The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-10

neber meant nutin de kind. He were
meanin' to make sassy Syn al
dat stranger buried dar knoWu trect-
~, amt you eDer notice dat man 8
grave? He were good nouSh man, out
he want none OBJ de family, and
marks to Milton de grave Digger, when
he Dig de grave, he didn't hap no riSht
bein' buried wild de family.
THE GRAVEYARD RABBIT.
Well, says L to myself, dar Swine be
plenty oo broad day light fur dis here
niger to finish de job; SO left Off, quit
rgrt den and dar and made fur home
cause 1 reckon how supper wuz ready.
AS 1 comes long de path 'toting my
blade on my shoulder, an turnin ober
in my mind bout dat rabbit sittin jam
up by de Presidents tombstone, my
Betty, dat ch.Ie yonder. she come runnln,
and say, Paw. paw, when Sam Che my
SOM tried sleer de crows out yer corn
field, he wound and done ketched
mighty curious bird
Nothin' more what 'spect wild de
warnin' I done hab. and dar he! Look
at dem mournful black eyes and dat bill!
'spressly like a nose, he got de 'spres-
sion oh a real bein', sides, de grave
yard rabbit done warn me wild de luck
foot, and 1 knowd him de minute / sot
my eyes on him. Dis lis de President
sure! He won't touch no worms nor birds
victUals not sabe Yer life. If yer git him
meat he gw-ne chaw it up, same like he
got teeth and hawk hit out he mouf like
a man would 'bacCo juice. Now, who in
glory cher hyeard OBJ a natural bird like
dat?
I done Kilt q sight oh varmints in my
time, shoot vile turk'y an partridge all
day, and when night come take my dawg
an go hunt fur 'possum an COON all up
in dem mountains. I knows cherry track
OBJ ground from Peters Mountain to
Merry Scotts. but I amt neber crossed
nothin' look like dis. Fur dis. dis nin't
no bird. dis done beat all, its de President
hisse1. done hab to come back to try
to rect'fy things-cause de place done
passed 'tirely out de family hands, he
couldn't rest an 'bliged to come; an he
.shakin' his head an sayin to hisself SO
sorrowful: 1t won't do! It won't do
GRAND OLD MANSION.
After seeing ode bird 1 went to see for
myself the earthly tabernacle of the
spirit OF the past.
Montpelier, the home Of James Madison,
from 1909 to 1917 President az the United
States, is one of the handsomest places
in Virginia. The elegant succeed house
with it's large white columns looming UP
as a witness of the past wealth OF VirS-
inians. Situated on a beautiful plateau,
the house commands an extensive view
Of the Blue Ridge Mountains, notWth-
standing the extensive grove OF chestnut,
walnut and other trees that surround it.
The remnant OF an avenue of pines leads
from the house to the curious combina-
ton of a summer-house with ice-pit be-
meath, while near by squirrels play in one
of natures delIs. The graceful weeping
willow at the lawn gate seems to guard
the spot from the intrusion of the
stranger.
To the side Cta the back lawn is the old
fashioned terraced garden. it's lockwood
walks nearly grown together. while the
Virginia creeper and honeysuchled arbors,
an lead one back into the Past, to those
who planned and planted these beauties,
to those VINO are resting in the grave
yard near by.
In a field not far from the house is
the burying ground: there a simple
granite shaft, inscribed with just the
name MADISON" and the dates cff his
birth and death, marks the grave OF
the great statesman. Behind this monu
ment, in a sunken spot, overrun with
periwinkle,> is buried Dolly Payne. the
great beauty of the White House-the
woman who, in the War OF 1872, rescued
and preserved The Declaration OF indie
pendence"