The National tribune., 1899-10-05

mountain, spur, and hillock, and with
the picturesque village of Wavneshnrn
Immediately on the left. Here We eat two
chicken legs, two rolls of bread, or biscuit,
slice of broiled mutton, and sigh for
dram of buttermilk, as We note with tender
feelings the front of the village hotel.
WHITE OAK LICK.
"All aboard" and we commence the
winding and down grade to Staunton, Is
miles away, and on arriving put up at the
American Hotel, formerly owned by DIR.
McChesney and Col. Nadenbousch After
resting all night, we take conveyance to
Stribling Springs, some IA miles west
ward, and there mine host will furnish
us with spring wagon managed by
young friend and brother who is of the
color of an Isle of Wight ham.
A ride of about nine miles around the
picturesque little mountain on which the
hotel is situated, and beyond, we reach a
little fairy gap in a ridge, and passing
through We enter the famous little circular
valley known as White Oak Lick. There
are only four families occupying this little
Eden, three white families and one black
and all living in perfect harmony and
happy accord.
We know not how many of the family of
Uncle Jimmy we shall find living, but
We proceed to the right 100 yards or So
cross the prettiest little river you ever saw,
and 100 or 200 yards further, in n gentle
opening, near the road, and at the very
foot of the Great Bad Mountain, stands
the comfortable and substantial house of
Uncle Jimmy Todd The first floor and
main part Of the building is built of per-
fectly squared logs, filled in with cement,
giving it the general appearance of very
solid structure, the roof and ends of
good Notwithstanding.
An outhouse for his horse, with crib
attached, was about all there was when
l was last there, some years ago, except
the dwelling house referred TO. About 80
yards back is a large, nicely-arranged
spring house, and a magnificent spring
coming from rocky spur of Bald Mount
ain. Behind the spring and spring house
is the Great Bald Mountain, nearly four
miles high from the road below, and clothed
with every variety Of foliage, tree, shrub,
and wild flower that the most active mind
can well conceive.
Around the base of this superlatively
grand mountain there is canyon after
canyon leading into the mountain for
hundreds Of yards, and convcrging towards
its center like unto the spokes OF a cart
wheel, opening broad from the base and
gradually narrowing towards the Great
Bald.
But two or three persons have ever climb
ed TO the summit of Bald Mountain, Uncle
Jimmy never having reached it but two or
three times during his lifetime. During
the last 10 years or 50 | have heard that
Uncle Jimmy has passed from earth 10
the heavens above. where his reward, | feel
will be great indeed
The rumor of his death, which reached
me, and other indirect information, leaves
but little doubt of the news being correct;
but doubtless there are many of his chill
dren, now grown and milddle-aged, who
arc living at the old place.
When secession was first agitated in
Virginia Uncle Jimmy gave the doctrine
no countenance and withheld his approval.
and when the State seeded, and was
dragged into the Confederacy, Uncle Jimmy
spoke that all might hear, opposing the
monstrous doctrine of dissolution of the
Union, asserting that the United States
Government had never oppressed him;
that he was contented in his mountain
home, with his wife and children, and gun
and dogs. But, said the Secessionist
Uncle Jimmy, the Confederate Government
will, sooner OF later, compel you, OF your