His daughters--a band of lovely young girls--presided over his house, dispensing its hospitality with grace and dignity. Their mother's death occurring when they were very young had given them household cares, which would have been considerable, but for the assistance of Uncle Billy, the butler--an all-important character presiding with imposing dignity over domestic affairs. His jet black face was relieved by a head of grey hair with a small round bald centre piece; and the expression of his face was calm and serene, as he presided over the pantry, the table and the tea-waiters. His mission on earth seemed to be keeping the brightest silver urns, sugar-dishes, cream-jugs and spoons; flavoring the best ice creams; buttering the hottest rolls, muffins and waffles; chopping the best salads; folding the whitest napkins; handing the best tea and cakes in the parlor in the evenings, and cooling the best wine for the decanters at dinner. Indeed he was so essentially a part of the establishment, that in recalling those old days at Buena Vista, the form of "Uncle Billy" comes silently back from the past and takes its old place about the parlors, the halls and the dining-room, making the picture complete. And thus upon the canvas of every old home picture come to their accustomed places, the forms of dusky friends, who once shared our homes, our firesides, our affections--and who will share them, as in the past, never more. * * * * * Of all the Plantation Homes we loved and visited, the brightest, sweetest memories cluster around Grove Hill; a grand old place in the midst of scenery lovely and picturesque, to reach which, we made a journey across the Blue Ridge--those giant mountains from whose winding road and lofty heights we had glimpses of exquisite scenery in the valleys below. Thus winding slowly around these mountain heights and peeping down from our old carriage windows we beheld nature in its wildest luxuriance. The deep solitude; the glowing sunlight over rock, forest and glen; the green valleys deep down beneath, diversified by alternate light and shadow--all together photographed on our hearts pictures never to fade. Not all the towers, minarets, obelisks, palaces, gem-studded domes of "art and man's device" can reach the soul like one of these sun-tinted pictures in their convex frames of rock and vines! Arrived at Grove Hill, how enthusiastic the welcome from each member of the family assembled in the front porch to meet us! How joyous the laugh! How deliciously cool the wide halls, the spacious parlor, the dark polished walnut floors! How bright the flowers! How gay the spirits of all assembled there! One was sure of meeting here agreeable society from Virginia, Baltimore, Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky, with whom the house was filled from May 'till November.