My mother, Olive Caroline Older, shortly after her marriage, located in Fairfax county, Virginia, near Annandale, purchasing an estate and erecting a magnificent stone mansion, which was known as "Hope Castle." This was a spacious structure, con My mother was accomplished and talented, of great musical ability, and a charming hostess. I shall never forget the good times I had at "Hope Castle," which became noted for its delightful social entertainments, its unrivaled hospitality and attractive ensemble. It was a resort for friends, and strangers as well. In the absence of my father my mother, with great managerial ability, looked after the various business matters conected with the estate,, in addition to looking after three boys, who naturally took a great deal of her time, In this beautiful home we three brothers, Charles H., William Edward and myself, spent our happy days of childhood until the shadows of rebellion shrouded us in gloom, and the fiery torrent of war, sweeping as a desolating fury over the country, engulfed our lovely home in its destructive track. I was born on the 29th of May, 1844, and as far back as I can remember have been doing something different from the ordinary; but, while at first I have been censured by many for alleged irregularities of judgment and for exhibiting advanced ideas, I have most always proved in the end to have been right. When I was a young boy a love for horses developed, increasing as years passed on, until in time my love became a passion. When only six or seven years of age I took a fancy for an old horse on the farm called Charlie and induced my parents to present him to me. It was not long before I had the docile animal trained to kick and bite almost everyone but myself who approached him, and he soon refused to pull a wagon or work for anyone else. I had a great deal of amusement with the horse, going to the postoffice at Annandale, situated about a mile from my home, to which village I rode frequently after the mail, which in those days was carried by the "Whaleys and Latham stages." Often the stage would be delayed at the request of passengers, who would beg me to put "Charlie" through his many little tricks. Removing saddle and bridle, I would say "Go," and off he would gallop for a few yards, and at my command, "Come," would lay back his ears and charge at me, his mouth wide open as if ready to bite viciously, and end by putting his head on my shoulder and standing perfectly still. At the motion of my hand Charlie would kneel, sit down like a dog, lie flat, stand on his hind legs, pick up a pail of water and carry it in his mouth or pull off my boots in obedience to orders. We had in our family at this time a governess and a German tutor for the children, but I could not be induced to remain in the house, and much of the time managed to avoid my teachers in one way or another, and would be found with old "Charlie." Finally I became so neglectful of my studies and "Charlie" so dangerous, having bitten several of the darkies, the cook, the nurse, the governess and the tutor, that violent opposition devel oped against the poor beast; but despite this opposition I managed to retain my four-foot companion until he bit the overseer of the farm, who, prevailing with my parents, obtained their permission to dispose of the vexatious animal. Shortly after my loss of this favorite horse I was sent to a boarding-school at Vienna in my native county, where I soon became dissatisfied, and succeeded in securing a change to a school at Centerville, Va. Here I was allowed to have a Bell Founder colt, which was named "Mary Ann," and soon trained to perform all sorts of tricks for the benefit of my schoolmates. In these days of my boyhood I took great interest in reading all kinds of histories relating to war. I acquired a habit of sitting up until the early hours of the morning, absorbed in the campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte and Washington. The tactics. of war elicited my admiration, and I soon had all the boys in the school organized into a company, armed with sticks and cornstalks, and it seemed as natural for me to engage in this mimic warfare as it was to eat. The following is a letter written by my mother while I was attending school at Centerville, Va.: I have not time to weate love Mr Holden t to Me and Mrs Marin I fear I am too late for the mail soos my resparts to You will weeept much love from me and strive to be good, and to your friend Feorge J. 0.6. Armes although the orthography & gratified by your long letter Chyrography were very and you and take he defective, it is always a pleasure to hear from you. to acquire e you s very anxious will exest yourself the ability to spell Unless you study words over & over con not again you expect to remember them. This is what scholar had to do, and it is well worth the trouble for it is such a to spell badly that not do too much in order to avoid it. In writing. I wish you to practice on the letter I and &. J.C Look at mine and make them still better _ for you I am too sick to write. very well. I write this bed. Do not leave, so large a space between your as money.. youser I will send a coat & cotton your soon. The horses don't work much peece. Rhoads has not planted any _ he has the |