Milford chronicle., 1903-01-09


Harrington once more warmly greeted
us to Old Virginia.
1t was Saturday evening, and it was
only little time before "Buddyu and
Marshall were investigating every
building from the barn to the pig-stv.
and from the dairy to the duck house.
and as we unpacked and proceeded to
. investigate mixture of su gar, water
and little Christmas cheer to prevent
our taking cold, the call to supper sum
mOned us below stairs.
There are several fine arts spoken of
!. by those who write history; but the
greatest and most potent art for the
elevation of the human race, is that of
cooking and in their special line the
people of Old Virginia are past masters.
At that table we boldly waded into
everything set before us but our prin-
cipal recollection is of a large dish of
"back- bone" hanked by cold catsup,
corn bread and fine butter.
Old "Nobe, ," a bull deg, md bob"
a large st. Bernard, materially aided
US in hiding the evidence of our work
at the table-but the limit came at last:
and-well never mind. At late hour
after talking over old times beside a
red-hot stove, we went TO our room,
and while the flames were roaring up
the chimney, we slept.
On the Island Farm a tract of
5000 acres it requires a large number
of men to do even the choirs. There
are 19 horses aud mules, 60 cattle, Il
sheep, 40 hogs, 300 turkeys, $50 geese
and a legion of ducks to feed twice
each day; beside the wood to provide
for seven stoves. To do This and other
work, seven men are employed by the
month, and in harvest ahd thrashing
season as many as thirty day hands
are required. The farm produced last
year 5000 bushels of wheat, 1900 bushels
of corn, about 1000 bushels of oats
these are fed on the place large guam
titles of white potatoes and COW peas be-
sides hay.
All of this is looked after by Mrs.
Harrington who plans all and person.
ally looks to see that her ideas are
carried out. Pretty big job for wo-
man only AZ years old, and one that
seven farmers out of ten would make
failure to get profit out Of
There are I7O acres seeded to wheat
the island this fall, which looks ex-
ceptionally fine; and very large acre
age of winter oats, afford fine feeding
grounds for wild geese that settle in
large hocks - aggresating hundreds
which feed during the daytime.
On Sunday the ice prevented going
to church, as the roads on the river bot
toms of Virginia are almost impassa-
BILE at the best of times during the win
ter season. The boys put on hip boots
aud with 'Jule" to the two wheeled
cart made a trip to Warsaw; but Mr..
Chamberlain and myself were content
to walk over the farm-a no small Job;
but one we much enjoyed.
The weather became calm and much
warmer on MOnday-much to our dis
appointment, and cunning for geese
and ducks was failure. Quail shoot
ing occupied the time very well, though,
and on Tuesday we were joined by
Mr.. Walter Harris, but the weather
proved repetition of Monday, and
Wednesday was simply a repetition of
the others.
Wednesday evening, in company
with our hostess and Mr.. Mcdaniel, of
Rappahannock, we attended wedding
at Warsaw, in which former Della
warean, Mr. Martin, was the bride
groom. 1t was a very pretty affair,
and we all felt a desire to kiss the bride:
but an intimation that the custom
didn't prevail any more in Virginia.
caused us to desist from making the
attempt
The New Year was welcomed in
right royalty at the Island Farm. A
wild turkey hunt failed to add to our
small string Of game; and, as a num-
Der Of our old friends had gathered. a
shoot at a mark for turkeys served to
make time pass quickly.
Friday morning we started home.
where we arrived in good time Satur-
day night, after having enjoyed visit
with friends in Old Virginia.
Under all our pleasure there under
lied the realization of the fact, that the
voice we loved is hushed, and in the
beautiful old Episcopal churchyard at
Warsaw, in Virginia soil, there lies the
form of our our friend aud comrade in
many DAYS pleasure-Henry Har-
rington.
God in thy tender kindness, watch
over and make happy those whom he
has left behind, and so teuderly loved
and cared for. THEO. TDwNsE,Vn