Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-09-02
For the SpEcrA TOR.
THIRD ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT AT
LOVE'S RUN.

Three years have elapsed since the young
people of the vicinities of Greenville and
Mint Spring conceived the novel idea of an
encampment in the wild and almost track
less aud boundless regions bordering along
the base of the Blue Ridge at place local
ly known as Loves Ran, about equidistant
from the aforementioned villages and ac-
cessible from either.
The 18th of August was the time agreed
upon for this outing. Even before the
golden harvest had been half gathered the
fixed date was heralded far and near, so as
to give every one ample opportunity to
make all necessary preparation in the way
of eatabIes, shelter and "snake-bite medi-
cine," the latter being the most important
article of all on a trip of this character,
though denounced as vile monster in
recent days, and one that ''outvenoms all
the worms of Nile"
When the morn Of the appointed day ar
rived it was cloudy and damp, and at inter-
walls there we're indications of clear
weather, which unfortunately came not,
but SO eager were the youngsters to start
upon this expedition that the state of the
weather was Intellectual to restrain them in
their determination to go, and therefore by
ten o'clock train of road wagons laden
with the stair and precious" was moving
in the direction of that point where our
hearts for so many weeks past longed to
be.
Our journey there was marred by no mis-
haps; our travel rapid, and by shortly past
noon we were there by 'large majority"
Only few moments were consumed in
handshaking, osculatory ceremonies, and
doing justice to the provision box, for in
the depths of that vast wilderness where
the footsteps of man are seldom heard,
there was voice which spoke in unmis-
taxable tones of an approaching storm
This was no time for idleness and indo.
lence; this is no place for the loafer and
hummer. Willing and industrious hands
fell to work, and in comparatively short
while tents were pitched and wagons
covered in which to shelter from the heavy
rain which had now begun to fall, and for
more than two hours in that dark and
lonely retreat it was 'wet," Every wet, -
without single ballot being cast, or q
single dollar being spent.
Nghtfall came, the clouds dispersed, and
the moon in the full zenith of her glory re-
lieved the tedium of the Cimmerian dark
ness that otherwise would have been unen-
durable. s'On with the dance" rang out
upon the still air. of the night, and for
not the musician been easily bought of
for mere pittance it might have beer
prolonged till the dawn of another day
We know that some of the "dear, sweet
creatures" did not remember US as kindly
in their prayers as they might have done
for an act of this kind, but when rest ant
sleep are wanted, we otre naught for theil
gracious benedictiOps.
For the remainder of the time the wealth
or was moderately fair. The hours of thu
day W ere beguiled by card playing, socia
chats, and love-makipg, while those of the
night by Gripping the light fantastic toe
| Camping out is simply charming. 1t j!
an idyl; 1t is unwritten poetry. To be fa
removed from tho habitations of nan; fal
from he hundrum country life; far from
the bastle, beat and filth of a city will
sociable and agreeable compapons for {
brief season in such dreary wastes and re
cesses possesses no equal in enchantment.-
70 see these mountains, pure and unde
filed, loom up SO stately and grand int
blue ether; the little stream ripping a
their base 10 its onward course to join tn
mighty river are sights upon which th
eve loves to feast, and upon which it neve
grows tired. Such sublime spectacles hav
been gazed upon with awe and admiration
in all ages, and have been visited and i'm
mnrtalized by both poet and artist. Wha
a delightful and invigorating change o
surroundings it is for him who has toilet
and fumed and sweated over his work in I
city Of oppressive heat, or even for I
sturdy farmers son (God bless bim) afte
'he cares and onerous burdens of th
harvest are over to join an outing part.
where worry is unknown, and wher
hilsrity aud festivities reign supreme.
Many amusing incidents transpired dur
ing these days of encampment, which cam
to close on the 21st ult., but we shall no
disclose them for want of time and space
Gould we have recalled fifteen years of on
lives when in the bloom of our youths W,
would have joined in the ''chorus" ant
shouted "amen."
Tonight as we draw the curtain of ou