"In all these things they should be more than conquerors,
through Him that loved them."
After entering Virginia, they saw all along the route the sad ravages of
the war, and their hearts sent up earnest petitions that those waste
places might speedily be restored, and their dear native land never again
be visited with that fearful scourge.
The scenes grew more saddening as they neared their journey's end, and
could recognize, in the ruined houses and plantations, the wrecks of the
former happy homes of friends and neighbors.
They all went directly to the Oaks, where the Travillas were to find a
home until Ion could be made again comfortably habitable. It was late in
the afternoon of a cloudy, showery day that they found themselves actually
rolling quietly along the broad winding drive that led through the grounds
to the noble mansion they had left more than five years before.
Even here there were sad signs of neglect: the grounds had forgotten their
former neat and trim appearance, and the house needed paint and some
slight repairs. But this was all; and they felt it a cause for
thankfulness that things were no worse.
A group of relatives and retainers were gathered in the veranda to greet
them; an aged, white-haired man the central figure, around him three
ladies in deep mourning, a one-armed gentleman, and a crowd of children of
both sexes and all ages, from the babe in arms to the youth of sixteen;
while in the rear could be seen Mrs.
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