Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-12

ell and wet praIries, generally drainabIe, prob
ABLY with as little labor as are the marshes
and lowlands of the East-inIeed they be-
come dry by cultivation without ditching,
and no less rich, generally richer, in soil,
than the rolling and dry, may, at least many
OF them, be made probably about equal for
tillage; and the generality of them excellent
meadows at any rate-the latter no less i'm
portant than plow-land. And all this breth
rem and friends, without rocks and stumps
against which to hitch the pillow, dull the
scythe, or smash the cart-wheel, and fret the
soul to sin against God there being neither
stump nor stone in the whole feld-some,
but small proportion, "barrens," Gmprop-
erly so caled) affording necessary ranges
for sheep and stock. In some places, it is
true. timber is scarce, but a less serious
fault than many at the East suppose. Tim
Der grows fast in many places where the
fires are kept off, and may also be cultivated
where necessary. This is already begin
ming to be donc-and the trees grow very
rapidly. Most manifestly, under proper cul-
tivation, Illinois must become very excel
lent farming country. On the water-cours
es, especially the sluggish streams, it is less
or more unhealthy; but from reason, obser
walton and general testimony, do not be-
lieve unhealthiness can be an objection to
the country generally. For the worldly good
Of my Eastern friends, could candidly wish
all of them here, who are not too old, or are
not situated really nell where they are.
And while such is the natural superiority
OF the West to the East, as in every new
country, many are Its privations-much Of
the si.knesses are attributable doubtless to
exposures which are occasioned very con-
sideraby by these privations. AS the coun-
try advances 10 age, Improvements dimln-
ish these evils. Religious privileges also
are far inferior. True, the re are professors
ofTreligion in considerable proportion through
the country generally. Some of these how
ever are Pdpists. These are mostly confn-
ed to the southern portion of the State, tho
not entirely. In the heart Of the Military
Tract, they are about TO erect chapel and
. establish seminary, as was told on calling
at place but one mile from their contem-
plated location. Others are N0rmonites-
but more Complexities, who make the great
, work of religion to consist too much in one
nvfo al to fho
besides many who may be styled in the main,
orthodox. These are scattered in almost
every settlement. But being emigrants from
. nearly all the 81 ates and from several other
= countries, though Of the same denomination,
each having his peculiarities according tc
his different education, the feelings and
views Of the preacher and his members dc
not so readily coalesce as among you-and
except in few large towns there are no.
- enough of any one sect in a settlement to
. support preacher,-no, generally, not ever
halt the tlme-scarcely one-f ourth;- conse
quently the preacher, instead of spending hi:
time in pastoral labors, must employ por
ton of the week in riding to his distant ap
pointment, and then home, and perhaps {
- greater portion in labor to make up of the
support of himself and family, what is no
- done by the people, and the mission society
= These evils, it will be readily perceived, i'm
o pose very great barriers to the progress O.
q holiness. But another hindrance of ne
,. small magnitude is yet to be named TIL,
Il habit Of reading here is much less than a
e. u1ong you. Indeed very many are unable tc
W read sufficiently we'll to make it interesting
t many not at all. With you, perusing re
y igious periodicals, sabbath school books, tn,
r Bible, &c. more or less every week, adds
perhaps, 100 per cent. to the benefits of tn
sabbath exercises. Very different indee,
II here, in general-very. Education has beer
s, comparatively greatly neglected. In som,
IS instances, from not properly approaching
- education; and generally from their efforts
Ii to get prepared to live, and in many cases
- to secure while it is cheap, land sufficient TO
l. all their children; from being too sparsel,
n settled to be able to support school vithou
p some of the children having to udk thre
a. or four miles, and from other causes. educa
IS ton in this country has received but yerv lit
tie attention. School houses are few: an,
o, good teachers perhaps as few; that is, tbos,
I'd who are willing to brave the difficulties !,
T. getting up and maintaining a school for tn
~ wages they can get, which at the Eas
IN would be esteemed generous, but is small
10 compared with what both males and female
ne can without difficulty obtain at other bus;