The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-16
TO practice self-denial 10 save the feelings OF
others. The Shenandoah vai'ey IS
A PINK PLACE FOR GRASS

and farming generally, but the fence
would exasperate fox-hunter unless h
| travelled with batteriDg ram.
On the Valley pike, about seven and ;
half miles from Siauuion, IL the celebrated
Willow spout. A stream OF pure watel
gushes out from the side OF willow FREE
and Is caught In large trough, from which
many a weary horse has gueDched hi:
thirst. The tree looks as though 1t was
not long for this world; In fact, Is decay
ing rapidly, or seems to be.
A little further down the pike Is the
"Old Stone church," built about 1740 by
the settlers as O house OF worship and place
OF refuge from the Indians. 1t is built OF
limestone rock, and with the exception OF q
crack in the northern side Is as solid as
when first made. One OF the many doors
has been closed up on the inside, and here
the pulpit stands. OF course the interior
has heen modernized. Near it is the Ses-
sion-house, also built Of stone, with a small
tower, in which hangs quite q large bell.
Around the church are the remains OF the
old fort. Fort-Defiance station takes its
name from 1t. AT each corner, except one
/ think, were sentinel.boxes, or sentry
posts, as they were called In those days.
In the eastern side shaft was sunk and
TUNNEL
made 10 the spring, some seventy five or a
hundred yards off. The place OF exit may
still be seen at the spring. This church
stands in one of the most magnificent white
oak groves that | ever saw. What a place
for an aIlday preaching! But greater Gu
riosity. and more interesting to that anoma-
lous class known as relic-hunters, was the
a;Aahnar1 ta.ad nd
owned by Thomas Jefferson. ct. j. was
once President Of the United States, but is
now dead.) Its history is curious Where
jefferson got it | don't know. AZ
ter his death it hung around Month
cello for some time, and was finally sent to
Staunton to be sold. DR.. William Brown,
ex-editor Of the Central Presbyterian and
formerly pastor at the "Stone church,"
bought it on IFS arrival at that place and car.
ried il 10 Oakley Manse," the pastoral
residence OF the church. When he lett 1t
was not carried away, being quite heavy
and unweidly. For some years IL was
badly treated-0ut in q back-porch, the
general receptacle OF old shoes, backing
boxes, egg-shelIs, and seforth, until IFS pre-
sent owner saw it about year ago, and
having heard that it was
A GENUINE RELIC,
had it cleaned and put in thorough repair.
1t is almost solid mahogany, with brass
mountings. Two OF the side doors had to
he renewed. / looked into it for a copy OF
the Constitution, but found none. Mrs.
Brown hearing what good treatment 1t had
received, presented it to those who had
taken such an interest in it. What It's pat
tern is-whether it is cut bias or made with
yoke-you must learn from higher au-
thOrity.
The people in the Valley are noted for
their kindness to strangers Of every descrip-
tion. but they don't love tramps. DR.. Tan.
ner seems TO have discomtted the latter fra
ternity, a> they are scarcer than ever before.
The farms up there are highly cultivated,
and people seem to attend strictly to their
business.
On the train from 7. ID. to Winchester /
met Judge W, OF Kent, Md. But OF
this another time.
Yours till that time, 4. G. W.