SOLON ROBINSON, 1849 839 



river, about sixty miles below Richmond, and some two 

 miles back from the bank, a dwelling, which, although 

 with all its attachments and offices, shows a front of 

 white frames 270 feet long, yet, in fact, is a very mod- 

 erate sized farm-house, upon a tract of some eleven hun- 

 dred acres, though only six hundred and fifty acres are 

 in cultivation. And here, upon this spot, may be seen as 

 great a show of Republican simplicity, as the British offi- 

 cer saw in Marion's camp. For here lives, in plain and 

 simple style, a plain Virginia farmer, engaged in improv- 

 ing, by lime and marl and deep ploughing, the old fields; 

 cutting down, and clearing up, and fencing, and bringing 

 into cultivation the forest ; and ditching and draining the 

 swampy places; and growing wheat and corn for sale. 



Ask the captain of the steamer to set you ashore, and 

 bend your steps toward yonder farm-house. Perchance 

 on the way you will meet a plainly-dressed farmer, of 

 about sixty, riding about in a little carryall wagon, drawn 

 by a plain-looking old white horse. He is superintending, 

 personally, the affairs of the farm — giving a direction to 

 a servant here, and a word of encouragement to another 

 there, or making some inquiry after the stock or crops, of 

 some confidential one with whom he holds a short con- 

 sultation. Approach, and introduce yourself without cere- 

 mony, and he will invite you cordially to ride home and 

 dine or sup with him, with as little ceremony as you will 

 ever find where true hospitality and politeness prevail. 

 The table will be graced by a beautiful lady, (a second 

 wife,) and perchance a most lovely daughter of some 

 twenty summers, blooming in health and such good coun- 

 tenance as shall make you almost break the tenth com- 

 mandment. There too you shall see a couple of sweet 

 little boys, that gladden the declining years of the old 

 farmer. 



Stroll out after dinner into the old oak park. Here is 

 a monument that marks the tomb of some departed 

 friend. Read : "Here lieth the bones of my faithful old 

 horse, General, aged 25 years; ivho, in all his lo7ig service, 

 never blundered but once; — would that his master could 



