The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-27
GATHERING OF THE CLANS.
The Reunion of the McNeill Family an Oc-
casion Long to be Remembered.

Fayetteville. N. c., July 26.-(SpeciaD
Down on Rockfish, in the county Oh
Cumberland, fifty-seven of the descend
ants of the late Sheriff Hector MCNEIL
met in q happy reunion at Ardlessa'
seven miles south of Fayetteville
Thursday, July oath.
With very few exceptions all OF the
children and grandchildren and great
grandchildren of the "old sheriff. as he
is lovingly called by his friends, were
present. | took the trouble to count the
names on the register and found in
addition to the fifty-seven who are direct
ly connected with the family, thirty zone
others from seven States. from Massa-
chusetts to Texas. The children of this
old and honored family are as follows:
Mr.. Neill Mcneil. of Parkton; Mr.. Alex.
Mcneil. of Wade; DR.. ]. w. Mcneil,
formerly of Fayetteville, but now living
at the old homestead; Mrs. Ann Nc
Geachy, Miss Sallie Mcneil, Mrs d. p.
McEachern, and Mrs. DR.. McKnnon, of
Red Springs, and Mrs. Archibald Johnson,
of Thomasville.
The beautiful country home, where
this large and influential family were
reared, has been greatly improved by
DIR. Mcneil. its present owner 1t is
one of the lovelest homes in Cumber-
land county, standing just beyond the
Rockfsh bridge which spans both the
creeks bearing this name, on hill with
a commanding sweep to the north and
west; but the glory of the old home is
gone. The old man and woman, who for
fifty years, dealt justly, loved mercy and
walked humbly with their God, are gone.
Many a travel-stained stranger found a
warm and cordial wecome in this fine
old home of gentle courtesy and grace.
But the children are not unmindful of
the fine lessons they learned here and
they are bearing the rich and mellow
fruit, the seeds of which were sown
right here in their young hearts and
lives.
To these children this day was one of
rare and tender joy. To come from dis
-tant sections of the State and clasp
hands once more in the old home: to
walk arm in arm over the bridge where
they frolicked as children, to stoop down
and drink at the sping which tumbles
out of the hill and falls into the creek
which flows hard by-these things flooded
their lives with a thousand tender
memories which the others did not feel.
Why do not brothers and sisters oftener
go back home together?
But to all, the occasion was radiant
1t was one of those bright and beautiful
epochs in our lives which leave their
impress upon us forever, and to which
we look back the rest of our days with
sweet and tender joy. Under the spread
ing trees, whose shade softened the
sunlight and broke it into bright frag-
ments this reunited family enjoyed an
old fashioned dinner. IT was a company
of Scotch people, but nothing stronger
was served than Adams ale, which
flowed from the spring mentioned above
One of the many virtues of these chill
dren, young and old, is their strong and
unyielding adherence to the principles
of temperance.
The glad hours flew by on the wings
of music and merriment. 1t was alto
gether informal and questionable"
There was hearty good cheer and pleas
ant repartee, but nobody wore stills. 1t
was, in short, an old-time reunion of
friends long parted who love each other
without pretending. Georgia contributed
Miss Flora Boyce Pennsylvania sent Miss
Elizabeth Davidson Texas was there in
the person of Miss Sudie Dickinson.
Many other Scotch lassies" graced the
occasion, including the charming cor
respondent of the Fayetteville Observer.
who writes under that nam de plume
The lads Sand the lassies made a great
day of it to be sure and so did those
who have recovered from the follies into
which boys and girls do so often stray.
At night there was a serenade by the
village band, a good deal of very light
literature by the above mentioned young
ladies and gentlemen. Some goo-goo
eyes, perhaps, peradventure a promise
or two, and the curtain falls and the
players leave the stage.