Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-07-17
On the M0nocacy.

Mr.. Editor Sunday, the 9th instant, was
su ch bright day in the experience of your
co respondent that he is led to hope that a
ma rration of the days pleasures may awaken
a responsive throb in the heart of some
reader of the Sentinel.
In company with one of the we'll Unknown
residents of your immediate vicinity, Mr..
David Horner, | mounted one of those
ubiquitous requisites to locomotion, cart,
with the intention of attending q quarterly
meeting of the M. Il. Church South at
Forest Grove, Frederick county, where the
Rev. Mr.. Boyd was expected to off1ciate in
the absence of the presiding elder, Doctor
Rogers.
The route we selected makes almost semi
circle around the base of the Sugar Loaf,
affording fine view of that elevated knob,
as well as glimpses of the broad Potomac
and the rapid Monocacy. At Dickerson,
on the Metropolitan Branch of the b. 81 o.,
train rushed across the Monocacy and
shot onward in its zzzag course toward the
Capital. Passing onward, and cheered by
the sight of fields of waving corn and
shocked wheat, we soon reached the Valley
of the Monocacy, where the mellow song of
thrush and the echoed cav of the crow are
seemingly the only sounds to break the
heavenly peacefulness of the scene until we
are suddenly confronted by the swollen and
turbid river, and cross it on fine new iron
bridge at a point OF historic interest, and
known as the Old Furnace.
Crops of wheat along our route were GER
tainly all that could be desired by the farmer
and the farmers friend which we claimed
to be for the time, or until after dinner time,
at least, and the cool mountain breezes, the
rich anecdotes of my friend, and rapid pro-
gress of our gallant gray" gave zest to
the trip that will not soon be forgotten.
But still greater pleasure was in store for
us as we suddenly debouched upon the little
church and found it packed and surrounded
by throng of worshipers, all eager to hear
the melodious voice of their beloved pastor
of past sacred memories
In the recesses of the wild river we had
indeed been cheered by the thrill of the mock
ing bird and the shrill call of Bob White,
but soon the trained and splendid voice OF
one of Frederick countys fair daughters
hoated out upon the still air and trans
ported US to realms of enchantment, where,
seemingly, Heavens melody swelled the
heart and entranced the soul. Then the
eminent divine, inspired perhaps by that
angelic song, portrayed the suffering, death
and triumph of the Redeemer in words, the
description of which by my humble pen
would be mockery. Our hearts had indeed
been raised from lovely nature to the adora-
ton OF natures God, but when our beloved
pastorsdrew the sad picture of the Saviour's
suffering and death, all exultation was lost
in sympathetic grief, and many tear-drop
attested the force and beauty of the dis.
course.
But how quickly the ridiculous may fol-
low the sublime was shown even on that
best occasion, for the words of the eloquent
speaker had barely ceased when Rev. Mr.
Wolfe, the minister in charge, announced
that marriage would then and there be
solemnized. A man near the door rose with
much gravity and started toward the pulpit
Midway of the church stood blu shing girl
eager to join her prospective lord in the aisle,
but 10, there lay an uncouth board that had
been placed there to seat the overflow OF the
great audience, and how was she to main
tain her dignity as bride and scale that
barrier. For a moment she paused in doubt,
but an encouraging word from her mother,
who no doubt approved the match, in
spirited her, and with hop and skip she
passed the rude obstruction and reached
the preacher, Indian fashion, at the heels of
her betrothed. The ceremony was an en-
tire success.
Comus, July 10, 1891. Y.