Page 542 [542]
OCR
‘hase OVA RDEV SO PO AV ERGINTA welcome—sunflowers, hardy er and cosmos following in succession. The present chatelaine of Folly keeps up the old family traditions and finds the same joy in her garden as her predecessors; it grows and flourishes under her loving care. We come in from the restless world to the quiet retreat of this old garden, and, as we sit beneath its grand old trees, we dream of the days of old. Memory brings to mind many a fair young girl and brave young man wandering out in the land of romance and learning, with the birds, the first love-twitterings. They have all scattered far and near, many of them making the history of this fair land; but the enjoyment of this flower garden forever remains impressed upon their minds. Another picture—a sad one—comes down the years. It is of the turbulent days of 1864. General Sheridan had made his terrible raid up the Shenandoah Valley and had sent General Hunter on to Lexington to burn the Military Institute. As his army passed by Folly, on a bright summer’s day, the ladies were seated out under the shade of the trees, anxiously watching. A horseman was seen dashing up the avenue; he hitched his horse at the front " gate and walked in. He was an officer from the Federal army, and asked for some refreshment. Mrs. Cochran sent her servant for the meagre supply on hand and, as they were sitting with their backs to the forest, they were startled by a ringing command, ‘‘Surrender!’’ Looking around, at the back gate, they saw mounted on his horse, a young Confederate scout. ‘Hold up your hands,”’ he said to the officer, and aside to a young lady, a sister of Mrs. Cochran, he bade her lead out the officer’s horse. She bravely went, but it was an ordeal, for the horse was large and spirited, and she a tiny frail little body. But through main force of will she brought the steed to the back gate. The officer mounted, and with all haste they disappeared in the woods. This daring and reckless scout was John Opie, afterwards Captain Opie. He succeeded in con331]
