Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-08-16
GENEVA. IND. .
aug l<tn %
Mr.. j. II. GRABILL,
Dear old Friend:-

| M. %. H. ObAbiLLi
Dear old Friend:-
When, severa
years ago, would sometimes get copy
of the HERALD, from some friend in old
Shenandoah, and saw your name at the
masthead, 1 wondered whether it was the
jsame John with whom used to 90 to
school away back. forty years ago, then
fought by old Mr, Sanborn in the old
Academy in Woodstock.
Now as l get it regularly every week it
comes like "a letter from home and al
though get and read a number of papers
from different sections of tine country, if
they all come at once, l always read the
home news columns Of the HERALD frat
of all.
What changes have taken place since
Jaw you last. can only see You now, in
mind al ! saw You nearly IS years ago,
first yerging into young manhood. How
likely, now, you and l, two old men,
might pass each other without recogni
ion. How familiar are most of the Nance
see in the HERALD, yet they are-with
an occasional exceprOn--the names of
those whom l never saw; only tie
children of those that | knew. Once
knew who occupied every house in Wood
stock, and knew every man and every
boy, ten years old, in town. Now, what
a lonely stranger l would be on her street
Those whom | knew as young men are
either gone or, like myself becoming old
and grey, and breaking down from the
effects of life's great battle.
l would rather see Woodstock than any
town on earth-to walk all her streets
once more and see its changes too. How
the heart yearns, after being long absent
to revisit the scenes of early life once
more. Inability to endure the long trip
200 miles, has kept me away for the las
four years, but il God will give strength
may yet see old Virginia.
As read the HERALD each week ]
wonder how many of the people of OLD
know how they are blessed
ia many respects, especially so this year.
Here nearly everything is burnt or dried
I'D. For nearly fifteen months there has
been no rain to soak the earth. Very
little rain or snow during the winter; a
ew showers in April. none in May, and
,nly few light showers since, and no
ign or hope of any change till COO
sets 10. With the drouth, the
weather is the hottest ever felt for an
,ntire season. Water is failing In all
ources. There is much sickness among
children and old people. Very little fruit,
nd that not good. No apples here for
our years.
This is a beautiful and rich country,
nearly level, with strong. durable clay
oil, but for FIVE or 6 years has been SUI
,ct to long drouth in the fall, but never
ike this yet. Many are beginning t.
believe that II is caused by the millions
Of feet of gas that is rushing into the 7
every day from the thousands of oil and
gas wells all oyer the country here, and
which is not destroyed, but accommodating
all the time up in the lighter air. There
are some good reasons for thihking so.
Many trees in the woods, and fruit trees
and vines are beginning to die. Pasture
bnrnt up and much of it dead in root.
Corn on low, black ground is green ye'
bat chinch bugs are at work on it.
People have to feed stock like in winter.
Yes, il the west has more rich land to the
square mile than Old Shenandoah it does
not have all the blessings Of this life.
Truly yours,
JAMES w. BARR, SR.