Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-25
EARLY VIRGINIA HISTORY. q
COLCHESTER ON THE OCC0QUAN.
Continued
81


No. q.
The region around Colchester now
overgrown with pines, cedars and sedge
grass or yielding but meagre returns to
the small farmer with his scattered
patches of corn and market products,
were then planted in the old Virginia
staple, and as prices were mostly good
in the European markets, the planter
prospered under his cheap labor sys-
tenn and exemption from oppressive
taxation and had money to spend at
store and tavern. In 175S healthy De-
gro boys arrived in the colony tor the
plantations. They were bought for
from 20 to 80 pounds sterling and aduite
from 40 to so pounds, and tobacco OF
first quality commanded from 10 to ~
shiIlings per hundredweigh'.
Tn Colchester occurred the circum
stance related of parson Weems, when
he unexpectedly filed the role OF tid-
dler for a strolIing show of "Pucch aud
Judyn in the absence of the regular mu:
sican. A large audience, composed
chiefly of the parsons psrishioners, had
assembled to witness the performance,
bnt at the eleventh hour 1t was found
hat the company's fiddler had been i'm
bjhiug too much rum" or III Madeira .
accompany the play with harmony cf
sweet sounds. SO, knoGing that
| Weems. who was 30 sorry player, was
on the ground, the Snowman was only
too glad to press his reverence il fer
the emergency and it was not long be-
fore everything was going merry as q
marriage bell. But unluckiy one Of
the crowd, too curious in such matters,
lust before the close of the play, rails
| Ing the curtaiu, disclosed to view The
familiar face of the jovial and merry
making parson. But the disclosure, in
stead Of working to his discredit, was
promptly and considerably overlooked
and forgiven when he came forward
with bland and smiling countenance
and told the audience by way OF expia-
nation of his little irregularity that "oui
of kindness and the purest of motives
he had determined that they
should not be disappointed in
an innocent amusement. WeemS
was termed the "iddling parson," P"
and the story goes that like
| good old Lyman Beecher, OF New Eug
land. he was as much at home in tue
semi.uuavers and demi-semi quavers of
the iig and the hornpipe as in the slow
er and more staid measures of hymn
and psa!mody. 1t is related of him
that on Saturday night he would =
pair to the mansion nearest the church,
and as soon as the evening meal was
| over and he had officiated with due
solcmnity at prayers, which came di-
rectly after supper. he would proGuce
his violin and according as the season
permitted, in the parlor, the hall or
on the portico would entrance the as
sembled auditory with performance
which long remained the delight OF the
story teller and traditional model 10
all ambitious fiddlers. He was particu
lsrly pleased with the scores of sable
listeners who were won't 10 crowd un-
der the windows or in the passages; tor
i he knew we'll that the more they We're
delighted with bis music the more ce:-
tain they were to be at church service
next Sunday.
Our parson of Truro parish was doubt
less a sincere, enthusiastic, honest
Clergyman. the enemy of gambling, in
temperance and most Of the prevailing
vices of his day against which he wrote
books which had great popularity, going
through many editions, and he is SAID
to have been the genial and winning
advocate Of virtue and religion, the
warmth of his heart and his many kind
ly offices endearing him to the people
| of al! classes wherever he went ana
preparing them to give fond ear TO
his fervid appeals for truth. Above all
he was an ardent patriot whose enthusl=
asm for the liberties Of mis- country IL IN
was the master passion of his soul. He
was no ascetic, and did not go his ways
moping and grooming in spirit because
of the ills of life around him. His
"odor of sanctltyn that he left with his
vestments In the sacrisiy offended no
one.
OF the eccentric but we'll meaning
and striving parson whose dust rests
unmarked in the family buryiug
oronnd of historic Belle Air mansion,
but a short distance from Occoquan,
we NAV perhaps speak as did the poet
Goldsmith of the preacher of the I'D :
serted Village ofAuburu;"
"1Tnskill!ul he to fawn or seek FOR power,
By doctrine fashion'd 10 the varying hou';
Far other aims his heart had learned tc prize
Mora hen, bent to raise the wretched than to liso
His house was known 10 all the ysgFan'
Ho child their wanderings, but relieved thei'
The long remembered beggar was his guest
"The ruined spendthrift row no longer PROUD
O,aim'd kindred there and had his c!a IN a.
lowed.
ploasd with his guests the good man loaTned
to glow,
And onite forgot their viccs in their woe.
Those were quaint times, times o.
large moral aud religious license. Inc
morals were loose, aud permitted wi"e
departure from the more rigor' u'
standards of our straight Laced times
Church observances were kept UP II
strict conformity with the traditional