Essay: A visit to Rockville, Anna Farquhar, 1855

86.60.4

Description of a visit to Rockville.

Our teachers having promised us a little pleasure excursion before school closed, it was decided that we should attend the Agricultural Fair of Montgomery County. We all looked forward to the time with great pleasure; and about two days before hand began to watch the weather very closely, which was at that time exceedingly warm, but we were so sanguine as to hope for a change. The morning, at length, arrived and about seven o Clock, we all got into the carriages and started off, every one, of course, with a very light heart and pleasant countenance. The distance we had to travel was nearly nine miles, and we had a delightful ride, except that the latter part of it was rather warm. In about two hours we reached Rockville, and after getting a drink of cold water which was very refreshing, we rode about a quarter of a mile out of town, to a hill in the woods where the many articles were arranged for exhibition. We first went into a tent, and saw various household manufactures, such as quilts, knit spreads, linsey, and a great variety of fancy articles in one part of it, and then in another were butter, bread, hams, preserve and other eatables. After we had examined every thing of interest in the tent, we went out to look at the cattle, some of which were very fine indeed, but I was more delighted with the horses than all that I saw put together. Some of them were so beautiful, that it was really right hard to leave them. After we had finished looking round, we went in the shade and sit down, where we talked to our friends, and looked at the many

different kinds of people, who were collected on this occasion, admiring some, and critisizing others. So the morning passed; and when at twelve o Clock, we were told that the dinner hour had arrived, most of us were willing to quit the crowd and dust for a while, and go into the woods, where a very nice dinner was prepared for us. Everything was abundant but pure cold water, and owing to the great heat of the weather, we could scarcely get enough of that article to satisfy our thirst. After having remained in the woods about one hour and a half, we again returned to the Fair, to hear an address delivered by Joseph Bradley. Some persons thought the speech was very interesting, while others did not like it, but I was one who was pleased, I understood it much better from having studied botany, so finding out the name of flowers, is not the only useful part of that study. After the address, the premiums were awarded to those who had had the good luck to get any, and then the fair closed for that day. We all now started for home, some of us rather tired it is true, but none, I believe sorry that they had gone.

Anna Farquhar

Septemper, 15th 55