The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-04

lady at whose house slept sne
served breakfast herself, and no doubt
cooked il herself, with little or no assist.
ance from the hired girl. the only one tnat !
have met outside the hotels and the houses
of The wealthy. When praised the old-
fashioned ever and basin, adorned WITH
iafk-blue pictures, she brought me curious
specimens OF delft; cheap ware, but very
old and uncommon. The rest OF The family
had eaten breakfast; we had little chat TO
ourselves. -Four brothers named NJ,
three OF whom had married three sisters,
lived Just here. She was one OF the sisters.
Her children and the children OF her sisters
had grown up, married, died, moved away :.
the old, old story OF human life. Some OF
them lived near her, Others not far OIL |;
nephews. nicces, and grandchildren were all
around her. She had home circle--that
was all she desired. TRANQUILITY her life bad
passed within that circle. looked at her
and her house. II was an humble abode,
rusty red In color, much OF the paint hav-
ing worn away; but II was clean aud pure
within. The rag-carpet, the stick-Dack
chairs, the tlin.legged diniDg.table, with
leaves to Il; the old lady berself-tall, pale,
thin, clad In faded but neat gown, a little
cold and precise in her manner TO the
stranger how often have seen In our coun-
try parts women Just like her, barring the
northern accent, to which my ear will not
accustom Itself.
Madam, will you consent to board me
for a week 2"
Twice or thrice l pressed the question,
hut finally, with decision but not unkindly,
she declined, on the plea OF inability at her
age TO provide for more than her own
family.
" How much, then, for lodging and break
fast?"
10 a hesitating, somewhat embarrassed
way. she replied:
WeseldOm entertain strangers. Would
would fifty cents be too mucb?"
"Not at ALL" answered, paying her
with regret, for hers was Just the country
house had logged TO get into. Still, am
anything but sorry that l had come to The
village, which is practically the country,
too. Indeed I would not have missed com.
ing for any consideration, so great is the
historic interest attaching to it,, TO say no.
thing OF the peculiar charm OF its scenery.
AS you draw near the village an ancient
and sadly Zone might say shamefully) ne
elected graveyard recalls the pictures you
have seen hundred times OF English grave
yards. Further on weather-beaten house,
made wholly OF shingles, promises town
of hoary antiquity. But this promise is
soon broken. The handsome church, with
Its tall steeple, is just receiving new suit
Of paint; the two stores look new; so do
most OF the dwellings near them (; and yOn-
der-there can be no mistakc-the four
houses, side by side, without fence even OF
wire between their lawn, are Enthusiastically
new. Yes, but previous to the building OF
the first of these houses no new dwelling
had been erected here for five and twenty
years. Some OF the houses that look fresh
are in reality hundred and fifty years old.
White paint and few alterations on the
outside have given them modern look, but
the uupainted sway-back barns behind them
tell tale OF the oden time.
Curiosity prompts me TO ask the cost OF
the houses built within the last few years.
I" Nine" says my host "including the sta
BILE, wo0d-house, &c, cost me $4,000; but
il was built when labor and lumber were
cheap, and Just before the boom in nails,
etc., began" His house, in common with
The great majority OF modern New England
houses, presents a gable front, with wings
and side porches, and ] only wish / were
architect enough to tell how, by sacrificing
he wide halls to which we OF the South are
Used, an incredible number OF rooms, with
closets and convenienees OF many kinds, are
gained. Eleven rooms, most OF them OF
good size, besides garrett and cellar, are
q this house. The kitchen, with its pantry
ind a coy little boudoir for the mistress to
,it and sew in while she watches her cook
ng, is marvel OF comfort.
Lebanon is on an elongated hill, wAered
IN its northern and southern sides by
brooks, one OF which is large enough to
irive mill. After you get away from the
houses clustered somewhat thickly in the
centre of the village, you realize fully what
i alarming town" is. For mile or more
N the streets or roads leading from the
centre TO the four points OF the compass,
)ut particularly toward the east and the
vest, farm-houses appear at intervals OF
rom one hundred to two hundred yards, |
nd on both sides OF the road. The Walk |
eastward is especially attractive, for here the |
treet becomes broad winding lane, clothed |
With sod and embowered with trees, many OF |
hem old and stately. have seen nothing |
more thoroughly rural in its beauty. III in |
,lace of the stone walls there were hawthorn |
edges, and the farm-houses were only |
hatcbed and damond-paned, it would be |
lid England over again. And this summer |
Jew England is at its best. IL has rained |
or two or three DAYS out OF every week of |
ly sOiourn, interfering not little with my |
usness of seeing the country and the peo-
lie, but giving TO the landscape all the |
harm that verdure and plenteous fields can
npart. For milk and butter Lebanon is
ne of the best townships in the State;
borrower this Is an excellent fruit year.
he orchards, old and new, are sight to
ee. Nature, on big pomooeieal drunk,
as turned all her pockets wrong side out,
nd there are apples upon apples, enough
D give boy brain fever and subsequently
be stomach ache. -r.
Lebanon was settled in the latter part OF
he seventeenth century. 1t is famous for
eing the residence OF Governor Jonathan
"whose long and well-spent life
q the service Of his country" said WASH
1gton, entItled him to rank "among the
rst Of PATRIOTS" He was IN no small de-
rec the Carnot OF his day, the organizer Of
ictory, war Governor in the best sense
the term. His house, still standing and
ut little changed inside, lodged at various
mes Washington, Jefferson. the two Ad.
mses, Jay, Lafayette, Benjamin Frank
n, Knox, Putnam, Count Rocham-
eau, AumIai lleTuays tuC buhc NC
auzan. and the Marquis de Chastel-
TX. His son, the famous painter OF
evolutionary scenes, was born in that
ouse. His store, which was also his war
flee, Is here intact, just as 1t was when he
coupled 1t, but moved hundred yards or
!, from where 1t originally stood. 1t is
tile hip-roof affair, dingy without and
thin. A oolored washerwoman lives in
/. Imagine my establishment when she told
pr name WAC Lnnisa Garland from Rich.