Connecticut western news., 1877-12-28

make of this knife. but can surmise he may have thought it might come handy to cut down every obstacle that should come be tween him and his religion.
 The Jail at Pittsfsld is probably one of the best Tn the country, and the system em- ployed is without doubt the best known. Everything is cleanly kept, and under the direction and management of Sheriff Root, Deputy Jailer Scott and Jailer Gardner, is probably as successfully conducted as the people can desire. Some of the cells ex- hiblt considerable taste displayed by their inmates in their ornamentatioD with pic lures, cut paper work etc. One of the prisoners, George Williams, is certainly one of the most ingenious and skillful work men we eyer saw. He. with no tools but an old shoe knife ground to point for whiting and carving, and another shoe knife converted into saw, has made 8 large steamboat, with upper decks, side wheels, pipes, pilot house with man in it and at the wheel, and who turns the rudder seen at the stern by twisting the wheel; ID fact every requisite for a first-class Hudson River steamboat, and all the work is abso- lute perfection in itself. It Is ornamente by different colored woods, and standing on it's base, which is long solid block ot wood with the waves of old ocean carved out of it's surface. it is certainly very beautiful and an intensely interesting piece of mechan sm. Williams is in jail for stealing horses; has now served about a year and halt of two years term. There are l2e prisoners now confined in Pittsfeld jail, five of whom are women. We are un- der special obligations to Messrs. Scott and Gardner for courtesies extended to us last Friday.
 "Had Two Bites."-Some little time since gentl man who a few years ago claimed the honor of being citizen of the centre of Ireland, where he says they GU, thirteen tons of hay to the acre, but who now graces farm in this town with his au- kindly consented to change in sleeping room at the residence of his employer, to accommodate the family in some slight changes it was making in it's affairs. Pat went to bed early and all were enjoying the quiet rest of the weary, when at about half past one at night he came down stairs at a laundering pace, and bounding into the room of MT. R. almost shouted as he shot out the words: live had two bites "- ''What-whst is it you say, Pat ?" asked Mir. R. who, it is scarcely necessary to add, was by tbs time pretty thoroughly art used: "What do you say ? what alls you sick ?" II dunno" replied Pat with hls face cover ed wi b big drops of sweat, ''I guess am bit with a schnaake got bite bout an hour an 'alf ago, an it began to swell an thought was pisened an lay there fs- ling around the bed wid me two feet to See if he was cowld. for the Irish girl at Law rences tould me that schnaakes felt cOwld to the sken, an I prayed the Lord to direct me what to do, and thort I wud run away down to Dr. Camp, when got another bite an jumped out O bed an come down ] to git 8 match for 8 light to find the schnaake ''Well well, Pat, you shall have some matches to light your lamp to fad the snake with" replied Mir. R., and off the frightened Pat went up stairs again and found in his bed-tsOo long black i toGspsG)
 ILeft over from last week.l
 Shefaeld.-Don't you fancy yourself in Florida this mild weather. MT. Editor? 1 cannot account for the ethereal biandness at Christmas, unless it is the Presi- dents Southern Policy blowing up soft gales from the be calmed South...... Farmers are talking hereabouts of blowing, but if they do they better not let the Government officers hear of it or they will be levying higher taxes with view to raise their sala- ries ....The sick who have been reported l in your paper are improving slowly......Th M. E. Church is preparing for good time Christmas-a harvest home, supper etc..... Rev. MT. Hunt of Canaan preached for Rev. Mir. Germond last Sunday, and was l listened to with much iDterest......An ad- jOurned meeting of the Union Bible Society met at the M E Chapel Monday evening, and prayer meeting was held upon the
 
 tional sewing society met at MT. Winch's last Wednesday. Nearly ninety persons were present: three long tables were set and covered with bountiful feast of good things prepared by Mrs. Winch who knows how to prepare what is excellent. After supper the party were unusually merry, as if they were glad to throw off the gloom that has enveloped the community since tue sad death of Mir. and Mrs. Stillmap...... The Episcopal church IS to have a Christ mas tree as usual, but we do not hear whether the Congregational intend any pub lie demonstration or not through the holi- days...... The ladies talk of forming an aux Hilary missionary society to educate foreign men to labor in their own countries, Carry ing the Gospel bOme......Mr. P. Bradford, son ot JuIge Bradford is at home this win ter. and will play the organ in the Congre- gatlonal church in the absence of Miss Sa- rah Dutcher......1t is the custom, as we DO l tice, to report the weight of pigs: Mir, Ar I thur S.xton butchered one last week weigh ing 525 pounds, and Ar. Savage killed ten ! Monday. His lady, who is three women in one for life and activity, informed us Wednesday that she had not quite finished trying the lard .....A dancing school was held at the town hall Thursday evening. numbering fourteen couples; so we were told...... Rev. Mason Noble lectured last Friday evening before the Friendly Union, upon Capital Punishment" and his re- marks eiclted much app ause. He believed ID justice as well as mercy, and in punish 1 ing criminals according to their crimes. He