Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-12-21
CALAVERAS CHRONICLE.
SATURDAY, -: DECEMBER 81, 1867.

SATURDAY,, :: DECEMBER Il, 1867.
SroRM.-During the present week we
have been visited by an old fashioned storm
not one of your dainty, dripping, drizzling,
sunshine showers, but downright "souser."
1t prolonged its stay, too, fully as long as
was agreeable or necessary. As natural
consequence the roads are almost impossible
for loaded teams, and our streets are not IN a
proper condition for foot-racng. While the
rain may have been regarded as a "Godsend
by the ranchers and miners, we cannot "see
it, in that light at all. If there is anything
in this world that gives US the "blues, 1t Is
long, dreary, dark, interminable rain, and
its everlasting, inseparable nuisatical' con-
comitant-mud Somehow other 1t seems
to us as though everybody changed with the
weather. When it rains, men are curt
snappish and sullen. and do things they
would be incapable of in fair weather, A
fellow who can be cheerful and good-natured
when all his surroundings are gloomy and
unpleasant, must have the patience o. JOB,
the meekness of Moses, and happier DIS
position than most people possess NO
damage was caused by the storm, so far as
we have learned, and the stages have made
their trips with accustomed regularity. The
streams are considerably swollen, but not SO
badly as to be impossible. The ground is
well soaked and those who had fears of dry
Spring are greatly relieved. 1t was the
opinion of the weather-wis that the present
Winter would be an exceedingly mild one
but their representations will be sadly
at fault judging from present appearances.
SINGING SCHooL.-Unprecedent progress
is being made by the pupils of Mr.. Nc
Mahons singing school. Some of the more
advanced can even ego through" the diatonic
scale without making a mistake, and by
short calculations determine the position of
the letters upon the staff. The school is
composed of wide diversity of musical
talent. Soprano, alto, tenor and base are
sung in manner which would drive a
musical enthusiast to distraction with
delight. While no special regard is paid to
slime" and harmony" the most critically
inclined could find no fault with the "vol-
ume' of the voices. Considerable difficulty
was experienced by the teacher at the COM
mencement of the term, in inducing the
pupils to extend their dental apertures suffi-
GENTLY to admit of the passage of full. I'M
interrupted tone while singing. We are
happy to be able to state, however, that a
front view of the school, at present, while
engaged in producing those thrilling har-
L II. = L. Al
achieved an enviable reputation, would con-
vince the most casual observer that any
further extension" would be not only un-
necessary but extremely dangerous. All
those who wish to learn music should
attend. No better opportunity will ever be
afforded. Mr.. McMahon is an experienced
teacher and his terms are easy. This even
ing at the Church.
AFFRAY.-On Sunday morning last, two
men by the names of Charles Clark and
John Platt became engaged in an alteration,
leading to an ARRAY, during which the latter
was severely, although not dangerously cut
with pocket knife. We not acquainted
near as we can learn, the circumstances are
these: A dispute arose in relation to "wheth-
er Wells, Fargo & Co.'S express box was
carried to the stage office in the morning or
evening"" After some words had passed be-
tween the men Plat reached OUT for
Clark, who had his pocket knife open in his
hand at the time, and succeeded in getting
hold of him. While they were ''clinched,''
Clark cut Platt four or five times, two
wounds in the abdomen and one in the left
breast being quite severe. Clark was arrest
cd but afterwards released, the complaint
having been withdrawn. The injuries of the
wounded man were dressed by DIR. Hepburn,
and he is rrpidly recovering. Times are
becoming quite lively in the cutting and
shooting line. If other branches of business
would keep pace with the operations in
phlebotomy, we might be happy yet.
CHKIsTMAs.-Wednesday next will be Christ
mas, merry Christmas. Already the hearts
of the little folks are beating rapidly in an
ticipaton of the stockings full of ''good
things which they see in the prospective,
and they count the intervening days with
that impulsive impatence so natural to
youth. To "children of larger growth" the
day possesses a different significance. II
recalls the occurrence of an event which
forms the most important epoch in the
history of the world. Eighteen hundred and
sixty-seven yefrs ago, in the village of
Nazareth, was born Him whom the Christian
nations of the earth regard as the Savior of
mankind Although centuries have since
rolled into eternity, the birthday of Christ is
still reverenced. We wish our readers, one
and all, a merry Christmas, and many of
them.
ARE we going to have a Christmas Tree
II so 1t Is gh time that the necessary prep