Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-01-02
.UNIONTOHN LOCALS.

Putnam Arnold, for many years q
resident of this town, died on Satur,
day, Dec. 2lst. {
Business has been dull but there are
lsigns of improvement. There is a
great scarcity of water; many of the
wells having failed. .s ...t
Christmas was observed, but in a
civil and orderly manner. There was
no apparent drt4 4kenness or rowdyism
of any kind. The annual shooting
match did not take place owing to the
extreme cold. The trundle-bed por-
ton of our community were made
happy in the possession of well-flled
stockings, and an ample supply ofdead
turkey-and demonstrated their joy
and thankfulness by bursting few
packs of chinese crackers.
Mr.. Josiah Snedeker and family
(who are made happy . in promoting
the happiness of others} gave a large
party at their eemmodious and hand
some farm house on Christmas even
ing, which we have no hesitancy in
pronouncing the most brilliant one of
the season. Lovers of music were en-
tertained by the "Independent Cornet
Band" relieved by McClellan's Orches-
ira. Miss Maggie Sne,ieker received
the guests and her kindly pleasant
manner caused all TO feel that they
were welcome. 1t seemed to be the
unanimous sentiment of the gentlemen
that there was unusually large
number of handsome ladies present
upon that occasion.
"Benny," nice young man who
sports side whiskers about the color of
new molasses, visited his sweetheart
on Christmas eve; but her motherI
''shood" him away with the potatoeI
masEer. On Christmas day his land
lady offered him mashed potatoes at
dinner-he grew angry and used pro-
fame words. Result-the. landlord
planted some shoe leather under his
coat tails and excused him from board
ing there any longer. Benny swearsI
that he will swear a week endwise ifl
he wishes.
We neglected to state that Mr.. Elisha
West narrowly escaped being crushed
to death on the B. & o. r. R., ard that
in short time thereafter he narrowly
escaped being hugged to death by a
handsome wOman-whom he married.
Old freeze-up has paid us quite a
lengthy visit, and played number of
his practical jokes. First he covered
our streets and foot paths with q sheet
of ice and laughed to see US fall. Then |,
crept into the cellars and spoiled the
apples and potatoes, actually firing a
Christmas salute from the frozen fruit
cans. Then he went for the thermom-
eters and pushed the mercury down II
degrees below "Cairo," upset farm
wagon on the street, and now has all
our citizens busily engaged in the man.
ufacture of coal ashes. N,
We infer that Santa Claus reindeers
had the ''hipporhinophelgmatiblenno-j
&C., as he did not drive
past our den, but Mrs. Claus or .'one of
the girls" walked over and hung a
very large mitten on the door-knob.-
1t was of the New England pattern
(hrindle ground and blue stripes.) At
top we found candy and pepper lozen-
ges, then popcorn, pumpkin seeds,
cloves, salt, sugar, alspice, cinnamon
rolls, and garlic; and for a foundation
coal cinders and roll birthstone. Wei
have utilized all but the coal cinders
and are puzzled to know whether they
are taken just before or after eating,"
and if so how many. The brimstone
was not the kind distributed by thet
Tract S. ciety. II.