Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-03
MrNIsTERs OF THE GOSPEL.

described as pathetic. Good heavens
said spectators, lis this all OF the Forty
fourth Georgian
MINISTER'S OF THE GOSPEL.
But while Beaver Dam Is historic as
n scene of one OF our most terrinc
battles, from under that old roof have
gone forth no less than nine ministers OF
the Gospel. DIR. William 8. White has
left to the Church Dr. George William
White, OF Moorfsld, w. Va, and DR..
Henry NJ. White, OF Winchester. DR..
George White has son. Rev. Ashlin
White, of Girardstown. Dr. Henry M.
White has two sons-Rcv. William Nc
White, OF Richmond. and Rev. X. w.
White, a missionary to China. DR.. Will
liam s. White had another son who was a
seminary student--the gallant Captain
Hugh white--kllled at Manassas. Mr.. z.
B. White has a son, DIR. Thomas Ward
White, now of Texas. And from the
same old home. /, too. have come 10
preach the same Gospel. which was
learned Of our parents at Beaver Dam.
Near Cold Harbor stands the house
where my father was born. and not far
from the house there is a graveyard.
surrounded by a brick wall, with a half
circle brick along the top. There sleep
the generations OF my forefathers. In
that enclosure is buried Mr.. James
Hooper, and at his funeral Rev. Samuel
Darius officiated. In 17oi, and preached
a most powerful sermon dn his pub
llshed sermons) on the text selected by
the good man before his death, i. Peter,
w., IS.
AN EPISODE.
In the winter OF 1850 was snow-bound
for a time at Marion. Smyth county.
Soon after my arrival a gentleman, 10
years of age. Mr.. Thomas Thurmond,
sought an introduction 10 me, stating
that we were distant cousins. At first I
was incredulous. but while recent events
soon passed away from his memory. the
smallest events of fifty or sixty years
ago seemed indelible. He said his
mother was a Hooper, and was born
near Cold Harbor and that a sister of
hers married a DrewefG, who owned the
Falls Plantation" opposite Richmond.
He accurately described the house, the
cedar lane, and the graveyard enclosed
with a brick wall. round on the top, al
though he had not seen the place for
fifty years. He then said, with a pc
culiar look. what become OF Miss Sally
Kidd?" Hesitating moment, I asked.
How old would she be now?' About
IS years DID," "Oh yes" said !. "she
Is a member OF my church, and We call
her old Mrs. Hugh Watt. and her son
George Is my brother-in-law, and two
OF her daughters married my uncles-
John and Richardson Haw."
Lost In thought for a moment, the old
man looked up. and. with chuckllng
laugh, said: II courted that girl once.
| met her at Colonel Atklnson's funeral,
and fell in love with her on sight.
managed to go home with her to dinner.
and was so dead in love that ! courted
her. She kicked me. but she kissed me"
AS soon as | returned home | made a
pastoral visit. found the old lady as
prim and precise as the old Virginia
matrons were wont to be. She always
called me Thomas, and had a very sue>
gestive prayer she often circulated when
annoyed. THE Lord give me patiencer'
/ told her of my trip TO Southwest Vir-
ginia, and incidentally remarked that
I met an old friend OF hers, rather an
old beau. a Mr. Thomas Thurmond.
THE Lord give me patiencer' instantly
exclaimed the dear old lady. with a
blush to the roots OF her gray hair
YES" she said. II remember meeting
him at Colonel Atkinson's funeral"
And" said I. got your father to invite
him home TO dinner" mo such thing,
sir: he managed to get an invitation and
came" Yes" said I. "and courted
your what II he did?" with a quick
fash. and without the prayer. "Oh. no.
thing I'm the world" said l. but there Is a
mystery about It. He says you promptly
discarded him, but that you kissed him.
| want you to explain that" With all
the honest Indignation of a virtuous
maidenhood flashing back over fifty years
she said: "Well, he told you lie. sir:
he asked me to kiss him. but declined.
The Lord give me patiencer
L honestly believe she did. But zone
touch of nature makes all the world
akin"
Visions Of childhood, stay. 0 stayI
fe are so sweet and wild;
"A voice from out the future cries
Away! Away! You are no more a
I childT' ....- ...s--zS-sl r. w. III.