The Cecil Whig., 1874-12-05
Letter from Brick Meeting House.
BRICK MEETING House,


pleasant drive of few miles cheap enough
for it, when found.
In the early morning hours of balmy
Summer, hazy Autumn and wild Decem.
Der, we who live within the sound of it,
have heard the whistle, at half past four in
the morning, Of Moro Phillips chrome
quarry, lying between this place and Not.
tingham station. Although only intended
to give notice to the miners, it serves the
double purpose of warning those who have
business on hand to be up and doing, fol
the night is past, and morning upon them
reminding the palid watchers by sick beds
their vigils for the past night, at least, are
nearly over, and the ghostly midnight taper
will soon give place to the god of day.
Hearing this whistle for more than year,
my curiosity was aroused to visit the quar-,
ry, and dixie the boy who broke his toy
rabbit to find the squeak. We went, and
must say it is we'll worth a visit.
Why, tourist, why, with passports have
to do,
Prithee stay at home and see mine and
quarry too
OF course, if one expects to see towering
mountains, stupendous crags, deep ravines
and majestic waterfalls, he must curb his
expectations, for they are not there to see
but if he has a desire to view one of the
"products of the mine" making its ascent
to terra firna, he can do SO, without incur
ring the expense and fatigue of an exten-
sive tour.
Thanks to the politeness of one of the
workmen, we obtained all the information
he could give concerning it, which added
much to the interest. The shaft is over
one hundred and fifty feet deep, a ladder
runs down one side, upon which the work
men descend and return. While standing
at the mouth of the shaft, signal bell
gave warning that the miners below were
about to set off blast, and the bucket,
with the empty box that had contained the
powder, came slowly up. l felt little
nervous at the idea of an explosion directly
under my feet, and was prepared to jump
and scream at the right time, but, although
we heard the sound perceptiby, the shock
was much less than l expected.
We were shown the engine; it is clean,
bright, and new looking, and works with
the steadiness of fate, night and day, pump
ing out the water, bringing up the rock
chrome, refuse matter, &c. The water,
which is as pure and clear as that from a
spring, accumulates SO much faster than it
can be pumped out, that the miners have,
at times, to cease their work. They are
now blasting to get the water below the
ledges where they wish to work. The
yield Of chrome, as yet, has not been ex-
tensive, and the expense is heavy, three
sets of men are employed to relieve each
other; but they have the prospect of doing
better after a while.
Our Hall, the same in which Udderzook
taught writing school few evenings, many
years ago, has been undergoing repairs.
The Templars, who meet there every Sat-
urday evening, have partitioned off a YES
tibule, which adds much to the comfort of
the room. They had open lodge on the
evening of the 2lst ult., Rev. Mr. Tomkin-
son delivered the lecture. 1t was highly
appreciated by all who heard it. He spoke
i'll an able manner on the subject Of Tenn
perance; in him the cause has valuable
ally. He mentioned it as being his first
lecture on that subject in this county, but
we hope it will not be his last. The men,
bers of the lodge did themselves much
credit in their select reading, questions and
answers, papers, &c. There is much latent
brain power in many of the young heads in
this community, only requiring time and
opportunity to develop and make it availa-
BILE.
Isaac Hicks, of Long Island, preached in
tho Friends meeting, here, last Sunday
morning. He took no text particularly,
but his theme was the efficacy of submis
sion in prayer. " Not my will, oh, my
Father, but thine, be done" His voice,
though possessing but little modulation,
was clear and pleasant, and his sermon
flowed on, with the smoothness of blank
verse. lie spoke of the "blood of Christ
which cleanseth from all sin, whereby old
things have passed away and all things
have become new" by which, as he un-
derstood it, the old shells of outward cere-
monies taught by tradition and educ alton,
gave place to the inward knowledge of
Christ in us, and we in Christ For
himself, he objected to music during ser
vice, as it interrupted the communion be,
tween the soul and its Maker, but no un-
charitable remarks against other denomina
tions marred the beauty of his discourse,
but peace and love and good will to all per-
vaded it throughout.
fa
has, think, few superiors. 1t has been
such a fine season for having farm work
done that most of the farmers are pretty
well through with it, and the crops are
good. One farmer who has disposed of the
produce of one corn field of eighteen acres,
sold it in the ear by weight, seventy.two
pounds to the bushel, realized over eleven
hundred bushels, and, l believe, many
Others have done as well.
The hay packing business is a speciality
in this neighborhood. The large crops, and
superior quality of the hay, afford quite a
field for enterprise, although owing to the
large crops, and consequently low prices,
this year, it has not been very remunera-
tive.
| have seen several immense loads of
lime pass through here, from Pequa Valley,
purchased by neighbering farmers, and
luSI Say III was pltdsdHI W tuuS Cdtcu d
glimpse of old times, when that good old
standby, lime, was the only fertilizer pur
chased by our farmers. pondered to my
self if phosphates and other devices would
not, after while, give place to it again,
and, as water surely seeks its level, lime
after all, would prove itself to be the farm
er's best friend and helper
This region has always been prominent
for its butter making. None understands
the business better than the wives of our
farmers, many export their butter to the
city and realize a large price for it, Others
who manufacture on smaller scale, sell to
the traders at their doors.
The farm, at this village, owned by Mr..
Kirk, of West Chester, under the efficient
management of his farmer, Mr.. Fitzgerald
is improving all the time, his large corn
field, this Summer, was picture; SO clean,
so well titled, and the crop excellent.
Our anti-whisky and ant-tobacco friend
and neighbor is, l am glad to say, in his
usual health. His neat farm shows that
while having SO much business to attend
to, nothing is neglected, his house is the
very headquarters Of kindness and quiet
hospitality, and when wedding dinner is
on hands either to give or to take, he 5