Evening star., 1918-11-10
- HE point at which the Rambler
closed his narrative last Sun

"\ HE point at WhiCh the ltamDler
closed his narrative last Sum
day was Ashburn, a little town
in Loudoun cC2ntY by the
railroad which leads to Bluemont. and
one of the principal settlements In the
Goose Creek region. Perhaps Ashburn
might be aptly called the metropolis
of the lower Goose Creek neighbor-
hood, while Round Hill bears that re-
lation to the upper Goose Creek re-
gion. This statement may not be sat-
isfactory to the citizens OF the coun-
try drained by this famous CREEK be-
cause Round Hill, which Is between
Purcellville and Bluemont, does not lie
on the main stem of Goose creek put
Ia near the source of that stream
which is called the North Fork OF
Goose creek. That stream flows IN
southeast course from the Blue Rldge'
joining Goose creek a little more thah
q mile northwest of Oatlands. oat-
lands itself is one of the Important
Goose Creek villages at which sew.
eral roads converge and dlverge. but
on the whole it would seem to he safe
and conservative statement that Ash
burn is the metropolis or the loWer
Goose Creek neighborhood.
Last Sunday the Rambler told some,
thing of the history OF Ashpurn anu
the origin Of Its name ana introo"tea tsa
the readers of these rambles 20 the
postmaster. the ministers, physlc'ahs'
school teachers merchants, the Sta-
tion agent, the blacksmith and other
prominent citizens. The Rambler sas
summing himself on pile OF rallroau
ties and talking over OLD times WIN
C. p. Green, q veteran citizen OF ASH
burn who learned a good deal OF tne
topography Of northern virginia Wnlle
a member of Whites Confederate bat-
talon during the four years OF the
civil war
In the course of that yarnfest very
neat and prosperous looking little
woman came along the road, went into
a store, made some simple purchases
and then retraced her steps. She was
dressed in black, without a single en-
llvening touch of brighter color. Her
gloves were black and the fiowerS on
her bonnet were black poppies. "Good
evenin', Miss Fanny" said Mr.. Green.
"dood evening"" responded Miss Fanny.
smiling family and inclining her head
slightly. "Durin' the war there was 9
soldiers ball up at Leesburg, and l
danced with her; she was mighty
fine little girl" said Green as the wom-
an in black walked slowly down the
dusty road. The name of this woman
is Miss Fanny Hytaffer, and though not
actively employed as school teacher
now. she taught school at Ashburn for
twenty years.
OF course, the readers may not, and
probably will not, remember, put one
county. If not the first ramble In that
neighborhood last spring, described
little station or stopping place called
"Hitaffer." on the electric line between
Washington and Great Falls In the
course Of that story, which had to do
mainly with the home of the parents
of James Jackson, who killed Col. Ellis
worth at Alexandria and was killed by
some of Ellsworth'S men, the Rambler
wrote:
1t is clore to Hitaner, which the Rambler
strange name means very little to 90 9.io per
cent Of the 400. 900 people Of the District. and
perhaps has no meaning at all to the multi
ton to do their patriotic bit. Close to the sta.
tion at Hitaffer there is one house sheathed
partly with wide weatherbosFds and parity
with tin. 1t has been spruced up recently by
o new owner and its garden Of an acre and
half is gay with fruit trees In blossom. 1t was
the builder Of this simple house who put the
name Hltafter on the map. He was John ditSf-
fer, a carrsuter. He was gnarled old fellow
when the Rambler passed that way something
over year ago, DHt he moved away IEOW LIE
place to which his name was given. and soon
after moved away from the larger place. wbic'!
men call World" The Rambler hopes that old
John is welding golden saw End golden ham
mer in that happy, happy realm where gold IL
said to he a very common metal. John Htaffer
and his brother William came TO- Fairfax coun-
ty from INudoun. William settled further up
country and married. He, too, Is dead. John
settled where the little house Of wide weather.
boards and tin stands among the biossom'ng
trees.
According to the Rambler's infor--
William and a niece of that John
Hitaffer, or Hytaffer whose name was
given to a station near Washington.
Perhaps long after these lines have
faded numerous villas, cottages and
bungalows will be grouped at that
place or aligned on shady streets. Ali
memory Of John Hytaffer will have
passed away. The name Will have
such an fashioned appearance on
uplift society of Hitaffer will petit
tion the town council of Hitaffer to
change the name of the town to
Villarosa, Elmwood, Angels Rest or
something more suggestive OF lofty
manners and high-priced clothes than
plain "Hitaffer."
From the sunny pile of railroad ties
near Che railroad track at Ashburn
the Rambler started along the road
ington and Leesburg pike near his
toric Belmont Chapel and the toll
gate at which Mrs. Downs takes
tribute from travellers. 1t is one OF
those numerous roads whose duty 1t
is to connect the Little River turn
pike and the Alexandria Georgetown
Leesburg turnpike, two of the old