Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-08-04
letter from Arkansas.

leys and the happy associations OF q pleas
ant life spent among them, have L seen
the we'll known but ever welcome race
of the HERALD. This favored view and
interview was in Camden, this State,
when happening into the Office Of the
sprightly little Republican paper printed
there, I saw the HERALD among its ex-
changes. I devoured the contents eager
", and am not sure what the fate OF the
paper itself would have been, if had not
been solemnly pledged to return the same.
I wish that such visits might not be SO an
gelic, but more human in calling and Civ
ing a meal. mean it shall be so
when my wanoo-i~os cease for long
enough time to get letter ~ v~n and
one paper at least back before [ move.
Weary from my Llabors, having "read
out" and having few lone leisure mo-
ments, I give them to you, hoping the few
thoughts which are suggested may be of
interest to some of your readers. AS the
settler does when taking up his abode in
the wild forests of some new country, so
[ am going to do,-frst clear up the
bushes and cut down the trees in the To-
cation chosen for basis, and from this
center work out to the surroundings. L
wish to lay before the eyes of the readers
of this letter my present abode and its en-
virons, fresh in their richness and unsur-
passed in beauty by anything L have
ever seen. The Prairie" is rightly
named "Lost" The nearest post Office Is
twelve miles distant, and the only COM
munication with that Is by occasion
al passers by. The mail there is
tri-weekly now that r ed River, along the
banks Of which this lend lies, is not
navigable owing to low water and the
many snags and sand-bars which abound
in it, we are more lost than in the high
water season when occasional boats visit
us bringing up the necessary stores to
last the plantation hands aud the river
residents during the season, and taking
down the cotton to the Shreveport or New
Orleans market. About the only, and
certainly the most convenient and easy
mode of travel is on horse back or mule
| back. 1t is thus thot vun n~-->-~----:--A-
with the outer world when we deign to
mipgle among her children, aud 1T IS on
rides I have tried it, and unless I find
better saddle animals than has been my
lot thus far, can be better man and
christian off than on them. After riding
about one hundred miles, suffering nm
told miseries, 1 preferred a standing
posture for comfort. But there is nothing
like getting used to thing, and l verify
believe these natives could ride an inch
board set up edgewise if legs were on it,
and moving power in it. Pardon me, l
have depressed. The prairie, which lies
spread out in every direction about me,
contains over three thousand acres of
tillable land, twenty two hundred of
which now laughs with noble crop of
corn and cotton. If Providence continues
smiling, fine harvest will be gathered
this autumn, which will do more towards
reconstruction than a dozen congresses.
The corn is in the roasting ear and cotton
in its bloom. Surrounding these open
acres are forests of the richest foliage.
Flowers of the sweetest perfume fill the
air with fragrance, birds of every beauti-
full hue mingle sweet notes of their
music with this aroma, and with all the
organs of smell, sight and hearing are to
the brain most lively and delightful SEN
sations. The wild vines are magnificent,
some two or three feet through, winding
themselves in their climbing around the
trunks of sturdy trees, and arching over
head acres with their spreading twining
branches.
| The beautiful vine is often seen entwin-
ing and covering the defOrmity of an old
dead stub, and could predicate reason
to them, I would also vanity, and would
describe them as choosing, when conven-
lent, the dying supports for the better dis
play of their own outward loveliness.
How like reasoning creatures Through
| the forests crawls the harmless and the
poisonous reptile, roams the deer, rabbit,
coon, squirrel, bear and wolf, and flies the
turkey, partridge and many varieties of
sweet songsters. There seems to be ev-
erything that heart could wish to crafty
the love of the romantic and beautiful.
The rivers in the cooler months abound
with geese, ducks and all varieties of fish
If any man lives to eat, this is the place
for him during the winter months. If he
eats to live, he may miss his object during
some of these hot summer days. Even
now, in the height of luxuriance, death
turks meath the fruits and blossoms He
has been here, and taken one of our num-
Der with him. 1t was sad and remind
full stroke, and makes me wish to die with
friends by my side to soothe with their
presence. He died alone, far from home,
and was buried by kind but unloving
hands. We hope he is in better world.
Though death may be tardy, his forerun-
ner, disease, fails not his coming. Fortu-
nate, indeed, is the man, woman or child
who escapes his strong hand. have felt
his power, and know whereof 1 speak. I
shook at his coming, and burned when he
came. do not like it. During June,
July, August and September, and only on
the low lands and river bottoms is the
danger. AT other times and in other To-
calities the people generally enjoy good
health. The malaria arising from the
low, murky places is the chief cause OF
sickness, and where this is not there is
health.
/ I fear that am too long with my pref
atory letter, but cutting short here, will
try in future ones to give brief sketches
Il Of Arkansas manners, customs and modes