Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-08-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
Letter from Clarke County.
Nh. HAINEs :

Laus Deol We are again in the country.
mean my good wife and myself. To her, 1t Is
onment in her room Implying an experience of
monotouy, inertin, etc. Then, ride of nine
| miles through rs pretty an exPanse OF country
| as can be found.-ciad in its robe of rich green,
with hill and dale, woodland and field, well
cultivated farms on either hand showing rich
returns to the Industrious yeomeu- Ionder to
| the left that grand old ridge, as ever holding
uudisputed sway in silent subhmity-the air,
fresh, pure and sweet-the suns heat tempered
by the near approach Of evening. With these
happy surroundings we HE away to the coun-
try-God's silent and beautiful domain-where
the soul seems most inclined to commune with
the unseen Creator-bear bis voice, feel his
| touch and realize his presence. The country
gives health, vigor, spirit and renewed lifc and
here about this time Nature is the same. che
has not changed-the same old mountain
| stands there, the same hills rise to view, the
| same stream meanders through the meadows,
the same grand old woods with rich foliage
| dot the landscape here and there, the same
bright sun and cerulean heavens are above
| OF friends who were here then. and dear was
the touch of hands and beat of hearts, some
| have passed over to the other side, some have
| welded and abide elsewhere, others have gone
| to distand fields to labor in the Masters vino
yard-such 10 life!
doubt II . more beautiful section of couu-
try, combining every advantage to make 1t at
tractivc and desirable, Is to be seen than that
lying between Charlestown and Berryville and
beyond covering an average OF s. 8 or 10 miles S
| many fine tracks of land upon which the eyes
rest is that of Mr.. John Burus Cthe old Frame
farm, purchased by Mr.. B: 12 years or more
ago. Rarely do you see o farm SO clean in its
| look-free from noxious underground. the
| fencing neat and strong. the clover well set,
the shocks of wheat thick and large, indicating
25 bushels to the acre at the least calculation;
neat and simple ont houses for grain and hay
storing, Us well as stabling. The mansion
house combines comfort and strength with fine
stretch of yard and shade Mr.. B. is unques-
tionably model farmer, and am disposed to
think the remark true that have heard ap-
! piled to him. that whatever he touches turns To
gold. The Frame farm when contrasted under
the old regime with the present clearly shows
a master hand ut the helm.
| On Sunday morning II was my delightful
privilege to go to Wicklifte church with Mr..
Castleman and family Che is one of the vcstry)
to worship. The ride thitherward was lux
ury. The morning SO bright. the air health
inspiring-a charming Sabbath day. handled
the ribbons. Richard is himself AGAIN.
going to church in the country as in the days
OF long ago. It was just lovely the fresh
glow of youth seemed to come back. Alight-
ing from the carriage ut the sanctuary, was
cordially greeted by W. d; Smith, Esq: Major
eating a hearty christian welcome to worship
with them. The church is plain brick struc-
ture. situated on q rising mound amid n clump
| OF large oaks, with an acre of land or more
inclosed. The view from its location is mag
nifcent. In the back ground the Blue Ridge
rises magestically with its varied shapes In
front panorama of unsurpassed beauty
spreads out with its embOwered homes, the cen
tiers of well cultivated farms. ] am not sur
prised at what hear-that during the war
when the Federal forces occupied this section,
| or when passing through tarried at this con-
secrated spot officers and men expressed their
enthusiastic admiration of this point and its
beautiful surroundings. The church inside has
neat, cheerful appearance. Theladies Of the
parish, quick TO see the wants and to respond
TO the claims of Gods house by their handy
work in the use of the needle. had raised two
hundred dollars which was expended two years
ago in renovating, repainting and identifying
the church internally. The Rector, Rev. Mr..
Mc(iill, preached earnest, effective sermon
from the words of the Savior in connection
with the raising to life the daughter Of Jairus,
Be not afraid, only believe" could not dis
cover that the Rev. gentleman had u scrap of
notes or written sermon before him. He stood
clear of his desk and delivered his sermon with
an earnest, vigorous manner-evidently his su-
preme purpose was to reach the hearts of his
hearers, enforcing his points by striking illus
trationa. take him 10 be an earnest eyangel-
ical minister of Christ. his aim most of all 70
do good and build up bis charge in spiritual,
lowly living. He came TO the parish in the
spring, succeeding the Rev. Mr.. Page 1t Is
with pleasure learn that his Iabors are being
greatly blessed. AS the result of the present
Rector's zeal, bear that VIM. d. Smith, Jr..
| q young man of fine intellectual promise has
determined TO enter the ministry of the P. z.
church, and viii begin course of theological
study in the fall.
/ AS with us the hay crop in this section is
short The wheat promises large yield. and
the corn crop, IL the season continues good win
be immense. Mine Host John Il. Castleman.
Esq, is q jelly good fellow, who though pos
sessed of 800 acres or more of land is not afraid
TO work. for while write this. from my win
dow see him stacking wheat and putting in
| as good n days work as need be. Il seems 10
me he really loves to work, which believe IL
rarely the case. He IL moreover a good Dem
ocrat. q strong O'Ferral man. an enfhusiastic
admirer of Nr. Cleveland. the model President.
and just the kind Of a man Ike to talk to-
His wife, nee Francis. q Loudoun lady. is not
only queen in her household. swsying the
gentle scepter of love. but she Is also q queen
in the successful rearing of poultry. She has a
beautiful flock of seventy-fve young turkeys.
of the bronze breed. which viii come good al
Thanksgiving and Christmas times 70 those fel-
lows who like above all to eat of the American
bird As for chickens, che does not know the
number thereof; they seem 70 cover the face OF
the earth about here. Now / imagine hear
you say Csots pooe) that preacher il the T-ight
man IN he righ pidce-it being proyerbiaI that
the preachers love the fesh of fowls. ] OWL
up, Mr.. Haines, I'm that man
From your old friend,
TINorHY-
Iin~ood, Clarke Co, Va, July "a, 1883