Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-13
The Old virginia Homestead.

Within the house II broad hall reaches
from end to end its floors shining aud
slippery with polish its walls wainscot-
ted half way to the ceiling, their upper
half simply whitewashed and covered
with emblems OF rural life, antlers OF
deer killed 80 years ago i'll the dense for
ests ON the eastern border Of the county,
or trophies of more recent expeditions
across the Blue Ridge to the wild hunt
ing grounds of the Allcghanies. Sus-
pended from these hang old shot-tiasks
and powder-horns that have served the
general and his generation III days gone
by, before trouble fell upon the land. In
the corner stands the Joe Mauton and
the long Kentucky rifle, that iive-and-
twenty years ago were the weapons OF the
Southern squire il stubbie and i'll forest
respectively.
Here, on another wall, younger gen
Grafton of nephews from Richmond or
Baltimore, who look on the homes of their
fathers as n happy hunting ground for
autumn holidays, have hung their "Green-
ers" and their cartridge belts. The re-
mainder of the wall is relieved by map
Of the county, picture of the Universi-
ty of Virginia, and the Capitol at Rich
mond, and several illustrated aud framed
certificates of prizes taken by the General
Mt agricultural shows. 1t is in the draw
ing-room, however, that the treasures of
the family are collected. Here again oak
wainscotting and whitewaslI, with carved
chimney-pleces c!ambering up toward the
ceiling, silently protest against your con-
ventional ideas of America and here too
the floor for the winter carpets that have
not yet been laid down-shines with pol
ish, and is treacherous to walk upon.
Brass dog irons of ponderous build,
and as old rs the house, shine against the
warm brick hearth, waiting for the logs
that the cool October nights will soon
heap upon them. Old fashioned tables
that suggest all kinds Of grandmotherly
skill in silk aud worsted cluster in the
Corners of the room. Upon the walls
hang the celebrities that the good Nir-
ginia delights to honor. Here Washing
ton, surrounded by the notables OF his
time, both men and women. Is holding
his first reception. Here Mr.. Jefferson
looks down upon an old cabinet contain
ing bundles Of his private letters to the
Generals grandfather, full of the price
of wheat, and the Improvement of the
county roads, dashed now and then witt
illusions to tho advantage which the
young republic would gain from sympa
thy with France rather than with her un'
natural parent. Great Britain.
Here, too, Patrick Henry, the greatest
popular orator America ever produced
with his long face and eagle eye, hang'
above an armchair which family le
gend treasures ms having rested the old
man grooming under the ingratitude o
his conntrymen upon his last politica
campaign. There cngravings of til,
Vienna Congress, OF Queen Victoria, an(
of the famous Royalist Col. Tarletou
after Sir Joshua Reynolds, remind yol
that blood after all is thicker than water
Two or three ladies in the costume OF TIN
first George, and rs many gentlemen il
wigs and swords, could tell you, il the.
could speak, of the big square mansion
of English bricks upon the Chesapeake
shore which they still looked upon as tn
home of their race, and there. too, in tn
post of honor above the high, chimney
piece is the Generals uncle, the Senator
who, rs every one in America knows, wa
Minister to France in lS3-.