Juniata Memories; Legends Collected in Central Pennsylvania

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1916. Excerpt: ... XXVI. THE ROB ROY. A LEGEND OF OLD M*VEYTOWN. ALONG the old canal bank, below the picturesque village of McVeytown, for a full century stood a certain public house, a tavern stand with a history. Long before the buildng of the canal it had been a noted hostelry, a favored stopping place for travelers along the pike, a headquarters for the hardy settlers and hunters of the neighborhood. It had been in the hands of one family for nearly the entire span of the century, a family of more than ordinary refinement and common sense, who had raised inn keeping almost to the level of a profession. For that reason they attracted the best class of custom and many were the travelers who journeyed miles further enduring fatigue and cold, so that they could spend the night under this hospitable roof. And many were the travelers who went off their regular roads purposely that they might be entertained there. Even the roughest customers from the Blue Ridge and Jack's Mountain maintained a respectable demeanor within the heavy walls of the old stone tavern; the few Indians who stopped there recalled that it had been built originally as a fort, as was evidenced by the thickness of the walls--the entire atmosphere was one of genial charm. It reflected the English inns of romance in this wild mountainous section of the new world. The family who kept the stand were of English descent, of exceptionally good stock, being related to the nobility; the head of the family had been a baronet's younger son who emigrated to Pennsylvania, marrying there a beautiful girl of lesser rank but of solid north of Ireland forbears. The first landlord had married the eldest daughter of this union, an attractive girl, who maintained her dignity, yet left no detail of her hotel business neglected. She was a favorite with all...