The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-04-21
5Nisccllancnns.


will give you a few "reminiscences Of Gun
| power Neck of years long gone by, of days
when the spinning wheels flew rapidly
around and was quite proud to say that
| could spin. Yes, as young as | was, | had
spun about twenty yards of cloth, also about
| the same quantity of flannel But it did not
make quite SO many peticoats-excuse me, !
mean skirts-as it would have done at the
present day; neither do think if the girls OF
to-day had to spin they would wear them
for how could they spin pin-bacSs SO tightly
Well, ! scarcely know what to say, but would
gladly, if | could, interest your readers by
| writing you another letter, but the majority
of lIariOrdonianS who lived when ] resided
| there have passed over into the bright
Spirit World, the far away home of the
best. Those of the present day take but
little interest in so obscure spot as old
Gunpowder Neck.
The "ForcsterS," so called in my day, were
very glad to visit the Neck, to- feast on the
fat of the land, or rather to enjoy the sports
and luXuries the place afforded. They would
crowd in on us in winter and laugh at the
mosquitoes and ague Of the summer Not.
withstandng all, we were u happy, social
people, enjoying life in many innocent ways,
too numerous to mention. Did any of your
ItuNitIS ever NllU'SS II HtlDll DIu luSnlOlpu
corn.husking in the Neck? Well, | have
The darkeyS were gay on such occasions,
assure you. They would have a rick of one
hundred barrels Of corn huskcd out in one
afternoon and night, and then such Il sup
per as would be set before them: Roasted
pig, goose and turkey, ducks and swans
None but Gunpowder NcCker knew how
to furnish SO appetizing repast. The neigh
borS would go and take their slaves and all
would have such Il iolltication, with a true
hospitality that has long since passed away
Living as we did ON Il narrow neck of land,
enclosed by the Gunpowdcr River and Chesa-
peake bay, there could not have been anything
of much note occurring to interest the present
generation. The most notable event that
remember, was the building of the Light
House on Pools Island, and the running of
the little steamboat with its wheel in the rear,
plying below the Island and Baltimore city,
frequently conveying passengers back aid
forth To us quiet folks, it was quite a
novelty. There were many who passed our
house to cross over to view the wonderful
Light House, spend the day, returning to
their forest homes at eventide. How well
remember the very eccentric old couple who
kept it. Capt. Nugent and wife. He was
rather a large man, weighing about three
one hundrcd-a great contrast to be sure
We had the amusement of seeing them very
often, as they were Methodists and SO were
my parents, who took much trouble in con-
veying them from the shore to our little
llopewell school house, (Which has long since
gone to decay it being the nearest place for
them to hear preaching. My father was
very philanthropic, and did all he could to
promote their happiness in their isolated
home never failing to see that Capt. Nugent
reached Abingdon on election days, for they
were both good old Wings, true to their
country. Those were days when politics
were pure and not corrupt as now.
The next wonder of the age was the rail
road to Philadelphia from Baltimore city -
The old folks talked OF 1t, and gravey said
Never in my day but it was finished in
their time and they came to this city often
by way of it, before they passed over
There is one place of considerable note,
| which failed to mention, namely, MaXwell's
Point. visited it in my early days, when n
small brick house was its chief adornment,
before wealth hid been lavished on its en-
Enlistment had strayed along its shores,
and watched the ebb and flow of tide until
| almost forget where | stood. Since then
have seen it in all its beauty and art Ma.
ture has done more than man. 1t was orr
ginally owned by relatives of mine, James
and Moses Maxwell. They passed away be-
fore | was born, and | know not how the
relationship came, perhaps through the Pres
bury family, who were nearly related to my
father.
There is one thing that often surprises me
that such bright and intelligent people as
lived In the Neck, should have been so un-
mindful OF improving their homes. But it
seems to me that ducking in the winter, fish
ing and grabbing in summer, with the shakes
thrown in gratis in the fall, made them obi
yious of the art of progression
AS the most of the old homesteads have
passed away with their former owners, | will
say good bye to old Gunpowder Neck. / soon
shall pass from earth, and do not expect to
behold again those early haunts The poetry
which inclose was addressed to my eldest
sister. who lives in your county:
lam Thinking OF the Past.
am thinking of the past, sister,
or years forever flown;
Of childhood's SPORTS of youthful bliss,
| OF joys forever gone.
am thinking of the happy days
When around our fathers hearth,
| We raised our voice in songs Of praise,
To Him who rules the earth.
| am thinking, sister. thinking
OF the happy days of yore
| OF the bright and joyous faces
That shall sec no more.
am thinking oh, how sadly!
OF my quiet country home;
When sisters brothers, parents.
Shall meet no more to roam