Travel diary: D. Stabler, 1823

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empty of its inhabitants except two young servants. The girl who was eldest appear'd to be about 14 years of age. She made us welcome, and having access to the household concerns, she served us with Wine, green apple Pye the first we have seen, Cherrys &c, and gave us an early cup of Tea, before the return of Lydia daughter to N Hains, he was gone to Louden, but several of his neighboring Children and G Children came in, and all of them contributed to make us welcome, and easy; _

29^th of the M^o, and first of the week Went 2 miles to Berkly meeting, here we found but very few members of society, only 2 or 3 plain Coats, beside our own company, notice had spread without my knowledge among other people, and the House was nearly full, and as it felt to me, as little sense of the object and solemnity of the occasion of meeting, as any other I can remember, it appears to me, that unless the Plant of renown is sufferd to grow in the Hearts

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of some of the few young people. This meeting must cease e'er long, and the testimonies fall to the ground; it felt to me that labor in the Gospel, was unavailing; but the commission was clear, the authority unquestionable; and while, a sense of mourning cover'd, as with a garment, quietude was dispens'd to our mind, in the belief that the Lord, and his faithful servants; will be clear _ William M^cPherson took us home with him, entertaind us with easy hospitality, tho' his dear innocent aged wife was ill. We lack'd for nothing they could do to make us comfortable. She appears to be sinking under long and complicated infirmities; and I doubt not will be gather'd to enduring rest. _ Our kind friend W^m Jolliffe, still with us, we left W^m M^cPhersons on 2^d day morning; much rain had fallen on the afternoon of 1st day, and before we got to the Shanandoah 6 miles, it came on again, and raind nearly all the way to Jonas Janneys at G Creek 16 miles. The rain was not heavy, but the most we have been in, since cousin Caleb left us, we forded the River, with a Pilot, were inform'd it was too low for the Boat to cross and we venturd. The water was

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very near coming into the Carriage. I look'd beyond the water and behav'd better than when crossing the Patowmac. The bottom was good, and looking at the trees instead of the riffling water, my head was less giddy. We thankfully found ourselves on land, and cross'd the blue ridge on the turnpike, (Sniggeer's Gap) on an easy ascent, and less descent, and 10 miles more brought us to Jonas Janneys, a kind agreeable family, where we expect to dine and go on the South Fork meeting, ready for tomorrow, where notice is sent on. _

1 of 7 M^o and 3^d of the week, Left Jonas Janneys house, after an early but excellent dinner, accompanied by himself, and soon at arriv'd at the house of W^m Reader, 6 miles of pretty tolerable road compar'd with what we have been travelling most of our journey. Here we were well, and kindly antertain'd, went to meeting, it appear'd to be in a declineing state, my way was in close exercise and honest labor, such as is lacking among them individully, and left them with a peaceful mind; came half a mile to Union a smart little Village, dined at _ Seth Smiths and came 7 1/2 miles

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to Israel Janneys to lodge, found this worthy man much wasted under pulmonary disease, nearly in the last stage of it, but his mind staid and centred in the divine life, and full of love, after breakfast rode 3 or 4 miles to Bernerd Taylors, to see him 6 weeks confind to Bed, our visit was cheering to him, and gratifying to us, went to meeting, it was not very full of people, but such was the sense of help not at my command, that all was done; which I believe I had to do and I left their spacious House and all it had contain'd in sweet peace; dined at Jesse Hursts, and rode to Waterford call'd to see James Moore, who is in poor health, stepp'd in a few minutes at John W^{ms s} and came to our dear and long tried kind friend Asa Moore's to Lodge; where we found letters from our dear children, Giving such favorable accounts of their welfare, that Cousin Hannah slept finely, we have been accompanied several days by our aged friend Jonas Janney 76 years of age, and are now waiting for the hour of an appointed meeting at Fairfax, here I have pass'd in days that are gone many a pleasant hour, they

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were the days of childhood in religious experience, but days of solid and lasting instruction, who can tell the depth of the riches of his love, who call'd and who rais'd up with a mighty hand, and an outstrech'd arm, so feeble, a worm to praise and magnify his great name, my soul is humbled in retrospective view.