Page 416 [416]
THE PIEDMONT SECTION
The design of this old garden is in formal squares, which are
separated from each other by wide grass-covered walks. Each
square is deeply bordered with flowers and the inside filled with
small vegetables. A bold stream, along whose banks were natural¬
ized daffodils, narcissi, and forget-me-nots, runs through the
garden; and, at intervals, this was spanned by three rustic bridges.
In the borders were all kinds of old-fashioned flowers of that
day, and its many varieties of peonies were known far and wide.
The serpentine wall was covered with English ivy, and in its curves
were violets and lilies of the valley. There was a huge cherry tree
in the center of the garden from which radiated the rose arbors.
There were avenues of lilac and other shrubs, with blossom or
decorative berry for each month of the year, as well as sunny
corners of sweet herbs, as essential to the excellence of old gardens
as old cooks.
With Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other distin¬
guished neighbors, the garden at Barboursville was not infre¬
quently the scene of merriment; nor did they need the local moon¬
shine to give snap and sparkle to these occasions, for the cellars
near by were amply stocked with imported liquors, and mint flour¬
ished in every nook and cranny, so no guest ever left Barboursville
without at least one sip of the favorite beverage of old Virginians.
One of the distinctive features of the house is the wide grass
ramp leading up to the high front porch. The house was burned
on Christmas Day, 1884. The interior is gone, but the vine-clad
walls and tall white columns, draped in volunteer grape and
ampelopsis, are still standing in their picturesque ruins.
A large walnut tree has grown up through the house and has
sympathetically spread its branches in place of a roof. A long, low
wing at the right of the house is all that is left of the grand old
mansion; but this serves as a charming retreat for a descendant.
Governor Barbour’s granddaughter, who lives there in the shadow
of past glory and who cordially extends the old-time welcome.
‘CAROLINE COLEMAN DUKE.
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