Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-07-23
RSON COUNTY W VA. SATURDAY, JULY %, 1881. No ~

now the rose mingles its perfume with that
of this Southern tree. Qnite number oi
graves are to be seen whose marble slaus
date back peariy 200 years. Some oi these
stones have been brought from England,
ard are Is perfect rs the day they were
laid down. 0the-s of later dates are now
crumbIihg away. One stone that Is now
fastened 70 the wall bears the date OF 1851.
This stone, however, vas breughtfrom some
point on the James river where II was ionld.
From this on our return TO the hotel we
-strolled through the market. Vegetables
we're abundant and fresh. Cucumbers, to-
inatoes, corn, and nearly al the early yege-
tables and berries.
Once aboard the train and around over
country which Is q dead lcyel, over streams
of water thot have 70 apparent motion, and
through trick patches, one is whirled with
rapidity which makes him think of the
dizzv speed of TIE b. 6 o. But one does
not ride long until the precincts Of the Dis
NAL swamp are entered. This immense
area or swamp lie, partly in Virginia and
partly in North Carolina, 1t. Is about 80
miles long and 10 milcs wide; u IS said
that Ave nayigabie rivers AID some creeks
rise IN il. The swamp Is full OF water OF
dark red color, made so b. the roots o! the
iuniDer tha. runs everywhere The eastern
borders are O.ergr0Wn with reeds among
which twine briars that make il an almost
impenetrable mass. Through this mass
grow pine cypress, juniper and cedar trees.
Sometime in the hall Of the year this un-
dercrowth becomes dry catches FIRE. and
makes great blaze. lighting the country
for miles around. Toward the south there
is large tract covered with reeds and with
out trees. which when green is called the
Green Tea" Through this swamp the
Dismal Swamp Canal passes, connecting the
waters Of the Chcsapoake with those OF AZ
bomar,e Sound. This passes also through
Lake Drummond. IL Is said that some
where near this lake Is hotel which, il&e
Harper's Ferry, is Il sort OF Gretna Green
for runavays inthis part of Nirfinla. Tins
lake Is also the subject Of one OF Tom
Noore's most beautiful ballads. It VAS
founded upon a story Of young fellow who
lost his mind after the death Of the GIL he
loved. IJc tboSght she had gone away 10
the spamp, and thither he followed her,
and never was heard of aftcrward. IL Is
supposed that he died of hunger or was
swallowed 10 II one oe the numerous quag-
mires. append The fist and las verses OF
this ballad:
They made hcs grave too cold and dacp
l'ol e soul So warm AID true,
And she's concto tire lake ofthe Dismal swamp,
Where all night long 10y freely lamp,
She paddles her white canoe.
But oft from the Indian huutcr's camp
This lover ard maid SO true,
Are seen at the hour of the midnight damp,
To cross the lake by q iirc-ily lamp,
And paddle their white canoe
Through his swamp f.om est to west
passes the Norfolk & Western Z. Il. One
pas.c. a. il were beneath a long avenue Of
cypros juniper, oak and pine With their
thick and luxuriant foliage, while below Is
the thick undorgrowlh OF ree'ls, wood-hno,
grape vines, mosscS aud The sweet yellow
icssamine. Every now and then the road
passes = lorf narrow canal toil OF dark red
water. and narrow railroad tracks OF wood
by means Of which the timber from the in
terror Of Tic ,gamp is carried out - ,he
railroad and boat 1t was in this swamp
during slavery times that runaway negroes
concealed themselves, The air is delight
fll and is q most pleasant change from the
heat Of the uplands. But one would sup
pose that il is almost certain death from
malaria to remain there any length OF time
The railroad also passes through lsle-oi-
Wight county In this county there stands
an ancient church which tradition says was
built about 1880 1t is said to have been
the second church crectedin Virginia. The
lime, brick and timber were imported from
England. and the oak was framed before 1t
was shipped. twas a splendid edilice.
One window, - feel high, was flied with
painted glass representing scriptural sub
iec,s. This County is one of the eight orr
ginal shircs into which Virginia was divided
i'm 1854. We hope that the county Is more
Inviting elsewhere than IL is rom the rail-
road but more in our next.