Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-25
BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 49, 1880
UNCLE NED'S STORY.

We had been driving for some hours
along one of those beautiful valleys il
Virginia that seam the foothills Of the
Blue Ridge, and came within sight o.
some Lombardy poplars off to the right
below which was dense growth of ever
greens.
''Dar marse; dat am de place 'l,out
which ! tole you. Wait till we get round
de bend, and we'll see the house." said
Uncle Ned, pointing his whip in the di.
rection indicated.
/ told him to drive up to the place,
which be did with great willingness,
though heard him sigh, and from the
expression Of his venerable face, knew
there was something in the reminiscent
ces and associations of the place that
made him sad.
We drove between two stone posts,
from one Of which a great gate at one
time swung, but only crumbliug, rusty
hinges remained to tell the purpose for
which they were used Up a weed csy-
cred cnryiDg drive, and the old man
pulled in his horses before a large house,
for the roof had fallen in, the windows
were sashless, and the Virginia creepers
trailing up the pillars, failed to hide the
rotten capitals and the red spaces, like
wounds, from which the plaster had
scaled off. t 700
The doors were down, and through
the wide hall, before which we stood,
we could see the servants quarters bt-
You'd, all more tumbled down and ruined
than the greater and stronger structure
We hitched the horses and entered
the old man removed his hat and spoke
in whispers, as fin church, with the
dead beforo him.
Cobwebs and bats hung from the cell
ings ofthe many stately rooms, where
once hospitality ruled with open palms
and old time festivities were held. The
chimneys had fallen down on the hearths
and in the great parlor we found the hair
of q fox, the sunken floor covered with
the bone of his victims.
Our entrance started an owl, that aster
circling about in the room in q blind
fright, struck by chance with the open
space occupied by a window and flew
away. tAs#
"Ef yon don't mind, sab, ri go out
an stan by the horses" said Uncle Ned,
as was about to ascend the crnmbling
stairs from which the banisters had rot
ted away.
saw the old man was nervous, rs ]
went up alone, and in Inauguration tried
to picture the ruin what it was in the
good old days, but without success. 1t
rctards to fancy the dead old pauper
happy, handsome youth. What he is,
not what he was, fills the mind.
came down, and found Uncle Ned sit
ting at the foot of one of the pillars, his
face buried in his hands. At my APP
proach he looked up, and ] could see
there were tears in his eyes. ..-.-......
He had informed me that he once lived
in this mansion-when Judge Lagrange
was its head and his master.
Sitting down by the old man, l drew
out his story; but shall not attempt to
use his language, while my OWNS Who'll
L. inadequate to depict the old mans
simple pathos.
Judge Lagrange, we'll known fifty
years before in Virginia for his wealth
and culture, built this man.
sion, and there entertained right royalty
his friends, or those who were fortunate
enough to bear him letters of introduce
ton. EEtE
His wife was beautiful, accomplish
cd woman, and they seemed to have but
Dne object in life--the education Of their
sons, Arthur and George. The brothers
were nearly of al age, and though edu-
Gated by the same tutor, and under the
same watchful and refining home inhu-
ence, they developed into youths as op
posite in appearance and disposition as
# they belonged to different race.
Arthur Lagrange, though strong and
handsome physically, wasgentle, refined
ind intellectual. While good horse
man, and fond of the sports in which the
youth ofVirginia then AS now-delight-
ed, he had no passion for them. He had
80 far outstripped his older brother that
be was sent to college two years before
George was ready; and at college he
stood mt the bead of all his classes, and
irst in the affections of his classmates.
George Lagrange, at the age of IL, was
4 short, stout youth, with a low brow, a