) and his wife were inspec-
ed. They exhibit the marks of age
and usage, but were once, doubtless,
specimens of the best portraiture of
the day. The costumes represent
those current in colonial times among
the fine old landed gentry Of that
period. Governor johnson was a
close friend of Gen. Washington, and
the amenities of intimate intercourse
existed between their families, evil
dences of which are extant in their
epistolary correspondence. The
Messrs. johnson have an autograph
letter of Gen. Washington to Govern
or johnson profering him seat in
the first Cabinet. They have also
two solid mahogany tables at which
the Father of our Country has fire.
quently breakfasted, dined and sup
ped, during his stays at the Govern
or's residence in Frederick. These
facts are we'll authenticated both by
events which have become matters of
history and family records and recol-
lections handed down to the present
generation directly by those who
lived, moved and participated in the
occurrences.
One thing is sure-if the type of
ancestral hospitality has been trans
mitted with the blood, the living exem-
plars are no unworthy representatives
of the beautiful creed which fills "the
stranger within the gates with the
fat things of the earth. A long table,
fanked by "the strangers and neigh
bors who had dropped in, was laden
with the savory elements of the most
wholesome living, and the general
good cheer that went around, is a
pleasant "reminiscences. If we may
add to this the excellent care and
nicely with which we were duly pro-
vided by the fair hands of one of the
accomplished hostesses, the reminis-
cence becomes sort of benediction
which we can enjoy at any time simp-
ly by recalling it.
In the afternoon we visited large
spring in the neighborhood; thence
another resident, and thence home
over the hard, rough National pike.
All in all, however, it was delight
full day, and if life and health fail us
not, We shall doubtless repeat the ex-
perience with probably more zest than
the last.
PREACHING at the English Baptist
Church Sunday morning at l03 o.
clock, by Rev. Edward M. Davis, and
evening at II o'clock by the pastor,