Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1852-05-04
IErrER no THE EnIroa.
HAMPSHIRE County, Va.

AprHSl3lh, 1909.
WELL, nv old Democratic friend, / again re:
sum my pen to drop You a few lines touch
ing various matters and things that have trans
pired in these mountainous "diggings," since
1 last wrote to you.
We have inst passed through a very long
and an Intensely cold winter. But during the
whole of its 6reary continuance We were Tor
tunately surrounded BY circumstances That were g
we'll calculated,to loosen Its grip upon US. L
allude to the fact, that we have here in; album
dance, and very near our dwellings too, tho
very best and cheapest kind of fuel-dry pine
timber and riSh pine knots: With these high
" infiammabie materials, and a little green
oak. or hickory mixed herewith, 9weacan have
the most brilliant and comfortable fres-aye
such as will frighten and elfectually prevent old
aBoreas from ever pokingthfs frosty nose into our
humble. dbmiCils. And what is more cofnfortRs
BILE, in a very cold aud -bleakday in winter when
the piercing winds cut most like a knife, and
the hailaud snow are bespattering our windows,
than to be snugly seated in a warm house and
surrounding fires Of this description
Or farmers, the bone and 'sinew of our land,
are now busily engaged in ploughiug, prepara-
tory to pitching their corn crops. They most
heartily subscribe TO the truth Of the scfiPtuTal
aphorism-"H He that soweth not cannot expect
fo3reap." tits much feared by them, at this
time, that their growing crop of small grain will
be very short this season, owing 10 a good deal
of it having been "%frozen OUT pending the past
cold winter.
notwithstanding the general health Of these
Hdirgings,'n we have recently had a good deal of
sickness in Them. The scarlet fever being the
most prevalent disease-many children having
fallen victims to it. This fever, however, is fast
itabating, and ere long, l presume, it will take its
flight IRON among us. mote it be-"
i perceive in the columns ofthe Esprit" that
in old Jefferson. my native County, there are
a host of candidates for her Offices under the
reign of ourn new organicl law. This speaks well
for the geharal intelligence Of your county, adj
uniting all are qualified who thus solicit office,
In my county too, we have no scarcity of aspi-
rants, and among this hungry array for its loaves
and fishes sthe humble writer ofthis letter, who
is. a candidate, for the first time 10 the whole
Scodtse of his life of so years for a very humble
Office. D And should he be. defeated, which is not
at all improbable, il is more than likely that it
2 will be his last effort to climb the official ladder.
NJ 1,haye been spending the l~astfewidays in Rom
-ineylin attendance on our Superior Court, mere,
a ttlooker on in Venice,'' never having
9 had a suit in Court IN the whole course of
my iifea Judge Parker presides, and that too,
with uch:dignity and ability. A number of
distinguished lawyers are in ATTENDANCE on
this Court, among whom are e. .GoyernoE Tho.
.amas, of Maryland U. s. Senator, James III.
& Mason. Philip Williams, Mr.. Conrad, aud j.
. Randolph Tucker of Winchester, and Mr.. Sew
s mours Of Moeteield. Aud, as there are several
heavy cases. upon our civil docket, involving
very large sums OF money. It e truly, as might
4~ibelexpected, AN Intellectual feast of no ordi.
mary Character to hear their ingenious, elo-
quent. and logical arguments in behalf OF their
81 several olianis.
As to candidates for the next presidents can
sVvasss wesnountaineefs differ somewhat, Some
of us prefer running Cass, and some Buchanan.
None, however, SO Tar as can learn, prefer
Douglas TO these very ripe scholars and able and
Inexperienced statesmen. We 90 for rotation in
Office as wellin the Presidential as in minor of