The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-09-20

NORTHUMBERLAND.
Corn Crop Short Owing to Hall and Other
Causes-Euglsh Spsrrows Still Multiply
lng-Protraeted Meetings Other
Interesting Notes.
Correspondence of THE FREE LANcE)
IIeathsville. Va, Sept IL, 1902.

lieaihsNllle. A., sept. IL, 1902.
The touch OF autumn is very percepti-
ble here on the fields and woodlands and
the green OF summer is giving place to
other cOlOrs. which usually tetOken the
near approach of frOsr
Many crops OF corn appear thin and
unpromising and that from a variety of
causes. Much of il indicates bad stand
to begin with; good deal shows the
calamitous visitation Of hail. and more
still gives evidence oi neglect in cultiva-
ton, the grass being seen growing rankly
among the stalks.
4 short crop of blade fodder due to the
hail and scarcity Oi help" to pull il will
he supplemented well by an unusually
heavy crop OF Pea-hay. Never before was
so large an area covered by this now
generally popular kind Of provender
Now TINT the summer brOOds are grown
and the English sparrows congregate in
Hooks. it would seem that the calcula.
tions Of some that these birds are dimin-
ishing are premature. The thousands of
them that frequent our Northumberland
hedge-rows could of themselves. in a
short time. disseminate the species from
the Atlantic TO the Mississippi.
Very many of our people have iuxuri.
ated this season on excellent fish taken
in traps. The fish have been hauled in
land aud sold from house to house more
generally than heretofore.
The hard crab has come IN for it's share
OF attention this season also. Many bar
rels of them leave our wharves 10y the
boats almost daily.
The protracted- meeting season has not
yet closed here. \ successful one wa
held week ago at l.ottsburg. and sew
eral members We're added TO COan Bap.
tist church aud other neighbOring church
e. as the result A good meeting. with
very large attcndauce. is in progress this
week at Bethany Baptist church. " here
Rev. j. II. Brown. brother OF The pastor.
is conducting the services. This church
will in few weeks dedicate new and
commodious house of worship, which
now needs only the finishing touches to
he completed. Ii is an attractive and
well arranged building.
The time has again arrived TO part
with number of our young people, who
go away to school. Hugh Smith returns
to William and Mary College and Mason
Brent to Chesapeake Academy Meade
Brent will go back to Richmond. and
Miss Elise Smith TO Georgetown, u {.
She will be accompanied this session by
her sister GcneVieVe Misses Lizzie and
ClOe Snow will go To iiellevie near War
saw, and Miss Lotto Fallin 10 Balti
more. Miss Nevis Rice goes To Farmville
and Misses Beulah and Lottie Hinton to
Baltimore.
Mr. G A. Belts aud family have re.
moved from the vicinity of Lillian to
" Poplar Farm" near Heathsvile They
are n social acquisition to this commun-
ity, and will occupy the late residence of
Rev, { y. Belts, deceased.
The house aud store formerly owned
by the late III. X. Moses, in this place.
were publicly sold on last court day and
were purchased by our enterprising and
progressive lumberman, II. c. Rowe.
The graded school here opens again on
Monday, 10th inst. Misses Rosa Beale
and Louise Anderson are the teachers.
Mrs. Rosa Bromley, near Lottsburg,
has been a great sufferer from an affection
of the nerves of her eyes. She is threat
ened with total blindness. Mr.. Sharp
Lewis, of the same reigbborhood, is
down with malarial ieve,. DIR. Booker,
the physician OF that vicinity, is also
quite i'll.