The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-07

growths.. The melancholy birch The tonch
ana sturdy beach. the evergreen holly hl,,sL
ing IA It's wealth of glowing fruit, were there
~ "as on account OF the great number OF the
iatter that this forest received its name when
It afterwards became q cemetery. Bofore
however. this had taken place most of the
largest holles. being near the city. had been
sacrihced to the custom of dressino tho
cnnurches and private houses at Christmas
Above all others stood the giant oaks that st,li
preside in Druidic grandeur over the sIeepine
dead, and still claim, If they choose. the pro-
lection OF their Dryad deities.
POOR DOLLY.
The sylvan attractions of the place are nj
TINS day due 70 the remnants of the GREAT for
est still left. What has disappeared became
necessary 20 the growth of the silent CITY.
Their places have been supplanted bv a
tenderer race, whose floral offerings and
graceful presence shall ever continue Ia
watch over and adorn the resting place of
the dead. 1t was at the foot Of one of the
loftiest oaks, upon a cushion of fallen leaves
that the two young friends had seated them
selves. One of them accidentally found near
by, and under the mass of dry leaves. the
ragged edge Of a fragment of sandstone. Of
narrow dimensions on which were easily
deciphered "a few roughly cut characters
The other two pieces were soon found and
upon putting the two together, the words
Alas, poor Dolly" disclosed to the aston
ished readers the long-buried grief of some
unknown but sincere sufferer. Who could
have been this so tenderly lamented lost one?
Had It once been a domestic pet. "a faithful
dog or other faithful animal, or could it
have really been "A human being? Speculation
could furnish no reply TO either of these sur
misses. TIL record so Unexpectedly I'M
earthed in the shadows of that sequestered
spot, unimportant as it may be, must,
therefore, emain OIL the list OF unre-
vealed secrets until time itself shall be
no more. This simple stone was evi.
IDENTITY the pioneer Of that future city whose
houses last till doomsday," and whose
gorgeOus memorials should ONE day stand
among these same hills and dales, rich in pan
egyric and stately in art: and yet it alone
should remain unrivalled by them all in puri-
" of sentiment and genuine pathos. Poor
DOlly's" broken tombstone was left where it
WAS found. There were no other evidences of
a grave having been dug near the spot, and
although subsequent visits we're made to the
spot by the two friends itlhad disappeared and
was never seen by them again. The incident
Just described, though simple in itself, seemed
designed as oHportune consolation for the
grim and startling experiences of a few Sun-
days before.
RUS IN UBBE.
It is hoped the writer will be further in
dulged ia the discursive accounts of q region
SO we'll remembered and enjoyed by the boys
VI nAIAllllOuu Nv olldl L4U4ts IL AdQ ItAuiAAA
attractions 10 them. Although 50 near the
town it abounded IN every charm that makes
the country 80 attractive to the .%buOyant
spirit and pent-up energy of youth, especially
when let loose from the artificial restraints OF
a city. 1t was here that they learned 10 verify
the traditions of their fathers who had been
fortunate enough 10 be born and reared in the
country. The river was near by, with its
rocks. its rapids, It's tempting pools and its
verdant islets. Dense thickets Afforded hid
ing places Tor game. Frogs were hunted with
bow and arrow with the san zeal
Boys and trees have ever been
bOon companions. They are allowed
all sorts of liberties with the gravest of them.
IL was among the bamboo jungles and cOpses
of dense underground that they learned the
habits Of birds: sought their nests. even to
the tiny basket il which the humming bird
hung suspended. It was among these haunts
that they learned TO perpetuate and indulge
the supersttlOns common u rustic lie. They
became familiar with snakclIfe, knew all the
varieties that abounded in the neighbOring
country; were sure that they charmed birds.
especially the cat-bird. between whom and
these hated reptiles boys have always agreed
that thereswas a special feud. because the
latter was 50 fond OF hs eggs. AS the juvenile
rover grew old enough to use his gun 1t was
in this region that he found the squirrel at
tracted by the nuts of the hickory trees that
abOunded in these woods. He often secured
the woodcock and the snipe that sought their
food IN the wet places and swampy t%hlckets;
and later on, if on the ground very carly IN
the morning on late In the evening, would
surprise the summer duck and the teal rs
they rose from their rosy beds at the dawn of
day. Such are some of the "reminiscences ola
region now fast becoming a suburb Of the
city, but which at the time old "Dobson's"
was standing had no professions above the
simplicity and innocence of genuine country
life. In due time we propose 70 return 10
these rambles and say something more OF the
scenes Just referred TO.