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Show INTERESTING MISSIONARY LETTER FROM TENNESSEE. Editor Leader - The reason why I have not written for the Leader for so long a time is two fold. First, because you have been pretty well supplied with communications from some of the other missionaries, and secondly, for the want of time. Since my arrival, in the spring, I have been touring with Elder B.H. Roberts of Farmington, mostly in Wilson and Rutherford counties. They are two of the leading counties in the state. The majority of the people take some news, ???spies??? and are better informed than are the people of some of the adjoining counties, where a newspaper is looked upon as an emissary of the evil one. Partly on account of the debate between Bro. (Brother) Roberts and the Rev. (Reverend) A. Alsop being so wide spread, and partly on account of the sensational newspaper reports about our people, we have found no difficulty in getting school houses and large congregations; at least, I may say large until curiosity is satisfied or until some begin to listen earnestly to the truths of the gospel, when the ministers commence their work, stand aloof and cry "delusion". The ministers of all denominations shun us as they would a viper. And many of them have engaged in the ministry as many years as we have weeks. Mere boys who have scarcely arrived at man's estate, with small show of man yet upon their chins, to put to flight their best ministers! Does not this alone savor very strongly of the truth? During June and July we held 32 public meetings. In new neighborhoods the houses were crowded to overflowing; on two or three occasions the windows were take out so that those who had come from a distance could drive up to the window and hear the Mormon preacher. Although the people seem backward in embracing the truth, still we have made many converts, some true friends, and are laying the gospel before thousands. I have been traveling with Elder J.T. Hammond, of your city, for the past two weeks. He paid us a visit in Wilson, and I returned the visit by accompanying him to Coffee Co. (County), his field of labor. There is a good-sized branch of the church there, and it is expected that all will immigrate this fall. Coffee Co. (County) is in the southeastern part of the state at the foot of the Cumberland mountains. Here start those hills and hollows and ranges of mountains extending eastward, terminating with the coast. We spent a night in a small log cabin about twelve feet square, situated between two high hills, running back hundreds of feet at an angle of 45 degrees. The hills are covered with a luxuriant growth of trees, the oak, elm, hickory, chestnut, beech and walnut loaded with nuts hanging in expressive opulence above our heads. The trees overhanging and towering many feet above the cottage, formed a dense shade never penetrated by the rays of old Sol. A small stream of pure water trickles down the hollow within a few yards of the cottage. The oppressive stillness was only broken by the occasional shriek of the screech owl or the wail of the whippoorwill. A more quiet, sequestered spot, I have never seen. The people cling tenaciously to their old customs; a stove is seldom seen but the large old-fashioned fireplace is still in vogue. Such furniture as a bureau, cupboard, etc., the good housewife looks upon as a useless expense. They are living away behind the times. If you ask one who has just returned from town, "what news from the President?" they hardly know what you are driving at. In fact, when President Garfield was shot, we were informed that the governor was dead. When asked if Governor Hawkins was dead, we were emphatically informed, "Why no! the governor of the United States". The drouth has been very severe in Tennessee. Many of the poorer people will be in very destitute circumstances before the next harvest rolls around. The cotton crop is almost a complete failure; the corn crop will fall short in many localities fifty per cent; in others it is a complete failure. The wheat crop is about on an average with last year; the wheat matured before the drouth set in. In the counties where I have traveled, the wheat averaged about five bushels to the acre. This, ought to be encouraging to our Utah farmers. Prices are about as follows. Wheat, $1.45 per bushel; corn, $1.15; Irish potatoes $???; sweet potatoes $4. Bro. (Brother) Hammond and I arrived here Thursday night; Bro. (Brother) Hammond is on his way to New York where he will remain a few days on business; I, on my way to Wilson county, my old field of labor. On our arrival, we found ???Prest (President)??? John Morgan, also Bro. (Brother) Bills, who is on his way home, and Bros. (Brothers) Cowley and Parkinson, the latter of your county, who were on their way to St. (Saint) Louis, their destined field of labor. Prest. (President) Morgan considers the mission in good condition. 25 baptisms having been reported within the last twenty days. We missionaries are glad to see the patent outside of your paper disappear and more readable matter substituted. We will now make a missionary of the Leader. Fraternally yours, A.H.S., Nashville, Tenn. (Tennessee), Sept. (September) 3, 1881. |