Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-07-11


their family of interesting children,
we retired; and after sound and re-
freshing nights rest, good warm
breakfast, Wednesday Oath found us
again winding our way over noun
tains, ridges and slopes, across Ale
CLANCY Co., Md. into Fulton Co., Pa,
some fifteen miles from our base.
Here we entered a long stretch of
land Justly named the "Pansy Plains"
After ascending the side of quite q
lengthy mountain chain we arrived at
the farm of Mr. Tilghman Northcraft,
whose hospitality we enjoyed for some
little time; partook of splendid din
ner, after which we were entertained
by the sweet notes of a very fine vio-
lin, whose bow was drawn bya master
hand. The kindness of our host, the
elegant dinner, and sweet music
almost induced us to tarry longer,
but time sped rapidly by under the
circumstances, and we were compelled
to say "good bye" and retrace our
steps on the homeward trail. On the way
I we were 10 see NUMBERS OIL VIII
mountain lilies OF most gorgeous colors.
and more beautiful than many Of the culti-
| waited ones at home, Beautiful twilight
! caught us some eight miles from home. The
enchantment of this hour was really sub
lime. The air was full of the fragrance of
| the wild wood flowers, and the bloom OF
| the wild grape. We reached home about
8 O'Clock, as you can imagine, tired and
! hungry: but the inner man was quickly
satisfied by the nimble hands of our kind
hostess, who soon had steaming supper
before us, to which as usual, we did full
| justice.
On the 25th we again started, en- route fol
Bedford, county. Pa, still miles beyond
our former days travel. Here we visited
| the farms of G. w. Martin, Dosson Barnes,
and the Diehl Bros. The former we were
sorry to find absent from home, but we
noted that his surroundings were pleasant,
good cleared land and fair crops of wheat
and corn. Mr.. Dosson Barnes was visited
next, who insisted that we should stop for
dinner, which we were glad to do. While
the meal was being prepared we walked
out to see his fields of wheat and corn, the
former being nearly full crop and the
| best wheat WIS saw on the trip; the corn
not only here, bnt everywhere looked fine,
and gives promise of an abundant crop.
| After returning to the house we partook of
a most excellent meal, which we enjoyed
to the fullest extent. Being stranger to
All vi Ine klnu people we met, we felt
| rather backward when seated at the able,
but two words, .snow reach used eyery-
where soon dispelled our baekwardness, as
we soon learned what it meant. When
others ''reached' we naturally followed
their example, and before we left we felt at
home and soon learned their custom. Mr..
Barnes entertained us very pleasantly in
narating how he came there AZ years ago
| With his wife as his only companion, he
built his little hut with the naked earth as
n floor, went to work with will, and con-
tinued to work until to-day, he has a fine
| comfortable dwelling, over 100 acres Of fine
producing cleared land and nearly 200
acres of as fine timber land as one would
| wish to see. Everything is in first-cass
order around him, and he stands high
among his neighbors far and near, because
of his honesty and sterling integrity. After
leaving him we wound our way along the
rough mountain roads to the farm of the
| Diehl Brothers, who we found grubbing
| and clearing more of those splendid lands
to sow in wheat this coming fall. Indeed,
| 1T was pleasure to meet these brothers on
the slopes, hats and coats off, brawning
bare arms, and powerful muscles hard and
strong enough to meet and overcome any
and all the labor that attends the clearing
of these mountain lands. They have splen-
did crops of wheat, rye, oats and corn. but
-as time passed rapidly we again started
through mountains and valleys, and fin
uiiy iCotHCo tuC iduuo vi our lTlenu, Jas.
A. Smith Before we reached his home,
however, we passed large and commodi-
Gus church building. called ''Fairyie W
church," whose members were OF the de-
nomination of "christans" and we presume
that the interior was much nicer than the
exterior, which surpasses any ediiice of
this kind we have ever seen in country or
mountain. 1t did not deceive its name,
that of "Fairview," for from its door. In
every direction, the fairest view Of noun
tains, valleys and ravines could be seen
lar away in the dim distance. Our friend
| smith has also some very fine wheat and
corn, and after q friendly chat we again re-
traced our steps homeward. On the 2jth,
we started to find some of the farm lands
in the interior of the mountains in our own
state, but was surprised to find the noun
tains higher and the surroundings even
more rugged than any we had Travelled oy-
or in ali our trip, and the scenery vas
much grander. One place, in particular
| on high eminence. we could see the
grand old Potomac river winding its way.
miles and miles in the distance its waters
shimmerlng in the bright sun rays like a
stream OF molten silver. Indeed, never in
our lives have we had such panorama of
grand ana beautiful scenery--more grand
! and beautiful than we can describe The
waters gushing from the springs all along
the mountain side was of the purest kind:
1 cool, and clear as crystal. We wound
.. "a" u5N thS iou-u IoduS untIl
O'Clock p. m, when we started home. az
! ter becoming lost and bewildered, wander
i ing back and forth through the blind roads
| OF this impenetrable West Virginia noun
tam. The 9th, was spent in getting ready
for our return trip to Martins burg, and AZ
ter giving good by to our host and his es-
! Unable family, We crossed the river. took
! the train, and in few hours, We're at our
home, with health improved, body and
mind strengthened, and in good trim for
business again. Ye merchants, who toll
over your books year after year, take such
trip; come back new men, and then al
! low your clerks TO go, they too, will come
back refreshed, and invigorated. and the
I work that now seems arduous. will then
seem like play. We shall never forget the
/ pleasure of this trip. X.
JUNE27, 1885,