The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-01

darkness and calling us up from tn
lethargy. in which sleep imprisons us
to the realization Of what b0untifu
Providence has bestowed. 'Falsel,
luxurious we miss the richest Gu
of blessing in not beholding the earl
unfolding Of the day. and in not quah
ing the invigorating fragrance of III
early morning air.
Swayed by the inspiration u sucI
an hour. we essayed not long ago {
quote a portion Of Thompsons Seasons
to all old lady, who quickly said
yes, seems to me fried meat do smell
sweeter early in the morning than a
any other time Then we droppe'
our idealism and rushed into the real
ism Of preparing breakfast.
The coming fourth Of July mean
much enjoyment to the pleasure lover
IT this county.
Excursions and picnic parties ar
contemplated "a big time" at Wheal
ton; a gathering Of colored society a
the fair grounds but the most attractive
OF all will be the gathering at Lancas
ter, o. H., when the Lawson Bal
Camp will meet, and the portraits II
the Courthouse will be unveiled
Among these noted pictures is the
munifcent gift Of Judge I K b
Wright. Of Mary Ball-"an oil paint
ing from the portrait Of Prof 5. +. d
Morse. loar e / to Mr. Benson Losing
and the only picture of Mary, the
mother Of Washington, which can be
accepted "
Our citizens are hoping that Judge
Wright will also present his OWL
portrait on that day, as he has taken
such interest in this movement.
Our Courthouse will resemble 9
picture gallery. if all the prominent
men and women who have claimed
this as their natal place. are to be rep
resented there.
Colonel Robert Carter was an active
public official in colonial days or in the
Golden Age Of Virginia, as John
Eston Cooke termed it. but if we are tC
have non officials and women. why not
present the portrait Of Mrs Henrietta
Shuck. the gifted missionary to Chine
and daughter Of the late Rev Addison
Hall;
The Lancaster vets will be happy or
the Fourth. when they compare theil
own condition and privileges with those
worthless on the walls, for only think
Of the tedious sittings to have one:
portrait taken in past days, and all that
our veterans need to do is to stand
front face before the camera, should
ers thrown back and trying to look just
as pretty as they possibly can. All yes
happier far than the old royalist, King
Carter, was with all his wealth. fol-
we wonder if the eyes of those old Ian.
oastrians were ever illumined by a pro-
phetic ray, an underlined vision, OF A
Father Of His Country T." We do not
doubt but that the pictures will prove
an inspiration towards the patriotism SC
essential 10 the success Of Fourth OF
July fete, and that our orators will be
equal to the occasion.
While we write we listen to the whis-
tie and distant hum Of the steam
thresher. The yield Of wheat in this
section is said to be rather disappoint-
ing this summer, as well as the Irish
potatoes, Of which the vines are luxu-
RANT, but not potato to be found.
The insects are almost az bad on the
general vegetation as last summer the
cabbage suffering from the depredations
Of both ants and spiders.
Mrs. Burwell and her sister, Mrs.
Harvey Gresham, have both been sick,
but are now much better.
Armistead Williams, a prominent
man among the colored people. died a
few days ago, and long procession,
mostly members Of Beulah meeting
house, followed him to his final home.
Mr.. Warner Balls best horse was
badly wounded a short time ago by re-
ceiving a deep cash in her stomach
while in the marsh.
Mr.. Roswell Brown informed us not
long ago that his parents were married
in 1889. Only think sixty years of
married life, and few can claim as
many happy years in each others love,
and above all, in the love Of God, IS
Judge Brown and his dear wife
This scribe owns motherly hen
whose example might be followed by
those calling themselves human beings.
During one of our severe storms, not
long ago, a hen with large brood be-
came frightened. and flying right and
left at every peal Of thunder fled pre-
cipitately into howell leaving her
flock utterly demoralized, to receive the
fury Of the storm unprotected. The
rain fell in torrents upon their poor
little defenceless heads, and locking
through the window at them,
we were sure they would all be
drowned: but hen made Of
sterner stuff, seeing their predicament,
flew from her place of refuge towards
them. and calling them in hen Ian
guage, in a short while gathered the
poor, half drowned. frightened chicks
under her own broad wings, and moth
cred them until the storm was past.
The strangest part is she was not set.
ting hen, nor has she had brood this
summer.
Miss Flora Ohowning left Saturday