Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-07-01
Letter from Mr.. Gage.
uAuoETox. Chester 90. Pa
Jane 9th, 1870.


II would probably s,e ny last from
South Casollna, and IL j. even 20.
ON the morning o! Nay 9Th We
iefs ibe land Of perpetual summer,
nst without considerable heagtssesses.
II Rad BEEN 10 as indeed pleasant
shelter from the fearful Inclemencie@
Of that nlo.t Indictment Of winters,
ISIS.
We had luxuTiate'I ID ripe black
berries from April 9Th, orense blooms
we're gone and the green balls giving
proml-e 81 golden giol,es In Woven.
Der. Figs were rs large NJ walnut
Pea wines 81 early planting sear and
dead and the seeds gathered for
winter. Corn silks aud tasse,s
prophes!esi roasting ears next
week. over our heads hung the
grand magnolia blooms, each one
opening 10 the sunshine IT, pnFe
velgeiy bells with golden stamens ~
huge 4. quart bowls. AZ our feet the
ponds of flesh water spafkled With
white lIilies immensely large and
doublo. Flowers. wines, and beauty
were everywhere in wild and nncul'
tured luxurIance, aud over all there
seemed 10 rest midsummer Ian
rIor and heayIness, unlike our
northern spring. by and by the
tropical Guns will have done their
work and 4 ar and blight all eyanes.
cent shrubs and flowers and even the
small grass will die out, and soon the
great live oaks, elns and mapiesand
napBolias stretch broader their shell
toring arms, standing with IndOmis-
able viii aud endurance between the
piercing sun and earth, throwing out
shadows from their cooling green
cauopies for man and beast. Then
viii the dusky laborers bare their
strong arms Tor the cotton and rice
fields, aud gather In the wealth that
lies been perleeting for them.
Bat OH what desolate country
with all it's aIluremcnt3 81 warmth
and flowers. As the iron horse bore
Bs away from Beaufort, across the
island northeast to Yainasce, and
from thence on the main land 10
Charleston, 1t seemed ono Wild waste
OF forest aud tangle.
Here and there and far between
were collections Of laborers' cabins,
with patches Of cotton, corn and rice,
with men and women toiIing with
the heavy hoe of 0iden tune. II a
patch ~ brush aud briers aud tang.
ling vines had got too much the
Start IN the middle NJ the field, they
had left IL 10 rs will aud circlcd the
pillow drawn by Is one OK or COW, as
the case might be, round liz borders,
and planted the cotton or corn or
potatoes ut safe distance. There II
land enough why should we disturb
the serene rcp0se Of nature, Occa-
.ionaiiy us We rolled ON see saw wide
spread plains OF hundreds Of acres,
surrounded by hedges or raised
ridges Of earth around them with no
shrub or tree aud gone to swamp
grass. Looking about we could dis
cover here and there tho clusters Of
cabins once called the "uesr0 quar-
ter-," and pcrchanco there would
meet our vision stacks Of tall chim-
neys which told the Fad tale Of the
days Of the rebellion; when the
great house. OF the manor was con.
sumed ~ fire, and the lordIy owner
of the hands and sinews Of his fellow
desp0iled Of his worth aud broken
down by war, unable to labor for
himself and too poor 90 hire the
lalsr of others, had gone his way no
oac knew where, his estate sold for
taxes and perhaps now owned In
small parcels by the former slaves,
wnoare slowly but surely learning To
think and 10 for themselves. But
we are In the very heart Of Chester
60. Pa. lniae county Chester, whore
one hundred and City years ago, or
more, the early Quakers that follow
William Penn 10 America seeking
FOR religious freedom, located them.
selves in the wilderness aud cleared
those magnificent forests and begun
with brave hopes new life, under
fierce difficulties, rs loyal subjects To
England.
There IL in sight from where
write brick house Of goodly propo.
tions which Is builded OF brick
brought In ships over the seas from
the old country andthe walls to-day
are rs solid rs granite and so deep
aud thick that they Will probably
stand firm for centuries to come,
Near By II the old Kennel meeting
house, erected before the revolution
II IL of free stone laid in plaster tina,