Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-09-03
Crops-SchOOls and Health Of RaCcOOn and
Big Nallies.
CHURCH GROVE, Aug. %, ISL

CHURCH GROVE, Aug. %, 1873.
EDITORS CHRONICLES: In my letter pub
lshed in the WEEKLY CHRONICLE of Aug.
9th, mentioned the fine prospect for an
exuberant crop in Beaver Creek, Bull
Run, Raccoon, Hickory, Hines, Wolf and
Big Vallies. Last week 1 passed through
the same vallies again, and regreat that
the protracted dry weather causes me to
somewhat modify my anticipations.
During the latter part of May, and the
whole of June, the rains were 50 frequent
and heavy that large majority of the far
mers of thsee beautiful vallies were unable
to properly cultivate their corn and when
the dry weather set in, the fields were solid
ly matted with weeds and grass, which
caused the corn begin TO fail i'll very few
DAYS. The consequence is many fields
that promised an overwhelming yield, will
barely make half a crop. Enough, how
er, will be raised for home consumption
and small surplus for market.
There is not now, nor has there been,
any cholera in Big Velley. The two Mrs.
Sharps did not die of cholera. This /
have from Mr.. II. NJ. Longmire, who is
a relative of the Sharps, and resides
in one and half miles of them.
The potato bugs mentioned in my last
letter. are still endeavoring to demolish
our potato patches. We have tried lime,
ashes, coal oil, &C., with little or no sue
cess, and we have now resorted to an un-
falling remedy, to-wit, that of killing them
with clubs.
Tobacco worms are intolerably voracious
this summer. L notice they have played
sad havoc with few neglected patches.
Why don't Congress pass q law prohibit
ting worms from dealing in leaf tobacco?
A Sunday school was established at Sha-
dy Grove school house last spring upon an
entirely new plan. The Superintendent is
less than eighteen years of age, and all the
other officers, including teachers, are
young people. The school has proved a
brilliant success. John II. Burkhart, is the
faithful superintendent.
Our newly elected school directors have
gone vigorously to work, and expect
new school houses. They say they
are determined to have good COM
Portable school houses, and have them
properly located. This is right. We
want houses 70 send our children to, and
not such miserable mockeriesas we have
heretofore had in this district. 1t should
always be borne in mind that children are
not proof against cold.
young Mr.. Smith, of Raccoon Valley,
has proven himself a perfect hero, by GO
ing and waiting upon DR.. Lewis after all
others, save faithful DR.. w. A. Rodgers,
had deserted him. When DR.. Rodgers re-
quested Mr.. Smith to go to DR.. Lewis bed
side he informed him that the Doctor had
cholera, that nurse would be in danger
of taking the disease, and that consequent
~ the pay would be good. Mr.. Smith re-
piled: "I will go, but will not ask pay
for it," True to his word he went, remained
until the Doctor died, assisted in his in
terment, and then unostentatiously retired
to his home. Can anything be more glo-
riously heroic? / am glad to be able to
chronicle that, notwithstanding the pro-
phetic declarations of many of his timid
neighbors. Mr.. Smith has not been at
tackled by the fearful malady, DR.. Rodgers
says God will not permit cholera to touch
such a hero as Smith is.
We had delicious rain on last Monday,
but the weather continues very warm.
OGLE BOYLE.