Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-18

The Christmas story i am going 70 'o''
is not a story OF to-day. The incidents
occurred about a century and half ago.
Yut the descendants OF at least two OF
thu characters tell the story every CHRIST
mas. and TO them the Incidents py
reason Of being so often recounied, seem
ever fresh.
In the southern portion OF Rockbridge
county, on the south bank OF the james
river 10 Arnolds valley. Hemmed in on
every side by lofty mountains, save iOi
a narrow outlet at the river, the scenery
IN thu little valley Is an odd combana-
ton OF the wild and the peaceful ana
as picturesque as any portrayed ny
Charles Egbert Craddock. when de-
scrfbing the gIens and gorges OF tho
Great Smokes. The valley Is about seven
miles In length; in breadth at us "luese
part II is little over mile. AZ us up
ner. or southern end, the mountains close
IN ana there is little more OF valley than
Is occupied by noisy brook that rises
from a large spring in the bosom Oh
Panther Knob
The inhabitants OF the valley DO not
number 500. IL would not help the story
along in the least TO undertake 10 ue-
scribe their character, collectively sur
fee II 10 say that the church. when
stands near the centre or the COM
muni;y. has long been in such ollaPi-
dated condition that services IN IN
bad weather are hardly possible ahu
that the Magistrate who resides III tne
big brick house overlooking the river
down al the entrance to the valley, holds
his court nearly every day. Inc NE
OF the people in the valley Is primitive
In fine extreme Tho splnning-wheel ana
the loom have not yet disappeared from
among them. and. as rule, DOCKS anu
pnpers are by no means common WITH
them. They farm little, and hunt, ana
FISH n great deal. In this way they
manage 10 live. careless or tomorrow II
there be enough rat meat and cornineai
in the house to supply the needs OF one
day; wildly happy If the supply be sur
acjent IN last T. week. Their chief
amusements are going to church, TO corn
huskings. and TO dances. The naturally
gregarious instincts OF human kind move
them TO enjoy all three.
Rut the story. Arnold's Valley was
settled some time between 1l25 ana low
The date is unknown. One spring cay
the ring of the white mans axe ana the
crack of his rifle were heard I'm the Vahey
for the first time. And TIE SOUND Vi
the axe was heard for several days. ior
the white man was putting up a capih
for himself and his wife
The man was Frank Arnold. lie ana
bis wife came tc the valley from Apo
nottox county. She was his bride. a
few weeks before reaching the valley he
had married her and scarcely had the
clergyman pronounced them man fnd
wife ere they struck out towards the
setting sun. There is no record OF lher
object I'm leaving the old home so hur-
riedly. or of their wanderings before
they reached the valley where u was
determined TO build their cabin. lmagl-
nation can easily picture the naruShIps
undergone by the woman as sne ac-
COMMANDED her husband through the IN
trodden road OF the wilderness the Can
gers besetting them day and night as
tbev wandered through a land peopied
only by savage beasts and more savage
men. But history is silent.
THE pair soon had their rude cabih
erected and furnished after the tashion
of pioneers. They had packed with thenl
faw absolute necessities I'm the way o.
bedding and the simplest utensils. as
for others, they improvised them lne
best way possible. or went without IN
the small clearing about the CABIN corr
and vegetables were planted. MIS- NJ
nold-Rosa was her name--dld the most
NJ the work involved In cultivating the
crop Arnold was a great hunter. lie
and his dogs spent all their days In the
woods. and occasionally their nights as
we'll leaving Mrs Arnold In the lonely
cabin bv herself. <,..
Arnold was a rough honest fearless
backwoodsman. He seems 10 nave peer
in many respects a fair type OF tne
hardy pioneer. He was not goou nus
hand. Rosa soon discovered that. he
was ill-tempered and norose his anec'
tions were centered on his dogs, ana MS
.un and the pleasures OF the chase
rather than on the brave little woman
who had followed him into the wider
ness he was not pleasant companion
with his brooding disposition, ana con
slant fault-fnding. Though Rosa was II
agonies of fear during the long nights
yrhen he was away in the mountains
she was glad to have him absent
The couple lived In this way until owe
a year had passed. Another suiii NM
had come and gone, and October wa
Wanting tha leaves OF the forest TN
GORGEOUS hues he loves best. one osl
Arnold went away TO Lynch's FERRY
thev call II I.ynchburg now-tmrty mhe'
down the river. II was only htt'
trading post then, at which was stoi'
and a half dozen houses Arnolc CARRIE
a load Of skins. which he was 10 TRACE
for powder and lead. and such neceesl
Ties as they could not improvise al nome
Though Rosa enjoyed having nm sone
she grew very lonesome as the IOn'
shadows began creeping across the val
lev. She was naturally umid, ana what
ever of physical courage she possessse'
,,as tha result OF long experience IN IN
xvtlaerness. She was seated on YOGI
nv the spring not far from the door, pen
sivelv gazing out over the forest, AM
on to Thunder Hin, In the background
lifting lis crest four feet higher thah IN
Peaks of otter, not many miles away
she was probably dwelling on her napp!
days IN the settlers cabin in Appomat
tox. the home Of her girlhood, and re
GREETING having followed Frank ArnoI
into the wilderness, step which ma
made of a pretty young girl in ola an
saddened woman. The tears were lalnn
fast, when she heard voice behino mel
Good evening, madam.
sho sprang to her feet with scream
IL had been nearly year since she ma
heard a human voice. save her ow
and her husbands. Turning, rhe SAY
a man standing only few feet away
He was dressed In the garb or a hunter
a buckskin hunting-shirt and trousers
and moccasins Of the same-and carrie
a long fiint-lock rife. Rosa could no
speak. and could hardly stand, she wa
SO frightened.
al aid not mean to brighten you" sal
the stranger, standing with his bearski
cap In his hand. II did not know ther
was q house within many mile or me
and I wanted TO ask the privilege Q
- AA~ a Il