Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-07-05
For the journal.
WASHINGTON, TEXAS, June 23d, l

WASHINGTON, Texas, June 23d, 1860
Messrs. ED1ToEs :-Secludng myself from the society
OF the fair ones this warm night for the first time
in few weeks have repaired to my room and finding
amusement here save the re perusal of books old
newspapers and novels and thinking this rather poor
amusement to pass off the very and dull night so
l concluded that l would spend few minutes of the
night in writing you short letter. thinking that you
might like to heai from this portion of Texas.
We are, and have been suffering for rain in the whole
of this State nearly al this year. We have not had
any rain in this county and the adjoining since the
18th and 18th Of April except little sprinkle, and
that not enough to settle the dust The farmers have
given up their crops in despair and they say if it
does not rain they will not make any cotton worth
gathering Those who planted early will make about
halt corn enough for their own consumption but those
who unfortunate not to plant until late in the
Spring will not make the seed they planted. Several
have commenced cutting down their corn and stow
ing it away for their stock the coming winter.
1t is really dreary looking prospect to ride out in
the country and look the parched up corn and the
weakly looking cotton as it stands almost ready to fall
PROSTATE to the earth Yes, say it does look dreary
behold the disasters which this long drought has done
for the farmers as well the other citizens of Texas
and those who may visit it with view of settling and
not only the crops in this condition. but the vegeta
ton all dead the stock is all starving for the want of
food and drinkthe ravines, creeks rivers, wells and
clsterns have nearly all gone dry and it almost impos
sb for persons well STOCK to get water to quench
their thirst We cannot possibly survive the drouh two
months longer, unless we have refreshing showers which
will bring forth vegetation and give drink to the thirsty
You cannot imagine what change has been cast over
the face of Texas within the last three months In the
spring l spent few weeks with some of my country
relatives and while there rode several large prares
and fields and never delighted than then to
see everything looking beautiful and lovely and see
the little birds flying from bush tree and hear them
singing their lovely melodies which caused me to think
that everything to say, Welcome sweet spring. we
have long awaited for your coming The green grass
looked beautiful 1t waved to and fro, and the cattle
horses, and sheep seemed glad say we are glad that
dreary winter has gone, and that spring has come and
brought US such nice forage-but now what change
took short ride the other evening after the sun had
hid himself III far distant cloud and To- to nv great
SURPRISE the farmers had left their fields the stock had
left the praries the birds and insects had gone to the
WOOD and the grass which looked so beautifully in the
spring. had all been cut down by the hot parching sun
and lay dead, dead, upon the earth to rise no more
This is enough to dishearten any one, and will doubt
less cause many poor starving creature to lament over
their folly in leaving well watered country and come
to this. This is my second summer in Texas. and
think will be my last for l am almost Baptist" for
believe IN 1Odter-aOGter. must say that Texas is
beautiful country if it not for the droughts in the
summer seasons Spring and fall are delightful AND
the summer would be if we could only get occasionally
refreshing shower to cool the air and settle the
We have very pleasant winds nearly all the year. anG
especially the nights always very pleasant one car
enjoy good nights sleep and feel refreshed, for the
breeze blows the whole night this is not the case il