The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-17
Hagood ON The Mount.

Altapass, N. C.,>Aug. i2.-Every-
where the eye turned as we came up
were the evidences of abundance.
God is blessing us with the promise
of abundant harvests. of all good
things, and we ought not to forge'
Him.
Talking the other day we remark
ed that it looked as if God was on oul
side, when another said he did not
like to regard it so, but rather that
we were on Gods side. ''Wh is
on the Lords side? Let him come to
me-" That is just what we would bs
assured of beyond all peradventure
Years ago, when first we tro6 this
soil, we tried to convey faint idea
to those of your readers who never
came here what a land Of fat things
these mountains are, but this must be
seen, enjoyed, to be appreciated. The
finest Irish potatoes we ever saw
grow are here, and are produced with
little cultivation. They 90 not dis
them until late fall, save as tbev
need them.
Daily the tables of the humblest
are groaning meath the good things
of earth. Yesterday, aside from the
grandness of nature as displayed in
it's scenery, we 'beheld that other
beauty that refresheth, nourisheth.
buildeth up. in acres of buckwheat.
corn,~fat bears, turnips, not in small
patches, but sowed broadcast in corn,
buckwheat, etc. some already large
enough for salad Then there are
the fruits, apples, peaches, pears
grapes, apricots, black and whcrtlc
berries and what else I know not.
These people are contented. happy.
SO different many, from two years ago
when the flood had swept everything.
even the homes Of some, away. That
heavy cloud that then hung like q
pail upon them, has SO completely,
disappeared that scarcely its memory
remains The other day we dined
with family, fine people they, the
Davenports, where five years ago,
with a most tempting repast before
us we did not dine but cast up ac-
counts made sick by mountaineer' 5
tobacco. What an ideal place 1t is,
a home built in the valley of the
North Toe, but far enough up the
slope to be perfectly safe from floods.
They have all the good things
named above, with fine cows and
hogs and chickens of the purest
Rhode Island Red strain and such
flora. One is sometimes tempted to
y f1,1 flowers
are to be found in the mountains. And
they say that in most secluded spots
we'll They are great to go to
church, and when they get happ!
they shout, not peculiar tc Methodlsts,
as we have seen with our own eyes
, They have good schools, which they
patronize, and are fairly we'll inform
ed on the great questions Of the day
They are deeply interested in the war
staunch supporters Of the adminlstra-
ton. Slackers. such as we have. po-
/ litical some. would have short shrlt'
here. for they are thoroughly patriot
F! ic. holding in utter abhorrence anc
detestation the Hun and his sympa-
thiZer. AS evidence Of how thor
oughlv the war has our country in its
grip little Louise Hand, under sin
years old. asked us about the war
When inquiry was made as to what
she knew about it her reply was
I'VE are fighting the Germans over
in France and they are fighting US
| A little mountain lad that could moi
read. when one in jest offered to buy
his dog to sell the Germans for food
replied: The buZZards can have
! him but never those burned Ger
mans" We use his strong language
to show his feeling in the matter. he
! is doubtless the son of his father.
1t is raining here every day but this
instead OF detracting from the beau
ty and charm Of the scenery but add:
to it thousand fo.d. But this fo'
another letter "Brevity is the soul o
wit" ''Hagood."
Many a man who seems perIectl,