The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-01-19
FROlI LEBANON.

LEBANON, KY, Dec. 81.
Ii scarcely seems credible that / am
sitting in my room with the window.
open, the birds singing, the air balmy
and the sunshine cherry and genial a
May time, this the 3lst of Decembef.
l have been out in the garden and
found the hardy little Heartsease
blooming away, unfolding their purple
land gold right royalty: and there was
the jasmine, with its yellow crimson.
tipped buds, bursting into actual
bloom, the JapOnicas almost out, while
the tree HOneysgckle was really white
with bud and blossom. L caught nv
breath with a genuine enjoyment IA
snuffonce more the rich, rare fragrance
of the dear little brave white blossoms
which had come to me in mid-winter
with the breath Of lOnged for spring.
l saw the Blue birds, too, peeping by
pairs into the Martin boxes, fluttering
and twittering and Kissing so daintily,
never waiting fox St Valentine to
bless them at all. Seeing all this,
asked myself if it really is the last of
December. The almanac says ''yes, ("
and the Christmas holidays are almost
over. Alack / fear l am growing
old, for this has not been like the old
time Christmas, when fun and frolic
held high revel, and merry making
we're the order of the day in the old
Kentucky homes. Even, the negroes
do not seem bali 50 gay and cheerful,
under the new regime as in the
Olden time.
The Methodist ssbbat6 School had
a beautiful Christmas tree. But
Lebanon has iever had as few festive
gatherings daring the holiday week
since she was 3 liftle crooked, puny
village, befole the present century
came into sxsI6aos. The kiling of
our town marshal. ThOs, II. Chandler,
threw the whole community into the
'wlldest excitement, and cast gloom.
over the place. He was a very. sR
ficient officer and a valuable citizen.
George Northcraft had been terror
in the community for several years.
Fan overbearing, bullying desperate,
who had killed several men, and at
one time had eluded and defed the
whole military force for months togeth,
er. In act until hs ehoss b no to
L-gilloand giise himself ! p . tie
U. S. authorities, where by some
"hocus-pOcus" of the law he was cleared
for shooting down annuofe6dhe de-
fenseless negro, just as he would have
shot a poor masterless dog, and turned
loose upon the community to keep
alive old feuds, and wake up the town
with frequent brawls and shooting
scrapes. | have heard but one senti-
ment in regaid'tO his death, that Is a
feeling pf relief that the, community. is
rid Of him forever By nsahp i is be-
lieved that the disturbance was a pre-
arraRgement of lNOrtheraft
and his brother. john NOrthcraft, md
two or three friends to get up a street
row at certain point, and when Chan
dle-eane TO arrest George, his bfoshcr
John, conveniently plaeedsysstps shoot
him down; and h the dark the parties
would easily escape When, ChApII
dler, with his posse Of three or four
men, selected for their known fearless
hess in danger, reached the scene of
disturbance, he told Northcraft he
would have to arrest him or kill him,
NOrthcraft replied that. he would not
be arrested By such a set ofdAd cow
ards, and commenced drawing his piss
toll while holding on to Dick. Chan>
dler, cousin Of the marshal, who
wac enJoa,,oy;,,,, to ,,ot N,,,..i.,,e .,