Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-10-19

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arations to stop these Indian depre-
dations, and you can judge it is no
time for an officer to be long absent
from his post. am sorry to be fore
ed to bid you so hurried farewell"
He shook hands with the young
couple and congratulated them upon
the happy termination of the contest,
and, waving an adieu to the rest,
mounted his horse and was soon out
Of sight. The old planter did not
long survive, and never saw his young
visitor again. ..e
Tom and Nettie married and set
tied down in the old homestead,
which wealth and happiness turned
into a paradise. The French war was
soon closed, but greater one began
when the colonies threw off the gall
ing yoke of England. From this
struggle rose the fame ssof George
Washington, Commander-in- Chief of
the American armies, until it not only
filed all Europe, but rose higher still
to be "frst in the hearts of his
countrymen.
After liberty was gained for 3,000,-
900 people Washington sought the
retirement of home. On Christmas
eve, 1884, he once more reached Mt.
Vernon, after an absence of eight
years and half, during which time
he had stopped there only twice-on
his way to Yorktown and back.
The September following his return
he began an equestrian tour beyond
the Alleghanies, where he held some
property, and, going near the planta-
tion where, twenty-si years before, he
had participated in jumping-match,
he called.
Two young girls we're sitting on the
piazza, and rose to meet him as he as
cended the steps. "Do Captain and
Mrs. Lenard still reside here?" he
asked.
"Yes. sir" answered the younger.
Il will call mamma while the elder,
pointing to an easy chair of willow,
said, won't you take seat, sir; it is
cooler out here than inside" blushing
all the while under his scrutinizing
gaze just as her mother had done
years before.
"Is your name Nettie ?" he asked.
eyes, sir
Named for your mother, I sup
pose.
The astonished girl had no time to
reply, for the Tom and Nettie of olden
time appeared through the arched
doorway and the stranger rose to greet
them.
"Will you take in an old friend and
wayfarer to dine with you to-day? 1t
is pleasanter being with friends than
at an inn
with pleasure, they replied, in
the old Southern style Of true hospi-
tality. He noticed, however, their
look of perplexity, and said: 81
will not tax your memory too far, for
twenty-six years bring heavy changes,
still you can't forget our last meeting.
Do you remember young Colonel,
Captain, whose presumption enabled
him to outstrip you in Jumping
match years ago, and who yielded his
right to the prize you SO much cov-
eted p
Indeed l do exclaimed Captain
Lenard, springing up and grasping
his hand once more. 81 knew | had
soen you somewhere, Generar'-a
name Tom had unwittingly given him
from the frst-"but could not recall
the occasion. We are indeed glad to
see you, and give you a warm well
come to our table"
They sat on the piazza after dinner,
the same old western piazza, with its
climbing roses, where Nettie stood in
her youthful grief just twenty-six
years before. And here, shaded by
the same old ivies and poplars, they
talked Of the changes the years had
wrought, particularly for our country.
Gen. Washington enjoyed his visit
exceedingly. They all addressed him
as General" but their free and un-
constrained remarks relating to the
late war, and their intense admiration
for the great leader of the Amer lean
armies were evidence enough that he
was unknown.
When he rose to take leave, and
was giving each warm pressure of