Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-06-24
A Little Boys Summer Excursion.
Reported by Big Boy.1 80

IRepOrted by q Big B0y.1 80
Strolling. Wednesday, along Middle river
near Cline g Mill (now Bowling 81 Au gusts
county, Va, the writer discovered camI
situated in beautiful grove of arbor vits
and cedars, interspersed with stately oaks
and black walnuts, confronting the river
whose silent murmurings mingled with the
cheerful songs of the hooking bird and
robin, and now and then the solemn and
doleful note of the dove way off perched
upon the crag of some lonely tree, made
the surroundings various and attractive.
This party was composed of seven Staun'
ton boys, viz: Tommy and Rosie Baker,
Rhodes and Willie Nelson, Robt. and
Miller McCue and Saml Christian who,
after the burden and heat of the school
examinations and final exhibition, sought
this beautiful place for weeks vacation.
Their camp was fully supplied with
every article of comfort and food that
would have done credit to the fresh
Southern soldier of 1851. Their equip
ments consisted of a hand wagon and boat
(which served as body to the wagon,) a
tent, 1.-THE handy work of Miss Kate Baker,
mess-chest filled with cooking utensils,
SIS biscuits, a middling of bacon. a jug
of moIassess, salt, pepper, Jamaica ginger
for the stom Oh ache, and arnica for the
bruises, etc., etc. The boat is an eleeant
one and reflects credit on its youthful
builders. Tommy Baker, the architect
and head workman, was assisted by Robt.
McCue and other co-carpenters and paint
ers-cost exclusive of labor 80, market
price $40. This shows what energetic
and practical boys can do. After playing
horse for seven miles, they arrived at the
place of their selection, policed the
ground. pitched their tent, and launched
the boat without ceremony, not SO much
as even breaking bottle of wine over her,
and then soon relieved themselves of the
dust and fatigue of the journey in the wa
tiers of the river. The first night they
were aroused by terrific thunder storm
which shook not only their tent but also
the nerves of the little fellows. ~
After the storm had subsidized, away
from parental influence, they had forgot
ten to say their prayers, and one of the
party proposed to have prayers and each
read chapter. all complied except two,
who thought less reading and more pray
ing would be better. After prayer meet
ing was over they got their breakfast, mis-
taking the moonlight for day and took a
boat ride. When they discovered thRir
mistake they retired better and happier
boys. and rested quietly until awakened by
the sunlight of the next day.
They amused themselves in the day by
boating. fishing for cells and shooting frogs
and squirrels.
After weeks innocent playful sport,
the boys drew back their wagon and plum
der Saturday evening last, so as not to
miss the prize given to all Of the Sunday
school scholars of the LIST Presbyterian
church, awarded on the first Sabbath in
July to all who had not been absent for
the six months previous. Thus ends the
first lesson.
P. S.-Quite number of the young men
of Staunton, visited the camp, and the
youngest in the camp handed around the
hat and got the handsome sum OF 25 cents
with which they purchased more biscuits,
pretty much the whole stock of them hav-
ing been unceremoniously devoured by the
grown up visitors.