The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-01
NO.46
A Sad Picture.
Reported for vIRGIN1AN.
I


In ramble among the hills and mountains
not long ago, accompanied by an old friend
who knows every ridge and rayine in his vi
cinity, we came to a hut perched on the noun
tain side, high up above the surrounding coun-
try and in the county of Nelson, four miles
southwest from Alton. From the door of the
hut a most excellent view is had of the coun-
try as far east as Charlottesville. and the eye
can plainly discern the mountains a distance
of sixty miles to the northeast But it is of
the howell above named and its inmates L
started out to tell you.
On our approach to within rod of the door
our voices attracted the attention of half
terrier dog that shared the house withits own
ers, and he set up barking on the inside that
soon brought to the door a well-grown girl
II years. Recognizing my old friend, who
had frequently bestowed aims upon the fam
lily, she invited US to enter, which we did
Never before did such sight greet my eyes
For time we could see naught save the few
Goals that glowed upon the hearth. The hut
was destitute of anything in the shape of u
window or any aperture for the admission OF
light save here and there a crack between the
logs that formed the body of the building.
Soon our eyes became accustomed to the dark
ness, and on looking about undiscovered that
the hut consisted OF but one room 14x16 with
loft above. The room was occupied by a
woman aged about 40 years, two girls aged
respectively II and years, and boy in his
ninth year. The amount of clothing pos
sessed by the whole family was less than
enough to have covered the least member of it
comfortably or even decently The fact is
they were almost entirely destitute of clothing
at all In addition TO this lack OF clothing.
there was as marked lack of cleanliness. |
know speak within the bounds of strict
truth. when IsaY that water as cleansing agent,
has mot been used in the family, either upon
their persons, clothing IL or cooking utensils,
for years ii ever at all. doubt if there was
ever such thing as soap, towel or comb
about the place. In one corner was thing
called bed This consisted OF low bedstead,
across which had been thrown slaves split for
the purpose, and placed there to hold up the
armful of leaves and straw that had been put
on them for nest. On top of all, or rather
mixed Unfortunately with the straw and
leaves, there was mass of filthy rags, not one
of which would have covered a space larger
than mans hand, A table of split boards,
with hewed legs, occupied place near the
centre of the room. On this there was one tin
plate containing a piece of corn bread, two
quart tin cans, one filled with water and the
other with dried apple-parings, one tin spoon
and pipe. There was one chair, one three
legged stool and half single block to afford
seats for those who Gwelt therein. The floor
was hidden from view by dirt. The door was
hung by wood hinges. A string of dried beans
Snaps, in addition to the piece of corn bread
and apple parings, was all that the house con-
tanned i'll the eating line. The husband and
father was away from home on visit to
friends in Nelson county.
Weasked the wife how they managed to
live. Her reply was, Daniel makes scrub
brooms in the winter season"
"How many has he made this winter ?" said
one OF US.
None" said she the weather has been too
bad for him to hunt broom timber"
From all we could gather, this family of five
persons subsst by gathering berries IN the
summer and chestnuts in the fail, and selling
them at Alton or Waynesboro. The husband
is strong man of some forty years old. He
could make good living by working on the
farms near him. The wife could at least keep
things neat. The children could be sent to
school instead of being allowed to wallow in
the dirt and grow up in ignorance. Should
not the Nelson authorities look into this casep
If it cannot be reached by law, ought not the
charitably disposed take it in hand?
| ROVER