SHEPHERDSTOWN, ON THE POTOMAC. 



SKETCH FIRST — BEING INTRODUCTORY. 



BY MRS. F. R. GROTE. 



The Potomac, as it flows through Virginia ou its "way to the sea, 

 passes by many little towns and villages ; among others by Shep- 

 herdstown, where many of my young days were spent. Shepherds- 

 town thirty years ago, was an old-world, out of the way place which 

 Progress, even then, wearing seven-league boots, had overstepped and 

 left far behind. Intercourse with the outer world was carried on by 

 means of a shabby old stage-coach called "The Hack," which, carrying 

 the United States Mail and perhaps a passenger or two, daily trav- 

 elled out to the lonely Railroad station, five miles away. The Rail- 

 road having, apparently, less time than the River which flows so 

 liesurely by, utterly ignored Shepherdstown in those days, and kept 

 steadily on its way to the West. "The Hack," having accomplished 

 this journey, driver, horses, and passengers turned out to grass until 

 such time as the train from the East came in ; when, mail bags and 

 passengers having been exchanged, they travelled comfortably back 

 again, generally reaching Shepherdstown between three and four P. 

 M., shortly after which time, the great event of the day took place, — 

 namely : the distribution of the mail. This being so important and 

 interesting a business, of course everyone was on the lookout, and as 

 the Hack plodded along, toward Town, the cry went ahead of it, 

 "Yon's the Hack!" and it was joined by first one, and then another, 

 the crowd gradually increasing, until by the time it got to the Main 

 street, it resembled (except in shabbiness), a triumphal Progress, 

 rather than a peaceful affiair of every day occurence. The mail- 

 carrier, who lived and was well-known, in Shepherdstown, quite an 

 unimportant person in private life, became now a being of power and 

 mystery worthy of all respect. No one would have presumed to 

 jostle him, as, when at last the concourse halted in front of the Post 

 Office, he stepped majestically out of the stage, and into the office ; 

 whence he presently emerged, a trifle less imporant and mysterious 



