The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-17
THE "nARMoNITe" COMMUNITY.
That with an Aged "Econo mite"-Grave-
ward Of George Rapp's Followers.

chat with an Aged 'Econcmite'-t'rHve-
yard OF George Rapp's Followers.
An aged Economic approaches us
coming slowly down the shaded path
way. lie is feeble, hut his dark ewes are
very bright His portly frame Is clad in
the usual suit Of blue. and h. wears the
broad brimmcd hat. There are pigs in
the field beside him; he losses them an
apple over the fence. They quarrel for
its possession, squealing in rage. He
laughs till his fat sides shake. He losses
them more apples, fairly exploding with
mirth as he watches them crowding and
iostling each other So on he goes
out Of sight, entirely oblivious Of our
presence The pigs follow him as far
as the boundary Of the field will let
them, drowning his merriment with their
squcaling.
This man may he said TO be a typical
Economic Innocent, honest, simple
minded. with little knowledge Of the
great outside world and its complexities,
Inc Is easily amused | recall another
like him, tho former keeper of the
orchard that incloses the old burying
ground, 70 which our ramble will soon
take III He was an elderly parsonage,
little. spare and strangely deformed, but
of singularly interesting mind. lie was
quite comical and original without know
ing 1t. The childlike innocence Of some
Of his remarks was delightful. visited
his little vine covered watch house very
often.
Closing an eye and regarding me with
great gravity, he once said:
Death is funny fellow"
"Why soi'
HE has been playing with me thsse
ten years"
Il do not understand
Look at me and see how bent am.
1t for me Is very hard to walk People say
| should long ago have died But am
here. Death takes younger people, and
laughs when he brings them here,
pointing TO the orchard.
That Is joke You can enjoy"
so do: | smile back at him. What
is there in death 10 make inc afraidf
A few weeks later called to see tho
little German at his post. His coy
watch house was there, covered with
luscious grapes that pcrfumed all the
air Ms friend was not there, but fol
| lowing the direction OF a German Ia
/ borer | found him. \ mound was over
him, upon which some tiny morning
glory vines had already taken root
Death the Joker had grown more
earnest could not but wonder if death
was still joke TO the honest and kindly
I little German.
Opening q white gate, August leads
the way into q spacious orchard, through
which runs q long, straight roadway.
/ On our right a5 we enter Is little vine
yard. so Tim and perfectly kept that
one cannot but admire IT, Not weed
I mars the ground between the trelll5eS.
/ The 0dor OF the grapes IS exquisite. On
our left il peach orchard in full bear
ing, and the iruitage is worthy Of Della
ware or Maryland y little further on
begins a pear and apple orchard, which
extends for fully half mile.
Here, said August, pausing "our
dead lie.
We look about Us, nonplussed Before
us is a square inclosure in the orchard,
/ fenced with white palings Pear and
apple trees grow within, the grass
grown surface IS very smooth. There
are no monuments, headstOnes ratings,
flowers or evergreens; the place has the
appearance Of q pasture.
Where are the graves August we
asked
"Dcrc. IN dc ground
but YOU cannot tell one from an
/ other
Wv shoolt we; viii God forget;
/ Upon closer inspection we find some
new made graves near the fence, with
the earth hcaped oven them III the usual
/ form, bat with nothing to designate
/ them. They are arranged IN long rows
extending entirely across the inclosure,
and the last row is now begun When
complete. it will doubtless see the end Of
the Harmony society The old graves
are all level with the ground. and many
are entirely obhterated Curlously. and
| trust tyWca!ly, the plant called life
everlasting grows over them. aud grass
I anu INfMtl1ilE Ni4lfr 4Atii 44PNF 'frN'trs '.f
occasionally disturbed 10y the scythc. No
effort +; made 10 heauliiy the place; but
] IL Is a most Impressive spot.
.Aie many buried here. August:
DE Harmony society Is dere Is the
sober answer.
Just beyond the buryIng ground Is
so called Indian mound, relic Of the
ancient Mound Builders. Over 1t grow
few stately oaks and hickories, in the
shade OF which benches have been ar
ranged in the form of circle. There
The workmen in the orchard eat their
noonday meal. The mound has never
been explored, nor will the Harmonltc'
permit the ancient tumulus to be desc
/ rated.
Near by Is frame building. In which
BEARS and apples are sorted and barreled,
II. d. Mason in American Magazine.