Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-07-26
GENERAL sNrssLuGsNcE.
B1 ~ 0cIsr.l
LETTER

LETTER
From F. DAVENPORT Ia Mr.. ADAM wEvTE Of
Frederick. late Of this county, now of Wash
ingion county. Maryland.
CARR PALM,s, WEST ArRicA,
March ~, 1888.
My DEAR OLD MASTER - cannot ex-
press To you the pleasure it gives mo TO
wife 10 you at all times. We all feel
that We have received many and gres,
favouri at your hands-ihat you have
been our bes, friend. and therefore I am
always glad TO tender you my most hearty
thanks. But now that you feel sensibly
the inhrmi,ies Of age, and need every
comfort which can be. afforded you. 1t
give, me peculiar pleasure. my dear mas.
ter, TO be able to inform you how l and
all my family are getting along. IL has
long been your anxious wish and prayer
that we might be comfortably fixed in q
land OF freedom and although you knew
the difficulties, you thought for liberty's
sake We ought 10 encounter them. !
confess that when our trials came. they
were almost too much for Us 10 bear
Sickness long and tedious came upon US
then the loss OF one and another Of the
children and grandchildren. Though
you had provided much for us. still. in a
new country, we wanted, we needed very
much-we suffered for much. Under
these circumstances our hearts were sor-
Towful we thought our old master meant
well. but had not acted for the best: We
were dissatisfied, we wished ourselves IT
home. But my dear sir. rejoice 10 tell
you that these feelings have passed away.
/ We have suffered but our suiIeIings are
IN great measure over; we begin 10 &C
cumulate some Of the comforts Of life, 10
enjoy pretty good health, we are satisfied
with our home. We thank, from our
hearts, our dear old m as,er, through whose
kindness we enjoy il.
Your son wrote that you wished TO hear
particularly how we are all situated, what
VIC are doing, and what are EAR prospects.
| Will endeavour 10 inform you, as accu-
rately n, | can, upon all these points -
We are living, as ] wrote you, about two
miles t:om Cape Palmss, and one mile
from Mount Vaughan the site Of the
Episcopal mission. Our house has three
rooms on the lower floor, with piazza in
: front The back rooms are small, being
: shed rooms. We have lately white
washed il INSIDE and outside. We have
altogether including Emanuers lot, ten
n acres are cleared and under cultivation.
' producing cassada. potatoes, plantains,
? bananas, and papaws, SO that we live in
part upon our own productions. We
have also. some other productions. two
sweet orange trees. and a great many
= sour oranges and water.melons. Water
melons are ripe here about Christmas 4;
all kinds of beans flourish here. the Lima
bean bears all the year. Ca6bages also
grow finely, bu, do no, head. Apples, I
am inclined TO think. will not grow IN
this climate. We have however no rea-
: son 10 complain OF the fewness of its pro-
auctions, as nearly all the American veg
z etlbles grow here, IN addition 10 chose
MI that are native.
The situation Of my children is as FOL.
a lows: Randolph, who you know is mar
RED, is settled in a small, but tolerably
., comfortable house. about half a mile
!, from me, and Immediately on Maryla
e avenue. He is, and has been for some.
Q time engaged in getting shingles. These
= sell at elk dollars per thousand. and n,
the demand for them IS great, | think
he ought 10 make money. Adam IS as.
p sociaied with him. ane manifests grea
o s,eadlness and attention TO business
" Since he came here he has grown very
II much aud is almost as large as Emanuel
Emanuel has grown also very much
being now quite a large man. He sill
: lives with US. and have giveh him per
:. mission 10 get wife, and come 20 live
with me, as | now begin 10 need some
one 10 assist me in housekeeping. Johr
j. quite a stout lad, and progresses il
learning a. fast as can reasonably be ex
a pccicd. Dinah is quite a young woman
Easter, is also much grown-goes &
school. and reads tolerably well. Louis
At has made the most rapid progress, bein,
ID now able TO read 10 the Bible, and tho
a. renders me much assistance IN finding ih'
le treasures in that blessed book: she vii
;! soor enter the Episcopal Mission school
' 10 remain until she IS eighteen, that sh'
e may be qualified 10 teach colonis;S. an,
the poor ignoTan. natives around Us. -
Li.,le Casper is now. too. doing well. be
- ing in good health and able 20 lisp a few
words IN reading. Indeed, ] arm thank
fol to be able 90 state that all my children
are now enJoying as good health as the
= did IN America. God. IN this respect, !
Re very good. and for a. desire 10 be yerI
10 thankful. You wish 10 know the pariicu
o.. iaIs ot NY thiuitu aHu Biahu S"'iNi'h
H. deaths. Angelina died passing through
he the fever. have sometimes thought tina
n could she have received more attention
Of she might have lived: bot ! DO not know
Joseph died Of cbolio. having eaten some
:. thing which disagreed with him. Angs
Of lnas two children died Of d,auhpa q
o. worms. Perhaps-oan ] doubt, that
was goodness Of God thus TO remove thes
moiheGess children and 10 take them
49, HIMSELF You wish 10 know whether
would advise my sister 10 come out no
o. that have lived here long enough
ne know by experience something of Afuoa
,s LIE. dislike 70 take upon myself Oh
ile respon ,ibiIily o! advising any TO come