Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-10
Meyers Big Dry Goods Store.

one side rises large projecting rock
covered with liohens and Wild clingins
vines. and out of a crevice In its side
far above the ground, rushes forth
clear cold stream OF tho sweetast end
purest Of chalybeate waters. THIS
spring Is, indeed. n lonely spot The
scenery around II IL wild. yet soothing
and pleasant. A streamlet trickles forth
from the spring, sparkling as II loses
itself amid the wild lilies and May
apples that grow all tangled and matted
in its bed, until It fnds at last the river,
flashing far down toward the South.
On warm summer days picnickers
sometimes find their way to this place
(pity 'twere not oftener), and spend a
halliday or more enjoying the splendid
water and tho pleasant shade Such n
place as Rock Spring Is more inspiring
than the grandest works OF art. NO.
thing can touch the heart like the deep
simplicity OF a scene tinted and proper
toned by natures master hand; for
"Who can paint
Like Nature? Can imagination boast.
Amid it's gay creation hues like hers?
Or can It mix them with that matchless
skill,
And lose them I'm each other. as appears
In every bud that blowsT'
But there is a coarse. mechanical side
10 Woods mountains history. Ruskin
would groan TO know that such n place
mad been bored into, dug. and torn by
miserable wretches, searching for that
base metal. iron. Yes; three or four
deep pits remain-though now nearly hid
demand around them are scattered red
dish and black chunks OF what Is said
to be the finest OF specular ores. The
specializing company found the metal
here in large quantities, but abandoned
the place for lack OF transportation ia
cuities There IL not n railroad I'm eight
miles Can n cor~try ever be expected
10 prosper under circumstances such as
these2
A BURYING-GROUND.
Some months ago was informed that
n small burying-ground had been dis
covered by some one on the top OF one
OF the most unfrequented portions or the
mountains; and, in the company or n
friend. who had visited the place. de-
termined TO 20 and find out something
more definite about this last resting
Mace of some poor unknown. and for
gotten mortas. We climbed the high.
messy rocks and steep decliyiues. until.
at last we reached the spot-a httls
sunny glade. Immediately on the TOP or
a tall wooded ridge. far or from any
of man. The ground was covered with
a thick growth OF arbor vitae. which had
choked out the smaller underground OF
all kinds. and which made the place APP
near somewhat Ike a modern burying-
ground. There seemed 10 have been
several graves there but we could see
distinct traces Of only one. Al the head
OF this one was rough stone, and Inn
mediately behind the stone a tall oak
tree-perhaps grown up since the grave
was made. Behind the rough head
stone I'm a receptacle, made for II. was
a little soapstone slab. about 6xs inches
I'm size. and cut into this I'm plain let
ters was the inscription. "Edmd Wood;
ID. 1885," ,--
have spent many an hour deciphering
tba fnecrinti0ns upOn the tombstoneS
around the old historic town at James
town and IN the Bruton churchyard al
WILLIAMSBURG. but l must confess that
was never so moved by any OF the antiqui-
ties which / found there as j was oy THIS
little stone. hidden away In the wilds or
buckingham. Here, FAR up on the head
waters OF the AppOmattox, even now wiid
and romantic. 1870 years ago died Edmund
wood AT this time the section must
have been wild and sparrely peopied.
There were a few stray Indians. no doubt.
ana many wild animals 10 contend VIM
and Edmund Wood was one OF the pion-
GERS who helped 10 bring the land under
subiection. To his name LEI there be
honor While Botetourt and Dinwiddie
ro,Iea IN their carriages OF state through
The streets OF williamsburg, Edmund
Wood was away UP here on the iFontier
conouerlng and subduing the Wilderness
Here, with his little family, ne hved ana
died.
"Far from the madding crowds isnooie
strife. g.,
Their sober wishes never learned to
.,o,s the cool. sequestered vale OF life
they kept the noiseless tenor OF their
way"
rrron inquiry ! have found that the de-
.,spSants OF Edmund Wood moved 10 the
Syess many. many years ago, leaving BE-
,,rd them not even the remains OF the
cahs, An which they lived; and these aibor
ss,ae vines and the roughly carved tomb
stone are all that remain 10 tell that tale
OF the long. long ago.
ro-night. as I write. I can hear lone
owl as he boots far on towards Woods
mountain. He Is keeping vigiis. perhaps.
over the lonely grave OF the baekwoodss
man. the pioneer. the hero. EDMUND Wood.
~ Pr