The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-07-28
Mr.. COWEGToR AND HIS TRAVELS
ons Of. His Characteristic Letters

-AFt'AA O. HAA. -
Well here | am in Culpeper again, after
delightful trip to Essex and vicinity
God bless those dear people Gown there
for extending 10 me such hospifalitv.
1 went IN the courtroom at Tappahan-
mock, and II is a complete museum. ]
understand Judge 4. X b. Wright Is en-
titled To the credit of il. Good for him
had no idea 1t was so Interesting until
| visited IT,
! see lew stones and COW swinger in
the middle oi the street here. | wonder
II they are going to put the Confederate
monument there, after waiting some ;
or 10 years since the first money was
subscribed? The'one at King William
{. h. Is beautiful. / saw the names OF
Co. ii, 9th Va. Cav. upon 1t. | remem-
bered many of them, and IL made sad.
ness creep through me- | wonder # the
John Andrew Clarkson monument will
ever be erected, after so much publica-
tion?
While 10 Essex l visited 81 families
win great pleasure. Such noble Young
men as Robt. Hutchinson, VIM +. Dur
nam and myself, not u single one of
which drink, chew, smoke, snuff. sneeza
sling rocks, or cuss." How noble IN
those dear boys, and what good exam
pies they are setting to the world. God
bless them-eleven In all. Boys, keep We
steadiast; you will be richly rewarded
for It.
visited Rev. J. w. Durham. OF Man
chester. he has splendid place. and at
the Methodist Orphanage at Richmond
had fun with the children. | wish our
preachers would go to see thosecb liren
One hundred and two were there. AID / ;
had been sent to farms for a short
while.
visited Orange. and a lot of beautiful
houses have been put up there in the les {
twelve months
We had a terrific hail storm here Wed
nesday, blowing down trees aud several
houses. No one was hurt. Some of the
corn crops and gardens were ruined by
the storm.
| had thought that the disfranehise-
rnent oil the negro good thing, but It is
not 80, for find politics as currupt as
ever. A man who will buy a vote will
sell his own. | can say with clear con.
science never did buy vote in all nv
lille, although I've taken my buggy and
carriage and conveyed voters to the
polls. ieel so thankful never did. No
man can say that ever gave him a cent
TO vote, although was q member Of the
county Democratic committee for years
and resigned. | AIN now a member of
the State Republican committee. and
since I've been a Republican have never
used any improper method to obtain
votes, and | never intend to. Taft men
are In abundance everywhere I've been
In Virginia, and I've Travelled over 10 or
Il counties recently.
We had another fine rain Thursday.
/ spent nearly 8 months in south Da-
kota, and It is the richest soil ever saw
There Is not hundred acres anywhere
In Essex county that will average with
the entire State. While | was there /
thought much Of my dead wife and what
loving mother she made, and how low
Ing my mother used to be to me. and
these beautiful lines came 80 me:
Backward, turn back ward. O time In
your fight.
Make me a child again Just for tonight;
Mother come back from the echoiess
shore,
Take me again to your heart as OF yore;
kiss from my forehead the furrows of
care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of nv
hair;
Over nay slumbers your loving watch
keep
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock to me
sleep.
These are the most beautiful lines l
ever read, and I'D rather be the author
OF them than own a fine silk hat this
a. m.
repeat as GreeIy did after the war: