The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-05-05
1HE CRAVE Of IaF RsoN.
"A "TRIP q Monticello ON i Mustang The
Lsft, Granite shaft.


"A Trip q Monticello on = Mustang The
Lots Granite shaft.
II about 100 miles fiom busy, boom.
ing Richmond 70 the very heart Of old
Yirginia, whore tile author Of the beclat.
atibn n Independence Lies buried on the
high wooded hill near his lonely and
nearly deserted residence, Monticello. y
Arriving at Charlottesville, / found
everything tullof snow and Nslush. The
mouhiaintiyers were running red, for
the soilat Virginia is strangely red--rod
as some Titan battlefield.
Tie dome Of the university OF Virginia,
fashioned after the Pantheon at Rome,
rose on lofty eminence before me. Be.
yond the Blue Ridge and the Alleglianies
CLEANED in tile snow under the bluest Of
blue skies Itseened as II the sierras
We're here, Monticello which Is only
aresidence, not a town, as one Is apt 70
suppue Hes three miles back toward
Richmond. and nearly half d mile-it
would seem, L you climb TO it through
the snow as Idid,-perpendictilar.
~, You can't walk it; can't cross
the riyahi and q keerage couldn't git
thar ma cOons age; but Il you could
ride, sah, II you could ride . colt, sali9
-Ride colt l could ride a COW, II
necessary. Saddle up.p
The +colt" proved to be a mustang,
They have brought this lively and much.
maligned little animal all the way from
Texasin great numbers. The little mouse,
colored animal with miscllievous eve
had been slut up in the snow good
many days, l reckon, and SO he was LED
out with man on either side hanging
on to the bits. A crowd gathered.
Stand I'm on his head in the snow, bel
a Nickel said some one back in thai
black and ragged crowd Of sovereigns.
And then there was a grin and a chuckll
all around.
! brushed OF the two men who hung
on to the bits, and talking a little old.
fashioned mustang talk, which he per.
haps had not heard since he left Texas,
got a foot into the stirrup, and we both
jumped OF the same time. On into the
river, red as blood, breast deep; over,
on, up the hill, and in the drifted snow
to his bellyl Then struck a bare anc
bleeding spot Of red earth. Hut on and
up plunged the ~colt, the sacred soil Of
Virginia flashing and dasfing and cling.
ing to the tail Of Ely English ulster al
every jump!
In less than q mile, however the
gallant little mustang and myself vert
in love with each other. / got of oftel.
to help him wallow through the deepest
places, and he not once tried to get away
or tetray my trust. Three miles Of hard
climbing, then turning to the left
through an open gate plunged into the
tlrickest wood and-I ierked off my hat.
Was ever such absolute quiet outsi1e
OF death @ or a DESERT Inc world was iat
below. ilie Fantheon DONG OF the uni
verslty which the great dead before me
mad Founded ana tor my years wei!
tosterea was under my teet' II looked
IKE one OF tue many great domes Of
damascus Inc rising SUBMITS OF the
mountains above and beyond looked
down IN Eindiy companlonshlp'
Thegraye of the great Democrat Is III
perfect onler. Indeed, it isalmost pain.
fully perfect. know the world would
find fault II this grave was neglected,
but at the same time may say it pained
me to see the splendid iron fence, ten
and big forbidding lock on tile prison.