Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-08-27
CrOps-SChOOls and Health of Racc0on and
E.e rs Big Yallies. III
CHURCH GROVE, Aug. %, 1873.
lRS CHR0NICIE In NV letter nrh.

)RS CHRONICLE: In my letter pub
lin the WEEKLY CHRONICLE of Aug
oln, [ mentioned the fine prospect for ar
exuberant crop in Beaver Creek Bal
Run, Raccoon, Hickory, Hines, Wolf anG
Big Vallies. Last week I passed through
the same vallies again, and I regreat thai
the protracted dry weather causes me te
somewhat modify my anticipations.
During the latter part of May, and the
whole of June, the rains were SO 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.
~ matted with weeds and grass, which
caused the corn begin to fail in a very few
days. The consequence is many fields
that promised an overwhelming yield, will
barely make half crop. Enough, how
err, will be raised for home consumption
and a 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.. r. M. Longmire, who is
relative of the Sharps, and resides
in one and half miles of them.
The potato bugs mentioned in my last
letter, are still cndeavoring 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 I'M
failing remedy, to-wit, that of killing them
with clubs.
Tobacco worms are intolerabIy voracious
this summer. / notice they have played
sad havoc with few neglected patches.
Why don't Congress pass 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
InSc tl1nro n1rrl,t ,ofo Ioll t1,a
other officers, including teachers, are
young people, The school has proved a
brilliant success. John r. 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
prlperly located. This is right. We
want houses 80 send our children to, and
not such miserable mockeres as we have
heretofore had in this district. Tt should
always be borne in mind that children are
not proof against cold.
A 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 DIR. w. A. Rodgers,
had deserted him. When DR.. Rodgers re-
aqested Mr.. Smith to go to DIR. Lewis' bed
Side he informed him that the Doctor had
cholera, that nurse would be in danger
of taking the disease, and that consequent
ly the pay would be good. Mr.. Smith re-
piled: 81 will go, but will not ask pay
fer 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? I am glad to be able to
chronicle that, notwithstanding the pro-
phetic declarations of many of his timid
neighbors Mr.. Smith hos not been at
tackled by the fearful malady, Dr. Rodgers
says God will not permit cholera to touch
such hero as Smith is.
We had delicious rain on last Monday
but the weather continues very warm.
OGLE BOYLE.