Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-08-18
A PHOTOGRAPH OF OLD VIRGINIA
LIFE.

~. J. Laferty in the Richmond Christian Adro-
IT I ever was in Mecklenburg, couldn't
AVE forgotten 1t. 1t is like meadow
with barbed feuee-hard to enter, harder
to get oNt. The clover and the spiked wire
keep the rover inside. The charming folks
and the fearful highways forbid depar-
ture.
so NEAR, AND YET SO FAR.
A District Conference was set for Sar-
dis, "forty miles from railroad" and by
| bad roads. The route was 'sround Robin
| Hoods barn. In direct line Sardis is
| less than hundred miles Of Richmond. I
could have gone to Quebec before hove
i'll sight of the arbor ready and new for the
big meeting. The schedules on the rail-
roads are against hurrying to Sardis. For
instance, your first movement is to Peters
burg, and there you abide two hours ''and
BETTER" till the Norfolk train comes to
fcarry you to Blacks-and-W Whites. You get
| there at five in the afternoon-too late to
start for Sardis. So half day and night
was consu med, but not wasted, by the
undersigned.
A SERMON BY THE WAY.
There was an appointment sent ahead,
and on the night of arrival expounded
at Crenshaw's, the village church, with in
different ''liberty." The Rev. Mr.. Ander-
son, Of Georgia, one of our new missiona-
ries for China, was in the neighborhood
and at church, and ought to have preached.
He was fresh, stout, young. Atany rate he
turned out to be former student of Wash
ington and Lee University, and an old &C.
quaintance-s sound in anatomy, in his re-
ligion. and with common sense withal.
He, with number of gentlemen, spent
the evening at the parsonage, where he was
guest.
AT THE PARSONAGE.
The home of the preacher is not supe-
rior to some similar buildings in the coun-
try, though it is roomy and neat. It has
shade, good water, and sufficient ground.
The s'Mistress of the Manse' is the magi-
clan that can turn barn into place Of
comfort and beauty. It was Hanks best
success when he inveigled such person
INTO the itinerancy. There is, as Matthew
Arnold's favorite phrase is, sweetness
and light" in that rectorY. A woman sing
| ing like an angel in house disordered and
dusty. in soiled gown, is esthetic misery
to decent man. 1t is temptation to
suicide to hear housewife quote 'sthe po-
ets'' until IL, and then leave you to skir-
mish with bed-bugs till daylight. If you
were guest at the Nottoway parsonage,
you would think that cleanliness next to
godliness'' was in the daily catechism. -
The very dirt in the yard looks tidy. By
accident you may find out that the neat
and energetic lady is not unread in books,
nor ignorant of thorough bass" in, mus
lie. -.
There were several small children. They
waited" at meals without. murmur;
and more, they served the dishes at times.
That's perfection of domestic govern
ment!
In the dawn, from tree-top near my
window, the choir loft of mocking-bird
the richest notes fell on drowsy ears, and
lulled to delicious doze and dream Of
cherub songs. And at intervals during the
day this match1ess musician caroled from
his leafy perch, or on wing as he foated
! from the tree to the spire of the church
near by. In the yard a cat-bird also had
nest, but never ventured note while
the Jenny Lind of the grove was warbling.
II the mockingblrd flew to the woods. the
humble rival would pour forth round
alay. and seemed pleased with its per-
Torrance.
UP AND DOWN.
On Thursday, July 9th, in the after
noon, Brother Hank, Brother BeE lrby,
and the writer, in a carriage, set out for
Brother Peter Blackwell g, in Lunenburg.
We went, as the phrase is. s'across the
! country'' The road chopped the stream at
right angles. We were either holding back
down long, quilted hill or tngging up