CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH 37 
The life of a schoolboy, roaming the fields when not 
occupied with his duties, is rarely the subject of record, 
and was no more so in the present case. At the age of 
fifteen, however, he began to keep a record of the weather, 
a few lines a day, without instrumental observations. 
Next come the two great strata of sandstone and slate, occupying 
nearly the whole breadth of the valley. The North Mountain con- 
sists of red and white sandstone and slates. A narrow dyke of trap 
called Strong ridge, crosses the valley, about five miles east of Carlisle. 
The Conedoowinit creek forms the dividing line between the lime- 
stone and slate. Nearly parallel to the Conedoowinit, and at a 
distance from the South Mountain, runs the Yellow Breeches creek. 
The remaining streams which are of insignificant size, are the Letort 
and Big Spring. 
“The fertility of the soil, varies much with the particular parts 
of the country. On the South Mountain, there is not a great deal of 
arable ground. The limestone land, however, is capable of a very 
high state of cultivation, particularly near the water courses, in some 
of the bottoms along the Conedoowinit creek, the timber grows to 
a very large size; it is not uncommon to see Button woods, 7 feet, 
Mossy Cap Oaks five feet, and Hack-berries two feet in diameter 
and grape vines 6 to 8 inches. About seven miles to the southeast 
of Carlisle there is a strip of woods called the Richlands, containing 
trees of an astonishing diameter and height, so high indeed that it 
is considered an almost impossible feat to kill a squirrel or wild 
pigeon on the top, with shot. The slate land is very unproductive 
compared with the limestone, though by good management it makes 
a tolerable yield. The North Mountain is very rocky along its sides, 
fertile however on parts of its top. 
“The most peculiar part of the county, consists of that portion 
in the South Mountain. This is not a single ridge like the North 
Mountain, but occupies an area of considerable breadth, made up of 
short hills and ridges, separated by narrow valleys, and copiously 
supplied with springs and swamps. 
“In the latter, we find the cranberry and fragrant magnolia, 
growing in abundance, particularly in one called the Black Swamp, 
near Pine grove furnace.” 
