The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-11
I'm" 10 Old Friends.

'
EIiifOr Press n1W BunncT:
As It has hccn quite II long time since
wrote anything for yonr va luablG paper l
thought ] would pen you few lines, mas
much rs feel q deep Interest In your welfare
and success in life. Although this may not
prove interesting to many, yet feel confident
that have many friends still living in the
old county that will read this and reflect upon
the happy days gone by.
| left your State November 1851, and made
the thriving city of Admission, uhcn In lis In
fancy) my home for the ensuing year. Rni,
Mr. Editor. soon found out that city life did
and the iron men grew rich, ii was nip and
tuck for me To make ends meet. SO you sec
had struck something that was not my call
ing by long degree. ut once made up my
mind that II ] was made for any specific pur
pose that it was to pull the bell cord over n
mules hack. and so did, and still draw the
relns and hollow geo, haw, woh. back. &c
am happy to say, Mr.. Editor, that my ef-
forts have been crowned with success and To-
day while | am far from being rich, thank
God we have here in the fertile valley or Tai
ladega, Il beautiful home, surrounded 10y
friends and nci.h uneXccllCd in any
country. 1t has been Il long struggle and re-
quired diligence and economy to gain the lit
tie fOothOld we now pOsS;sS, but God has
promised, and will fulfill 1t every time, tC
crown successfully every dilgcnt tiller OF the
soil.
Right here, Mr.. Editor. will venture a
word Of caution TO those that are young In the
art Of agriculture. II requires rs much study
and thought to know how to adapt the diner
cnt crops to the different soils, the time tc
plant and mode Of cultivation, as almost any
business we can engage in, and while Zee
my incOmpctency to rentilatc the subject as
1t should be done, advise all to make care
ful study OF the above and note results from
year TO year which will prove invaluable In
tho end.
Another word of caution to the rcclilcs far
mers, and am through on this subject. and
will then tell you something Of our country
RI, perhaps. you arc a sorry farmer and not a."
Ing as well as you think you ought 10 10
don't let loose and try something mat you
know less about, Tor " sou DO yon are aHSnrcd
y failnrc. but strive to improve ali the
while and make up your mind To succeed
and venture you viii.
l remember shortly after the close or tho
war / was most successful, had bought and
paId for II nice little home near Grccnw"nd
and every thing ! turned my hand 10 made
me money, and some how or other got IL IN
my head TO sell ont and enter the mercantile
busines$-snmcthing / knew no more about
than II hog does about holiday. Wen, say
the fall soon came and great was the FIJI, for
was as complete II financial wreck as you cfci
saw, and that In vc-y little time. icnct
the tlvce above never let loose 4 certainty
for an uncertainty. This all happened, MT
Editor, over twenty years ago and you vii
readily see what II has cost me; the twenty
years uhccasing labor to regain what was lost
by one rash or foolish act. merely mention
this, hoping it may catch the eye OF some one
almost persuaded 10 try IL new way of max
ing the jingling dollar, and That he may cal
my Alabama friend is doing. Yes, It. Is II no
BILE, II Is an independent. II Is the highest o
all things, to bean honest tilcr Of the soil.
This is one of the richest mineral States IN
the Union, and her resources are being rapid
ly developed. Birmingham: Admission, Shcf
field and Talladcga are all booming: and Ia
enter either is to remind one that he Is IN
PiitSbulg, the great iron centre oI the North
Nt.I,t tnn1 nj
of Railroads, running in every direction and
still others are building. This country pro
duccs corn, cotton. rice, tobacco. potatoes, NIL
let, and few are planting the ribbon cane
which Is doomed In The near future t0 run Sor'
ghum in the ground. The writer planted a
small patch last year and the result was be-
tween $40 and GOO gallons per acre, as good as
the y. o. syrup. and fruits OF all kinds DO well
here but until recently not much interest has
been taken in replacing the orchards. The
demand though in the large cities have
caused many TO 60 into this business which
am bound TO believe will pay big per cent.
We have the Alliance fever out here, and we
think it will prove epidemic If 1t has not al.
ready done so. 1t IS doing great, good in this
section, enabling farmers TO trade direct with
wholesale men and manufacturers thereby
saving the middlcmcn's profit. Not only
this, il has caused the farmer to study econo-
my and also TO use improved farnl impc'
ments, and to as speedily as possible abandon
the credit system which has ever proved tie
greatest drawback the farmer had TO contend
with.
Well, Mr.. Editor, forgive me for trcspassing
on your Invaluable columns and | will desiSi
us This is already much longer than l intend.
cd at the start. May happiness and proSpcri
ty be showercd upon you, Mr.. Editor, anu my
many friends In the old Palmetto State Is my
prayer. often think Of my old army friends
Of old Co. +. IIolcombe Legion, and Of our
brave and impartial Capt. Ieigler, whom re.
gret TO learn has crossed over the river OF
death, but trust that each Of his suhordinatcs
may some day join him In that land OF an
unclouded sky and answer the roll call which
will set us free forever. Your friend.
w. {. NERRELL.