Stranica 540 [540]
FOLLY
Joseph Smith Cochran. The house, now in its
second century, was built by Joseph Smith, the
He Peat) great-grandfather of the present owner, and has
6s been occupied by four successive generations.
szüszásése] Following the architectural style of its day, the
dwelling is of red brick with large white pillars on the front and side
porches. At that time there were no railroads in the Valley, so
the farm wagon was sent to Philadelphia—300 miles away—to
get the finishing touches for it. The marble mantelpieces in the
drawing-room and the dining-room were the first to come into the
Shenandoah Valley.
Coming down to the western side of the garden and overflowing
onto the lawn is the forest primeval. This piece of woods, extend¬
ing for a mile, resembles a park; with its handsome oaks, hickory,
chestnut, and walnut trees, free from undergrowth, it affords shady
and interesting walks and drives in the summer-time, reminding one
of an English estate with its extensive grounds.
Facing the house, and at the end of the avenue, is a rocky,
wooded slope. In olden times this was enclosed by a high fence,
and was known as the deer park. In it roamed and bounded from
rock to rock twenty-odd deer. They were so gentle that they would
come up to their mistress to be fed, and would lick out of her hand.
Sometimes she would let down the bars and they would follow
her up to the house, playing about the lawn. This deer park
extended for a quarter of a mile along the Staunton and Lexington
turnpike, and travelers passing by in stage-coaches and private
vehicles would stop to admire the deer and watch the little fawns
play on the soft moss. Finally, thoughtless people would put their
dogs over the fence to watch them chase the deer, and many a
L329]