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name Alberton is derived from Albert, Mr. Gary's middle
name.  After collecting a few specimens of the phlox
we passed through the village and took the road to Hollo<s>w</s>field.
Along the side of this road we passed a number 
of huge outcrops of rock.  On one of these, I believe the
most rugged of them all I found a few specimens of
that very rare fern Asplenium Bradleyi.  It is a beautiful
little evergreen fern with dark shining stipes.  When
close to Bens Run we were warned to keep back; we saw
the men running and knew that in a few moments
we would hear the explosion of a blast.  This soon took
place, throwing fragments of rock far and wide.  It was
done by workmen on the B & O., who were removing the rock
to straighten the road.  At Ben's Run we had a conversation
with a woman who had eight sons, all of whom had to
vote the democratic ticket, she would die first rather than
see them vote any other particularly the republican.  In 
talking about the father of James A Gary, who must have been
an inveterate swearer, she made use of the word "billies"
"All during that flood" she said, "he played his billies", billiards
        