Historic Gardens of Virginia 



The fall flowers were not equal to what we now have, though 

 many roses lasted until frost. There was plenty of shrubbery of 

 all sorts — sweet-shrubs, and honeysuckle, white and coral; yellow 

 jessamine, clematis, and even two or three fine grapevines which 

 the mistress of Oakland had planted. The grapevines belonged 

 more properly to a corner in the vegetable garden, west of the 

 house, and out of sight. This was back of the interesting small 

 buildings known as the "wash-house," "Aunt Suckey Brown's 

 house," "the other house," the old kitchen, the smoke-house, and 

 "Uncle Bulla's house." 



Time has forced this old garden to give way to trees and lawn, 

 but many of the shrubs survive to define its former locality still so 

 accurately remembered by some who walked amid its bowers and 

 enjoyed its beauty and fragrance. 



It was at Oakland that Thomas Nelson Page did his first 

 writing. It was from his old home that he found the inspiration 

 for "Marse Chan" and other stories. It was here that he lived 

 with the originals of "Two Little Confederates," and it was in this 

 garden that he dug and chopped as a boy. It was back to it that 

 his memories ever reverted. Just in reach of its confines, while in- 

 terested in its restoration, and transplanting with his own hands 

 one of the old shrubs, he rested from his earthly labors and joined 

 those, who, like himself, had found so much delight in this old 

 garden. 



RosEWELL Page. 



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