Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-09-27
In Excursion to the Mountains.
BY REV. WILLIAM T. PRICE.


In Excursion to the Mountains.
=. BY REV. WILLIAM 7. PRICE.
IA TRIP TO THE EM0UNTAINs-R
sERvICEs-YOUTH, BEAUTY AND
PIETY-sUNNY HOURS-A LAST
COMMUNION, ETC.
At this season, nothing is of more fre
Equent occurrence than excursions to thu
mountains in search of pleasure, game
|or fish. The papers are full ofsprightly
|sketches of adventure which are reac
with seeming delight by admirine
friends. It occurs to me, that probably
|a sketch, by an humble fisher of men, O
|a recent excursion taken in pursuit 01
ibis vocation might find readers If the
effort was made and the opportunity
given.
It was your correspondents pleasure
quite recently to journey beyond the
Shenandoah Mountains into the coun.
|ty of Highland, one of the most elevat-
led and picturesque sections of Virgin
|ia's land of the sky. The first stage oi
the journey, after leaving Maple Manse
lin Rockingham county, led to the hos
|pitable home of T. 8. Hogshead, ESQ.,,
near Stribling Springs, in Augusta
twelve miles west of Staunton,
Wa. This gentleman is one ofthe purest
types of the Scotch Irish Ruling Elder
now to be found in this region, SO noted
In the history of American Presbyter-
ianism. He is the fourth in the line of
official descent, the succession going
back to the original settlers of the Val.
ley of Virginia.
The preaching services that initiated
measures looking to the organization cf
the congregation of which Mr.. Hogs
head is Ruling Elder, were held on De.
cember morning in the open air near
the present site of Union church. The
snow was swept away, an immense pile
of logs was set afire, while the preacher,
with large stump for a reading desk,
discoursed to an audience of thirty OF
more persons. This excellent person
has spent an active business life, varied,
too, by interesting vicissitudes. Once
bis duties led him to New Orleans, where
he was seized by yellow fever that prov
ed well-nigh fatal. During the late war,
as q patriot soldier he was frequently, in
battle. And now, as owner Of his an
cestral fields, he serenely spends his
days in the service of his home, his
and his church, oneof the high
est types of the Virginia citizen. After
"a sweet night in this home, the traveller
going west passes Stribling Springs, .
mile or 30 further on, q most inviting
Summer resort to those appreciatine
mountain scenery, pure air, rural quiet
and mineral waters.
The buildings, twenty or more, are
arranged somewhat in crescent fashion,
with a shady lawn in front. In con-
|venient distance there Is a group OF
springs, sulphur, chalybeate and alum,
along with most copious supply OF
|purest fresh water. Without saying any
thing more about the incidents of the
day, let it suffice to note, that evening
found your correspondent and his little
son, as travelling companion, at Nc
|Dowell, just in time to find shelter In
the newly erected manse, where Licen-
|tiate Seabrook, the young minister and
ibis wife, receive their friends as good
people do in South Carolina, their ma
tive State. Just before sunset there was
Ia perfectly developed rainbow and the
fragments of another set in the cloud
that was lowering just above the battle
field of Mcdowell. The sight was
|thrillingly beautiful as we'll as sugges-
tive. The poet Moore, saw in the per-
feet rainbaw the bright arms of love
Extended to comfort q sOrr0wing world
What significance is to be attached to
the fragmentary one I cannot c0Djec-
|ture, unless it be to show how much
more beautiful perfect peace is. than that
whose emblem is severed by dark and
browning cloud. The storm soon lulled
the glorious sun disappeared, the stars
Hooked forth, the church lamps were
lighted, and the bell sent ont its call uE
and down the valley, up the glens anC
mountain sides, and ere long the people
came out in interesting groups, and 9
mice congregation assembled. "Al hal
the power Of Jesus name," "Ye angels
|whO stand round the Throne" were
Sung, prayers were offered, and words
were spoken from Psalm cxii, 8, "H,
shall not be afraid of evil tidings, hi
heart is fixed, trusting In the Lord. ~
IThen to the manse again where, neal
midnight, balmy sleep his "ready visit
paid" soon as he received permission tC
lido 80.
Early next morning Brother Sea-
brook led the way to Glover Creef
chapel, eight miles south, the dedication
of which was the heart and soul of thil
mountain air jaunt. This little gem o.
the highland hills stands on the borde
of meadow near the base of q blue gras
knoll and commands prospect of sur.
passing loveliness. East or west q mil,
or two limits the view; north, the visits
stretches for miles, varied by every fea'
ture that makes mountain scenery at.
tractive; whilesouth- it seems well
nigh limitless, were it not for the bend
ling sky. The last object visible in tn
distance is the highest of the peaks o
Otter, seventy miles away, scarcely dis
cernible from the sky, SO nearly blend
scene on Sabbath morning was one, th'
like of which is but rarely witnessed ii
lifetime. All nature was calm ant
entrancing as poets sylvan dream.
The youth, beauty, and piety OF al
the region within radius of twent,
miles came in trains of carriages, Jerse.
wagons, or gay cavalcades mounted or
swiftly moving horses. The dedicatory
exercises were introduced by the bap
tism of two children. Their mOther
were among the efficient helpers in de
vising the ways and means for the erec
ton Of the chapel. The father of one o
the little children is in his lowly grav
out on Kansas prairie. 1t was after
wards learned that while his little chill
Twas being baptized on the calmest o
mornings amid the Virginia mountains
terrible cyclone was raging unheede'
over his silent dust. The sermon wa
preached from Lukeiv. 16. Mrs. Ann
L. Price prepared hymn for the Occa