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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 interested 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. [110]
