Page 179 [179]
HISTORIC GARDENS ‘OF VIRGINIA
The fall flowers were not equal to what we now have, though
many roses lasted until frost. here 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 Bullass 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 ‘“T'wo 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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