The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-04
FROM CAROLINE COUNTY.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
CAROLINE COUNTY, Va, April 80, 1866.

CAROLINE COUNTY, Va, April 80, 1866.
1t looks almost like mockery to ask fol
an "item or two" of news from this mo.
tionless vicinity. The knight of the Freed.
mems Bureau at Bowling Green notwith.
standing, do aver that we are an exam.
pie to all men of quiet citizens and kind
I" former owners" of slaves. But it seems
that We must not only be quiet, but cal
attention of "pet committees" and the
rest of the world out of Washington (north-
ward) to the fact, and for this purpose
call in the aid OF your popular sheet.
H, Why, good Mr.. Editor, all our pursuits
are peaceful. Double team plows have
usurped the places of the "Long Toms
which used to cut up our fields the mus,
kets have, in their turn, been beaten
of BY hoes and rakes; the great big "mer
in grew who used to be SO ferocious, and
who would not hesitate to drop u Yankee
in his tracks, are now most harmlesSly
dropping corn in burrows instead; and the
very next shooting that we expect will
come from that same corn under the press
ure of hot August nights.
To say that all our people are contented
and smiling, as well as peaceful, would not
ft 30 nicely. You know farmers are the
most lugubrious Of people. They will
croak in the best of times. Alas that
they should now have SO many induce
ments to complain. Last summer, when
everything was so fiat, the people were
saying, I'VE must struggle on until an
other cheat crop. That alone will put us
on our feet again, and give us plenty" But
how have those hopes been nipped by the
killing frosts of this most tickle spring. |
have lately seen gentlemen from several
counties, who gave me careful information,
and have myself taken horseback ride
for nearly sixty miles along the Mattaponl
and its head waters, and such tohedt! SICK
", thin, and backward. l can't find any
thing but pity in my heart for our still un-
fortunate people. The best farmers eX-
poets only seed, and possibly family sup
plies. Ye editors and merchants, your
future, too, must sympathize with these
depressions and losses.
But there is one good thing about it all
our people have endured so much, and been
brought so near to starvation, and been
spared, that they rather "pluck courage
from adversely" and already their hopes
leap forward to the corn and tobacco. Spring
has come in earnest, bringing its sunny
skies, cheerful flowers, and all the birds,
from the marten, under the dipping caves,
tothe sad whippoorwill, "under the moon y;
and with all these signs of reviving life
come the earnest planter going forth with
his precious seed in hope of a plentiful
harvest. The Lord reward him
The most warlike implements we have
among US are the sa,o-mills. The pesky
things dot our whole country near the rail
road, and 60 into our virgin forests with a
positive appetite. There are several near
Chesterfield depot, and others above. The
proceeds we hope to see eaten up in Rich
mond on your fine buildings. e., the
proceeds in plank and lumber; the ''metal /"
to go into our own pockets.
Mr.. Editor, like Bill Arp, we are all try
ing to "harmonize "--the boys with the
girls, the doctors with the patients, the
shop-keepers with the dealers, the world
at large with Cufee. He is always inte-
resting now. "Siavery bands done broke
at las" and he can catch as many flies as
he pleases-nobody maketh him afraid.
But he is well-behaved, and like him.
CAROLUS.