Smyrna times., 1886-01-06
For the Smyrna Times.
Letter from Bloomington, Ill.

Mr.. EDITOR Some time has
elapsed since last 1 wrote you of our
weather, crops and prosperity as a
State and people. First, l call your
attention to the weather at present,
which is unusually warm and wet,
making gloomy streets and muddy
highways. The fact is, that as State
we have had a splendid Summer and |
Fall, and now remarkably warm but |
healthy Winter, but do not allow the
above to lead you to think that there
has been no snow, for we have had our
share of such weather, having already
had about nine inches at once, which
our smooth roads made splendid sleigh
ing for about two weeks. Next must
tell you of the good crops as a result
of such splendid seasons. AS l have
before told you how little wheat is
raised here, l have only to speak of
the products such as oats, rye and
corn. The oat crop here was very
good in almost all parts, and the far
mer looks upon the same as a great
blessing. The rye was but fair, as no
special effort is here made for a large
yield of same; but the corn, well, un-
less you saw it here you never saw such
as is grown in this part of our State,
and it is surprising how well it is cared
for by so little force, one man will
often tend fifty acres and do all other
work beside, such as chores around
the house. All alone one man is found
doing all the work on farm of one
hundred and twenty acres. But the
reason he does is because he is COM
PEELED to for want of help which he
cannot get and also because he cannot
afford to pay for work done at the
present price for labor and then at
the end of the year sell the corn for
seventeen or at most twenty-five cents
per bushel, and the very best timothy
hay for four dollars and fifty cents per
ton. But now l have shown you one
side and must tell you how the farmer
does work his money here: it is by
raising well-bred stock. To illustrate,
he will raise a large draft horse on such
corn and hay and sell the horse at say
two hundred and fifty dollars at three
years old.
Well, so much for the farmer Now
l want to tell you of some other
things. We have had u Christmas out
here and have found it a good cOun-
try for presents on such occasions, and
one thing l want to boast of is that 1
have not seen single person under
the influence of liquor all through our
festivities, and the churches have all
seemed to make an effort to be re-
minded of the true design of such an
niversary of the birth of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
But just here l am reminded of a
broken family circle near you at this
time. Last Christmas my father made
merry with all at home, but since then
death has come to our home and this
Christmas for the first time he cele-
brates this glorious gift to man in the
midst of Heavens rejoicings, but as
death came to our home he left his
mark, for in that one visit he made q
widow and left many aching hearts
The victim he has placed in the ole
, and silent churchyard at little "Black
iston's Chapel" Delaware, and these
: Winter storms beat for the first time
upon his new-made grave, while sit
here only looking at his picture now
before me. Well, in these things too
: must say the will of the Lord be done
, / did think at first that would write {
longer letter but cannot now for al
: aching heart. But l must tell yOI
that as have so hurriedly written yOI
l have been sitting with my window
open and as l Iaise my eyes l lOOl
upon the very prosperous Wesleyan
University which has recently beer
made wealthy by the efforts of Presi
dent H. II. Adams, D. D., and tn,
+, well-beloved Hiram Buck, D. D., nov
:, the financial agent for the school VIII,
Q of himself has of late presented tn,
e University with the net sum of sixteel
thousand dollars. Expecting to writ
d you again soon as to some things here
+ in omitted, remain,
Yours &C.,