The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-29

i dued footsteps passed up the aisle. anC
offered their orison before the Most High,
where long before others had performed the
same duties, and had passed away. The
number OF graves around the holy spot con-
tain all of life--the joys and SORROWS, the
virtues and crimes, OF those hidden beneath
/ the sod.s &ss
! From the church our travellers made
their way towards Stratford, the home OF
"Old Mortality" Here, reposlng under
the shades of the noble oaks that had for
centuries stood as giants-at-arms guarding
the avenue to the ole home where many had
been prominent actors centuries before, and
the place where the patriot had elected to
pass the remnant Of bis life to the. grave.
The hand of Improvement was visible every
where. The jagged and quilted hills had
been filed up and salootlled down. The
turf was growing where the grape and fruit
tree did not prevent it. The building had
been thoroughly renovated, presenting
truly happy home for him who was tired
by the turmoil OF busy life.
Our travellers were lece1ved with every
demonstration Of old Virginia hospitality.
The elders were compatriots in youth, but
their occupations had led them widely
lapart. Both were young in the war Of the
rebellion, and had known what war was.
|
mer had slipped into the fall. Still the pro-
prletor was unwilling for them to depart.
| They travelled over every foot OF land fa-
millar to their boyhood, and went over and
over the ups and downs OF their checkcred
lives. Finally, they parted. under a pro-
mise to return after visiting a few other
places, and maybe end their pilgrimage
and life among scenes endsared to them by
memory and rs ssociation. TheirneXt halting-
place was Montross, theaeounty-seat OF JUS
tice. Her crooked highways had been some
what Strengthened, but lingering crooked
ness among her people-atmosphe it was
assertcd-time had not materially changed.
The town was scattered east and west, north
and south. embodied in groves of trees,
giving it Il negligent appearance OF inde-
Dendcnce and Incidence. The mOnu-
ment erected to the Confederate dead had
become somewhat gray by time, but there
| it stood, beacon TO the terrible conflict OF
the past century. Silently our pilgrims
gathered around it and mourned for those
who had fought their last fight and were
sleeping in their glory.
The public buildings had been rebuilt aud
enlarged save the clerks oflice-that oc.
cupied one wing OF the courthouse. The
grounds had been very much improved
around them. Fine houses have human
ning influence on the great body OF man.
kind. Nothing could or SHOULD 80 wrong
| in the temple of Justice. Stone and mortar
are svmbolcal of stability, and should be
the synonyme Of purity. Hence the ne
cessity of having costly houses for the dis
pensers OF law to enter their DEGREES in.
The old world appreciates this influence
which has not been lost on county re-
nowned in the past, and still has much to
be proud of in the descendants Of her
heroes and the great change wrought in her
physical ap 9earance.
Let us pass on to Nomony Ferry. From
the hills that overlook the meanderings OF
the creek the white caps and roar of the
distant Potomac, the out-stretched level
country in front as far as the eye can reach,
the peace and quiet that seem to cover 1t as
with mantle OF sleep, were beautiful to
| look upon.
On the opposite shore was the site Of a
church with which little piece OF history
is connected. In 17T6 salt was as difficult
to obtain in our first struggle for independ-
ence as it was in the " "Rebeltion." On the
shore, some one hundred yards from the
church. our fathers were boiling water, not
very salt, to supply their daily wants. A
shaving was taken up by the wind and
lodged on the roof, and before it was dis
covered the flames had made such progress
that no means at their command could
Dreyeat its destruction. The little vii
iace at this place is noted as having been
burnt by the British forces in the war OF
1872, stopping here long enough to commit
this piece OF vandalism in their memorable
CAPTURE Of Washington. 1t has greatly re-
cuperated since, and is now doing flourish
inp business with the District OF Columbia
and Baltimore.
fastening their footsteps they soon passed
over the road to Yucomico church. This
was the terminus of their journey. The
old church, with its colonial memories jut-
ting out in every brick, looked gloomy and
solitary. Could they speak they would tell
startling tales of love and sorrow its vota-
ries had undcrgone-its desecration by the
foot OF British and American soldiers.
There it stands, with door wide enough to
drive modern vehicle through. Its
so1ndinr-board, its elevated pulpit, its
hich-back pews-all have been restored
land preserved as mementos OF the past.
Our travellers strolled around the walls,
reading the inscriptions OH few old
tombstones raised from the crumblinS
brick and mortar that had partially
covered them for 500 years. The fu-
ture forced itself on the musings OF the
father. Specializing on the rise and fall OF
nations, he pictured thousands OF years
hence, when new continents will come to
| the surface, and the old ones sink to the bot
| tom of the oceans. with all their treasures OF
art and wealth; and the Noahs that will
| wander on the bosom of the great deep, re-
peoplirg new lands and building up vast
empires, until the cycle shall again run It's
| race and again new continents shall arise,
to show the causes and effects OF the immu-
table laws OF decay and recuperation estab-
lisheG by the Great Raler Of the universe.
MoNTRoSs.
The boot-backing trade is destined to be
oyercrowded. The exchanges are publish
ing charming sketch OF Yale graduate
who opened a law-office in New YORK,
and then, rather than starve while wait
ing for clients, opened business as
boot-black under the sidewalk at the
entrance OF downtown restaurant.
His earnings soon ran up to Sc day, and
he had to hire an assistant. While he was
N