a bishop of beloved memory. His pastorate
was short, from 1811 to 1813, but his fame as preacher, gentleman, and
scholar forecast his later attainments. The Reverend Charles B. Danna
was another nineteenth century divine who faithfully served the
congregation. Dr. Danna occupied the pulpit from 1834 to 1860, when he
left to take a church at Port Gibson in Mississippi. He later removed to
Natchez, Mississippi, in 1866 to be rector of Trinity Church. He was a
trusted friend of Mrs. George Washington Parke Custis and Mrs. Robert E.
Lee, and he baptized the children at Arlington House. It was during his
pastorate that Robert E. Lee was confirmed on July 17, 1853, by Bishop
Johns. When word was received in Alexandria of Dr. Danna's death, in
1873, Christ Church was draped in mourning.

There is an odd and sad sequel to Dr. Danna's pastorate in Natchez. Some
years ago there occurred an astounding and mysterious death in Natchez,
Mississippi. A very prominent woman whose father had represented his
country at a foreign court was found in her own home brutally murdered.
Suspicion at once fell upon her nearest neighbors, a man and a woman,
eccentric characters, who shared the same house. They were arrested and
tried for murder. Their house immediately attained notoriety as "Goat
Castle" and was so known over the United States from the manner in which
the inmates lived. The strange fashion in which dogs, goats, chickens,
or any animal on the place was made welcome in the drawing room was very
queer and gave cause for the name.

[Illustration: The open door marks Robert E. Lee's pew. Here he came for
spiritual guidance]

The murdered woman had objected to the presence of her neighbors' pets
on her place, especially the goats, which were prying and curious, as
well as other tame animals which belonged by right in the barnyard, but
preferred the drawing room. Ill feeling sprang up, quarrels, lawsuits,
all the dreadful sequel of a neighbors' feud. At the trial
circumstantial evidence piled up and up. It was not enough for
conviction. The inmates of "Goat Castle" were acquitted. Even so, black
distrust was their portion from many of their fellow townsmen.

Some people from Alexandria were making the Natchez pilgrimage and came
unwarned upon "Goat Castle." Lovely strains of music could be heard,
coming from an old piano, sometimes improvised, sometimes a bit of Bach,
Mozart, Chopin, played with much feeling. As the strangers approach