The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-04

In 1867 the fagstores OF old Abingdon
echoed the crisp foot-tread OF the wor-
shipper. q,
The pews were square, with seats all
around, and stiff carpet covered root
stools stood beneath, on which prim
children sat, and often munched ShreWs-
bury cakes drawn from their mother
reticule. / have heard that excessive
wrigGling was summarily checked by
tap from n hee-less slipper.
Abingdon and Ware churches are voices
from the colony, and by reason Of age
take precedence Zone brick in the older
part OF Abingdon is stamped 16GO, Slt
other churches OF other denominatiIfs
stand in the different neighborhoods
"Bellamy's." the stronghold OF Metho-
dism, is prosperous.
There one gets a taste OF good odd
time" religion. and old-fashioned ladies'
stu sit In the amen corner and tune
their sweet voices to the strains Of "Old
Hundred" and Coronation"
In ITO Glocester was the most populous
county in Virginia. Thenceforward it
strobe TO the perfection Of it's civilization,
which 1t attained in the closing years Of
the eighteenth and the first sixty-one
years of the nineteenth century. Planta-
lions were young principalities manned by
living machinery, and supplied almost
every article OF home consumption.
The life of a Gloucester planter pos
sessed fantastic independence. He gave
a general supervision TO his affairs, but a
sense OF ownership and mastery added
zest to the burden.
In the morning he scanned his rich fields
on well-groomed thoroughbred; towards
the middle Of the day Joined other plan
tiers at the nearest crossroads, discussed
crops and politics, slipped a social julep
and went home 10 dinner. Dinners were
dinners then. The planter had his own
FISHERMAN, his carpenter and blacksmith.
He sent his corn to Jamaica, and the
same vessel brought back his rum; he
sent his corn to the Madeiras and the
returns were butts Of costly wine. Whis-
ky was not so much drunk in the early
part Of the century; II was the head-mans
tip in morning dram, but the master
made his toddy OF Jamaica rum.
The mistress Of an ante-bellum estab-
llshment had her hands full. Her hus-
band and children people had 70 heap OF
children then puny households OF two
or three were hard 70 md demanded
their just attention. So was the sover-
eign OF a dusky court. and had a PERSONAL
supervision Of every portion Of the do
minion. She set the domestic machinery
in motion and saw that It worked easily.
She looked after her subjects from their
souls 10 their socks. tending the sick,
trying to steer tho moral course Of the
well, praying in simple faith with the
dying.
The chamber" with its "curtalned
bed" and easy chair" was a fayorlte
refuge.
In the evening when the white people
gathered in the drawing room, neat maids.
with bare brown arms and chaste home
spun gowns, cat around its blazing
hearth and knit the peoples" socks
and cracked plantation Jokes I'm the midst
OF weird ghost stories. These old-time
ladies had forcible modes Of expression,
and lot Of thrift and sense.
Sam" said one OF them to a negro
boy, Il believe that you try 10 scatter
my spoons 10 the four-winds OF Heavens,
and ma forks TO the uttermost parts Of
the essth." Sam! when I call you come
to mel II you are moulding money, come
TO nep'
Another truly remarked: "Can q mother
with crowd Of children ever get enough
biscuits or bleach cotton7~
The existence CT n Gloucester planta-
ton BOY was beatinc. He was born with
strong local attachment. The trees for
him has a genealosy He raamed at will
through forest and open land, noting the
new eggs in tho last years birds nest.
listening for the mockins-bird's sweet
song, which came year after gear from
the same blossom laden apple bough.
He knew the fancies OF the beasts. re-
joiced with them at each new birth.
nlourned when they died, and saw that
they had a decent burial. He early
learned TO FISH and shoot. and when he
rode his fathers cob 70 the glorious gen
eral muster" he began to see the light
of his manhoods dawn.
His mothers knee was his Sunday
school, while his fathers lips were the
code of honor and heroism.
This life OF freedom begOt untrammelled
opinions, true manliness and reckless
bravery.
The immense leverage OF abundant
meaEs and ample leisure induced the col
lection OF good private libraries and
love FOR reading.
Boys. whether they liked books or not.
went through the students routine
He beAsn at the 'old field" school-house,
with the other boys Of his nelghborhood.
and usually ended at William and
Mary"
The refining influence Of slavery, wealth,
and education left its mark ~ a COM
munity. which the struggles and poverty
OF twsnty-three years have not rubbed
out.
The Gloucester girls seemed 10 exclaim:
Let rs alone. Why should life all labor
beT
Their maids combed their hair, crimped
their frills and put on their dresses.
They had but TO improve the sorrow
that fell in their way, and make them
selves charming
Fathers carriage was their palace car,
which took them from tidewater 10 the
White Sulphur Springs Father had
ample leisure 90 be their bon comarade"
and courteous beau.
Young men were delightful ndjuncts,
but by no means the perfunctory articles
they have gotten 10 be in 1893
These girls went often TO delicious par
ties, no stately reception, or formal ger
man, whore many a girl qlakes, lest she
might get left. In those happy, go-easy
gatherings nobody was left, but glided
over the floor 10 the negro fiddlers' Jolly
renderings OF the "Snovbird On the Ash
bank and BILLY In the Low-Grounds."
And tbs negroes were b happy lot.