Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-10-30
A Remarkable woman.-We had

A Remarkable WOman.-We ha(
many times promised that when in tn,
neighborhood of Clarksburg we would cal
and see Miss Kitty Austin, a spinster of s;
years, and who has for a long while beer
in the habit of walking distance of Il
miles from her home to Rockville three Oh
four times year-taking one day to come
resting one day and returning home ON the
third day. Her last visit was only few
months since.
AT Nealsville we learned that "Miss
Kitty" as she is known and called, lived
in small log house two and a-half miles
distant on the road leading from that point
to Boyd's, and that we would recognize the
house from the fact that it was almost hid
den in fruit trees. In accordance with this
graphic description we were soon jogging
along over road that did not present the APP
pearance of having been much used and one
which we would not willingly recommend
to those in search of a smooth ride. If,
however, the road was rough and the i'm
mediate section Of country broken, it was
full of romantic beauty, whilst in the dis
lance a panoramic view of highly cult
waited and inviting homesteads were to be
seen.
The evening shadows had grown long
and deep when we rested for a few mo-
ments upon the summit of q small hill over
looking picture of inexpressible beauty
one which will not soon pass from our
memory. At points far above horizon floated
masses of black clouds, which the splin-
tered bars Of fast setting sun seemed to
kiss and tissue with emerald and fire, or
fling a jeweled crescent upon their darkest
wing. Along the deep ravines in the far
away, banks of fog and vapor gilded with
gold, appeared metamorphosed into the g liant
battlement of some fairy city. Immediately
at the base Of the hill was a wide ravine
studded with small maple and chestnut. On
the right of the road a body of pine made
its way half way up the hill to WORKOUT
and barren field. On the left hand side of
the road and near the wooded ravine men
toned, we observed the blue smoke curl
ing family from cluster of fruit trees, we
recognized at once that we had reached our
destination, and in a moment alighted in
front of Miss Kittys home. A small log
cabin, tattered and torn by the storms Of
many winters and warped by many sum-
mers' sun, was situated in small enclosure
and but few yards from the road. There
were no windows in the front and the old
door which had evidently turned upon its
hinges so long and SO many countless times
appeared to be fast giving way to the raw
ages Of time. A few yards from the cabin,
and chained TO one of cluster Of apple
trees, was II small tan-colored dog, which
had for its shelter from the rain and cold n
small box As we made our way to the
cabin the dog,
"'rhe first to welcome, foremost To defend ;"
greeted us with the most furious barking,
only protector of this aged woman in her
utter seclusion from the world.
Here in this retired and wild place this
remarkable woman lives, seldom seeing amy
one, and to all appearances contented. She
milks night and morning two cows-raises
quite large lot of poultry. Has an acre of
ground in corn, which she planted and cul-
tivated herself, she has cut the tops, pulled
the blades and is now arranging TO gather the
corn. In reply to a question if she was not
lonesome-she said she had too much to do.
On bidding her goodbye, she told us that
she would walk to Rockville before Court
her will must be made. Her fathers and
mothers graves were without tombstones
and she desired TO have her property, on
her death, used for this purpose-for my
self, she continued, have lived alone and
almost unknown and | care for none. 1t
can't be long before go, eighty-two years
is long time to live and that is my age.