The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-05-31
For The Cecil Wing
LETTER FROM TIE WEST.
WADswoRTH, ONO,
Nav 1~tb 1879

WADswoRTH, ONO,
May 18th, 1878.
My last letter was written in the midst
of snow-storm; now sit in the bright
glad sunshine; it comes in at my window 2
most welcome visitor, reminding mo of the
days of year ago, filled with the bloom
and fragrance that como to you weeks earl
Ter than to us, in fact begin to wonder il
our flowers are as sweet as those that bloom
under warmer skies. Perhaps this year is
King must have vented his wrath on this
portion of Uncle Sans territory to the ex-
clusion of the rest; l don't see how there
has been enough for any other; day after
day he has drawn up his squadrons in bat
tie array and poured Nc gentle showers on
our devoted heads; he has overshadowed us
with great, heavy, angry looking clouds, no
little, fieecy stragglers weeping and smiling
by turns, but big fellows thoroughly in
earnest, flinging hail, snow and rain, and
thunder and lightning beside, through air
almost cold enough for snow:
Now we have had three successive days
of sunshine, and already the dust begins to
envelope passing vehicles.
Wadsworth, of which l mean tie tell YOU
all can find out, was settled in the spring
OF the year 1916, and was, for long time
the only place of that name in the United
States, or in the world maybe. The streets
run north and south, and east and west,
beginning from the village centre, which
centre was, until recently, ornamented with
singular locking structure, of which there
is left only post holding out ghastly look
ing arms, which serve as guides to various
places; one points to the "great western
coal mine" why "sreat" or worthy of
note know not since Wadsworth is built
upon hills of coal. There are about one
thousand inhabitants, four churches and a
fine looking school house. The German
Reform Church is queer looking affair,
being 0ctagon in shape and in former times
was the Academy; beside it on High street
stands more church like edifice, belong
ing to the sect called Complexities by most
people, and calling themselves Christians
or Disciples. On the main street stands
the Methodist Church, a plain, brown
building, placed somewhat back from the
pave. College street has the Congrega-
tional Church and at its western extremity
stands the Mennonite College of which l
will tell you more anon. Broad street
would be left in the lurch, but being the
residence of the Editor, the Mayor, the
Notary Public, &c. &c. &C., all in one
The country around is beautiful; fields
Of wheat spreading wide in the sunshine,
when there's any to spread in, orchards
of various fruits, but only the cherries yet
brave enough to bloom. The sturdy apple
trees still hold their pink buds tightly i'm
prisoned, wisely enough. AS for peaches
fear king winter treated them too rough
ly, not only are the buds killed, but the
trees too; at least passed small orchard
yesterday which looked bare and brown.
Like most western towns Wadsworth is
spread out great deal, every cosy cottage
stands far enough from the dusty street to
gladden. the eye with its greenery. On both
sides of High street are rows of evergreen
trees, with here and there maple and
here and there a cherry. The yards are,
some of them, divided by arbor vitae hedges
and did see some narcissus in bloom under
the friendly shelter of pine; do you
know if the narcissus blooms without any
sun?) and two days since l found the
''jewel print of her feet in violets blue as
her eyes, which print Immediately took
possession of, and it stands now close to
me, fair and bright, making ME more
contented as I sit day by day listening
to the gentle voice of my Ito be- familiar
spirit Wooden paves seem to be a pecu-
liar feature of villages in the west; great
waste of valuable material in my opinion
to say nothing of the trials of feeling and
temper to which pedestrians are subjected
by the nails which are always raising their
hard heads somewhere about. On one side
of High street, close to the walk is well
with graceful ferns hanging over its messy
brim and its "old oaken bucket" lying
prone on the surface of the dark water,
neglected and forsaken, its sweetness, its
usefulness, its glory departed.
There passed my window just now a
curious street cleaner; there are four or
five horses attached to some wheels, while
dragging behind is a heavy plank on its
edge; man sits upon the other edge, to
weight it guess; it leaves it's mark on the
clods, though l can't say see much i'm
provement in the street.
This is busy, thriving, stirring little
place, very different from our country vii
loges, except (alas!) in one respect; from
what hear there is as much gossipping
and scandal here as in other places; and we,
some Of US, approve of Mark Twain's
amendment to the Lords prayer, "give us
this day our daily stranger" We are very
much alive though, and while there is life
there is hope.
We have fine band, and last night were
favored with music for at least two hours;
the last piece sent me into dream-land, so
low and sweet was it as it faded away in
the distance, to be called to earth again by
the twittering Of the feathered band, at
their mathis | guess: don't believe birds
deal in gossip about each others affairs: l
think Mr.. Robin can give Mrs. Buebird
" the top o the morning." or even fine
juicy cherry, without Mrs. Jeanne Wren
running to say there must be trouble in
his family and making general hubbub
and fuss in the settlement; or Mr.. Catbird
spend an hour or so sometimes with Miss
Blackbiid, without every one wondering
how Mr.. Catbird's family like it: believe
Mrs. JEANNE, and all her chattering tribe,
would be let alone severely for her pains
by all her neighbors. They look to me
sweet-tempered and dignified, and quite
above all such busy bodiness.
The college under the supervision of the
Mennonite or Ma-neast as they are some
times called, stands at the end of COLLEGE