Shepherdstown Register

For the Register.

HILLSBOROUGH,

Pocahontas Co., W. Va. )

August 18th, 1873.

Mr. Editor—In coming to this place our route lay through Sinker Creek Valley, Greenbrier county. Greenbrier certainly is a fine county, and Sinker Creek Valley the best portion of it. Near and around Frankfort the country reminds one very much of Jefferson. And here we might remark that our own fair county is looked upon by these back ones with reverence, and regarded as the best county in the Valley, which is the truth. When we tell these people that we are from Jefferson, they say that they need no better recommendation.

The genuine West Virginian is very hospitable, provided you pay him well for his trouble. A man can't travel very far out here, on tick, which you know can be done in East Virginia, "where a man will feel insulted if you ask him his bill next morning. Hence when we ride up to a man's house and politely asked to "get off," "stay all day," or "all night" as the case may be, the contrast is so great and so far remote from general custom, that we are struck dumb for a moment, and on recovering ourselves invariably find such a person to have been formerly from Eastern Virginia.

Just such hospitality we found in the person of Mr. W. B. Reed, residing near Frankfort. Mr. R. owns near this place in one body fifteen hundred and sixty eight acres of land, and is as clever a gentleman as we ever met. He invited us to his house, treated us very kindly and insisted on us staying with him several days. His farm is a very interesting one, from the fact that on it are several large caves, one of which extends under ground for seven miles. These we entered. We would like to give a full description of them, but time will not permit. Suffice to say that on leaving Mr. R., he extended to us a general invitation to stop with him whenever we would be in his community. These were his words, "Remember the old log Cabin, and that the latch-string is always on the out-side." Now, Mr. Zittle, when we come in contact with such a man it makes us feel good all over. Long may Mr. R. live to enjoy the fruits of his most excellent farm.

Before entering this county we crossed the Droop Mountain, made famous on account of the severe battle fought on it between Averill and the Confederates. Coming down this mountain we enter a most beautiful valley, called the "Little Levels." Here we stopped with another very clever gentleman and of the best Virginia type--Capt. McNeil. The Captain is a large land owner and raises a great number of cattle every year. He told us that he was very well acquainted with Dr. Tanner, of our county, and that he had the pleasure of selling the Dr. some valuable Durhams. not long since.

Pocahontas, although it has not the reputation, is according to our judgment, superior to Greenbrier. The land is richer, cattle more thrifty, better timber, while at the same time it is in possession of much more coal and iron There is a railroad in process of construction, leaving Harrisonburg, passing through this county. and strikes the Ohio river at Point Pleasant. This road is called the Washington, Cincinnati, and St. Louis Narrow Gauge. It will be the shortest route from Washington to St. Louis, and its object is to open up the great coal region in this portion of the State. We will give a more full description of the county in our next.

One little joke and then we will have done. It seems that one of our agents a native of Jefferson and residing near Kearneysville had finished up Raleigh County, and started for home by way of Pocahontas. He chanced to stop over night in Huntersville, the county seat of "Poky." as the natives call it Being somewhat fatigued he retired early, and soon the "Slumber God" had bound him, and he lay dreaming of claims, rough roads, poor grubb, and loved ones at home. It is the custom of one of the inmates of the house to black his boots every night before going to bed, and thus have them ready for the morrow. And so about ten o'clock on this eventful night, he began in the adjoining room, his usual rubbing and scraping. which process made a considerable noise, and soon aroused our friend V. G. M., who thinking that the house was full of ghosts, leaped from his couch, grabbed up his shirt, boots and pants, and putting them under his arm. hastily crawled through the window, ran across the street, and commenced a series of bangings at the door of the opposite house, calling vociferously for protection, stating that the devil and four ghosts, headed by the Sheriff of the County, were about to annihilate him. They, however, succeeded in quieting his fears, till next morning, when he left saying that he had no future use for "Poky." We relate this story, as it was told us by the residents of Huntersville.

We neglected to state that we happened in Lewisburg at the same time our worthy friend C. T. Butler was there, but being unaware of the fact did not get to see him, but afterwards heard him highly complimented. both as a gentleman and as an advocate of the temperance cause--his eloquence and earnestness were praised far and wide. Would that we had more of such faithful and able workers in this noble cause.

More next time. Yours forever,

MARY BEAU.