The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-08-18
Thinking Of Lofty Shades and
Gurgl1ng Spings Of Carolina
While Roasting IN
Texas.
GaoEssacK. Texas. Aug. 4tb. 1857.

0hOES6EChf 16AAo3 6UB, 4bu; 4COt.
Dear Watchman and Southron: To-day,
TO beguile a few moments of hot weather,
while the mercury in the thermometer is
ccquetipg and courtesying about 1859 Fab
renheit 10 the shade-sHch shade as we have
10 proximity to an ice bo1-l have essayed
to write squib for you and promise more
aoon. Well, one whose memory has not set
faded hy the efaox Of time: and which still
bas strong tendency to run backward in
'be course of tine with power to recall and
represent, will, ipstnctively and slmos. un-
consciously, draw up out Of the depths of
the unconscious notifications of our minds,
the Impressions from the circumstances and
surroundings of early life-other scenes,
other faces and condi,iops-thcse linpid
streams and babbliog brooks hard by which
we gamboled 10 days gone by-,hose gurg-
ling springs of cool. clear water gushing
forth from the foot Of some spacious, spread
ing giant Tree, or from the base Of some hill
So refreshing and cooling and invigorating
TO the weary, worried and woru-tbose
bowers Of clear, cool, lofty shades, go provo
cative of ease and comfort and slumber in
mid summer the superabundance of the
choicest varieties of fruits and vegetables.
Oh ths, big, round. fat, luscious watermelon,
which will almost rive at the slightest pre-
sentation cf koite Is it any wonder that
we who have experienced different conditions
and circumstances of life, should sigh for the
s'fesh pots of Egypt or for one Of those
itInerant nuisapces which bas by sccident
gotten loose from Kansas or Idaho reserva-
down on fellow when least wanted; mean
IS tberC north
ern principles. ls it any wonder, say.
that We sigh in contrasting this tarsus, this
sered landscape with scarcely any vegetation
alive save cotton and the dwarfed mesqnit
trees which, psrsimonionsly scattered here
aud there over the land, resembles an old
South Carolioa peach orchard. Well. but
We do have as set off, come good warm
water, made drinkable only by tie applica-
iion of little ice, and we have the great
arched, unosstrucled canopy of heaven above
Us with the great day god, Old Sol, reigniug
ompipresent and powerful, his big, red, not
eye beaming down upon us with unmitigated
vehemence, day after day, week after week
yes, months. But Hicks Gays this atmos-
pheric condition must come to termination
soon for, as be says, there is TO be Won
derful disturbance in the heavens by reason
of The position of the planets and heavenly
bodies TO one aoother and we may, in conse-
quence. expecf, on or about The !tb inst, bet
waves, 1--WE ave having tbem) bail storms,
cycIooes, earthquakes, 3 runaway norther or
souther, as aforesaid. Let 'em come. Aoy-
thing to cool the air, to yet The ground, TO
obscure the SUI but for short time, to eua.
BILE fellow to have whole nights rest ouce
more wi,hou, perspirine to death, and to
dissipste Iassitude snd ,oertness. Well.
now, | have said arout enough for this
weather. Ny old straw bat Dearly ignites
from the quo IN going short distance.
shall wait until the weather is cooler to
write propose to tell you much in subse-
qaent let'era about things 10 general Of this
country. You have often, doubtle9, heard
of the grestopss of Texas. Yes, Texas is q
great part of Uncle Sam; great eveo unto
s,ingiog lizards, walking horned frogs, in.
numerable colonies of red ants, dwarfed
herbsge, ceotipedes. tarantulas, deborped
cows, thick skin men, hot wiuds, plenty of
sunshine and dust, northers and sou'hers out
of season, etc, etc.
Yours sery respectfully,
JAS. 7. WILDER.