davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-25
A SNAKE JUBILEE.

! Mr.. John D Merton, we'll known
travelling sales man, had occasion to drive
from C,nneautvilie. Pa, to Ashtabua,
vim Jefferson. on Thursday of last week
While driving leisurely along through
East or Southeast Denmark, MIR. Merton
heard strange sound issuing from a
dense undergrcwih at the 5 ide of the road
The gentleman got ou OF his buggy to
investigate the cnuse of the noise, beng
curious turn of mind. Hitching his horse
he cautiously parted the bushes and
s.ealthly made his wav ibto the thicket
for, perhaps, the distance of 100 feet.
Here was spot OF ground about twenty
feet IN diameter, which was such place
MS one would imagine for iairy's ball
roam, The sticks and brush were all
cleared away IN the space, doubtless by
the bdrning Of brush heap. Notwith-
standing the gentleman had made his
way into the bru n SO quietly all sounds
were hu-hed Mt his approach save the
chipping of melancholy cricket or the
drowsy singing of II distant harvest fly.
Mr. Merton, not To be nanpus,ed, sat
down upon log in full view of this arena
AID awaited developments. He had but
short time to wait, for not more thar
minute had passed ere small striped
snake darled out ofa bunch OF grass at
the side of the arena and commenced run
ming around the space in II circle. Anoth
er snake n iitlle longer, soon followed,
and then rattleSnake about two feet
of snake Jubilee; every second after that
seemed TO bring u newcomer of some
kind. 1t was notable fact shat striped
snakes, mi snakes rAttlesnakes, black
snakes and watcr snakes all joined ;he
throng in the greatest harmony. When
perhaps seventy five or eighty snakes had
entered the space curious combination
of purring, rafting sounds arose at one
side Of the circle. A glance in that di-
rection d.closed five large snakes two
rattlesnakes, striped snake and two
black snakes-lying stretched on n log. |
The mathematics were shaking their rat
ties violently, and each of the three re-
mining reptiles Ind frog in its mouth
which it was torluring into croaking aud |
making noises frog -iashion, apparently !
for the Amusement OF the snakes in the |
ring below.
The rattles and tho croakng frogs
mada rude music, which furnished very
fair marching time To .he squirming mass
Of sefpents, aud our informant says they
kept very fair time with the music, their
head all swaying in unison from one
side 20 the other. The gentleman was
lhunderstruct at the wonderful sight, !
and could scarcely believe il was not II
a drcnm He sad to US: "Ol course
yru will think il mn improbable ridicu-
lnus story, rs | won d myself ii any one
told the same to me; but my own eye
ter watching this scene for perhaps II
quarter OF nm hour, Mr.. Merton thought
1t would be much safer place out on The
road, and started to move in that direc-
ton. No sooner had he made u stir than
the music ceased aud every serpent dis
appeared MS if hy magic. 1t wa scene
Mr.. Merton will probably remember to
his dying day and such "a one rs no othe@
man ever witnessed. In telling us the
story, Mr. Merton would invuluntariiy
sh,,dder every few minutes, as though
the mass of reptiles was before him.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-25
HE NEVER DRANK.

In the early part of the late war, when
Gen. G ant was in command of the army
before VlckSburg, u number of officers
were gathered AT his headquarters, hav.
ing n pleasant time. One of them invIt>
ed the party to join in social glass; all
but one accepted. He asked To be excus-
ed, saying that "he never drank." The
hour passed, and each went his way to
his respective command.
A few days after this the officer who
declined to drink received note from
Gen. Grant to report at headquarters.
He oheyed the order, and was soon In
the presence of the General. Grant says
TO hmi you are the officer, believe"
for their acquaintance was slight, "whu
remarked the other day that you never
drank" The officer modestly answered
that he was. "Then," continued the
looking for to take charge of the Com
missary Department, and | order that
you be- detailed to that duty" He serv,
ed his country faithfully until the close
of the war, and was honorably discharg
ed. Years passed. ard Grant had come
to he President. The officer had settled
down to the duties of private hte, aud
the little incident was always cherished
as pleasant memory.
The trouble ON the border between Tex
rs and Mexico along ;he Rio Gmnde at
uacted the attention of Congress, ana II
commission was ordered to actertain the
facts aud report. Again Pres ideni Grant
remembered the man who never drank, ,
and appointed him Chairman of the
Board. The place was accepted and he
entered faithfully upon the work; the re,
port submitted .hows the ,horoughness
with which the duty was discharged.
While engaged in this work he made
the acquaintance of gentleman who
owned nm extensive cattle ranch in South
ern Texas. That acquaintance inspired
confidence and, years after. when the
ltAhU gentleman utc lNel lt sell MS fNnCU
he placed it in the hands of the man who
"never drank" and during the last
month he had effected sale, to nm Eng
IiSh company, of the ranch of 200 000
acres of hand and severa thousand head
of cattle tor and even million dollars; out
of this he gets a commission that will be
snug fortune for these hYrd times. The
company that bought will enter largely
upon pacS ing beef for foreign mn, kets,
slnughlerng their meat on their ranch
from their own herds. The superintend
ence of their business has been rendered
to and accepted by the man who "nevei
drank" and he goes ia a few days TO hi
new field Of abor. This takes from Chi
cngo one of her most esteemed and honor
ed citizens, but it gives one to Texas who
will always be found on the ; dr O order
aud good government chicago Alliance
Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-25

EVERY horse that trots along the tram
ways in Wolyerhampton, England, is
shod with American horseshoes. This,
to. in the face Of the fact that Wolver-
hampton Is the princi ipal town 10 the
word for the manufacture Of hOrseshoes.
The trouble Is they are made by hand
and must be hesttd before use, while
American hOrre.hoes are turned out
eheaply by maehInefY aud put on cold,
without whitlling the nOlse's hUof.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-25

THERE is an eccentl ic tramp IN Litch>
field county, Conn, known MS the isath
er man" He lives in a cave IN Roxbury
during the Winter, and Vt other seasons
wanders from town 10 town logging his
way, His entire dress. hat included con-
sist ofoid boOt-irgs lied together with
leather strings. He never utters word.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-25

OLD Mrs. Cuir says she has always no.
ticed that in lne summer time, when it il
not needed. the sun is always as hot as
IN oven, while in the winter, when a
warm sun would be very agreeable, it is
alway- ~ cold as an lee house. We have
noticed this too. Ii must be the laulI Of
tho almanac makers.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-10-25
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Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
ChriAtm0S Eve nt Salisbury.

As tLe 7.2O train from Hartford nears the ,iati"n the brilliantly lighted new Towl
 i"Ii Iiirs At once the truth iulness of tht
 un Or Lhal old Saulu Claus himselt is 10 puI
 n an appearance tLcle lu-night The nigh,
 severely cold aud lhe ground scarcely ~hllened with snow, yet, as tue old chap e,w"ys goes strong-hard.d. the ''eighl tin,
 riDdeel" set mlnRly bu. loo glad for froi are hardly mindful ut the dtfciency. As we enter the spacious hall the eye rests up- Jn Sea Of familiar faces, from the Infan, Sahbath-hch"ui class to those of mature iears, all aglow with pleasant apticipatiops nt what is soon 10 come. The wonderful, Christmas tree, the chief object of interes, |" all Christmas festivities, gave place to u-sviIy-ladtn tate ot goodies, distributed in d mammoth hasket by Old Nick himself. Dr. H. Nj. Knight. tue suptrint, ndent.
 'l"m q Ihr exctcises hy brief announce T" Ut "I WhaI 'he tDtertAlnme Ut would con.
 'sl, placing the httlc ohts al ease at once Ly the information that the quiet then ex- 's'iLg would soon be broken by u lively .rolic and social chat. Tue pastor, Rev. Mir. Ki,chel, then spoke very touchiugly oH the stmy Of the little Christ child, impress 'ng each infant llstenel with the reasons wby " should s0 rejoice and thus celebrate
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01

the day. eic.. at the conclusion of which the door opened gently, presenting to the delighted gaze one dressed Gas the story gors) ''all in fur from his head to his foot :" Three welcome was the newcomer, and the eager eyes peered searchingly into his face as he passed down the aisles scattering
 broadcast his gifts to all present. Soon came a storm of cotton balls, each contain
 ing some lIitie, exciting mirth and laughter as the nervous fingers tore them asundel. r"buing them of the treasure, then sending
 hem onward until called 10 quiet again to listen lo the reCitaiiOns ot two bea1liiui poems by Miss Hattie W el of Lakevlie- one tor the little ones Annie and Willc's Prayers" the ether cue for those Ot older growth. Miss Wells IS 10 be congratulated. Her voice sweet and clear, uttering every
 word with perfect oislinclness anu with fauitiess accent, the tffecL was decidedly pleasing, Contributing much to the evenings entertainment. Prayer was then offered by Mt. Kitchel, the ''goou Lights" spoken anu the ''wec Unes hasleneG homeward lU haLg their stockings where Old Santa Claus would find them ere the morning dawned.
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
New Year.

THE NEWS to-day seuds to it's patrons aus friends everywhere the compliments ot Ih, season anG wishes one and all A HAPPY NEW YEAR! The old year has gone ant with it bow IT any bright and happy dreams. It's pathway is strewn with the wreck oi fond hopes and affections aud wateIed wiIi bitter tears. It has indeed been year U; general depression and ot hard times. W al and pcstilencc have desOlated portions os the earth and mans inhumanity to man has caused thousands to mourn. But yet Vt are not cast down. We leave the dead pas, to bury its dead and turning to the neH year are ready. albeit We may be fooIsoI> Id weary, to continue on another round in tue great walking match of life, with heaI'' flied with happiness and fresh couragy. And why should they not be? We hay, every reason to hope that happier days sr, coming 10 us, that the coming Year viii WI ness general revival of business and .! prosperity We have had grand carniva: of folly, extravagancc, dissipation ard coz ruptioD, aud have suffered the inevtai k consequences, but we are now coming O.. of tue general debaucb. wiser and better men, prepared to enter upon the duties oi lite with renewed strength and yigor-to work industliously, live temperately, eco nomlcally and honestly and to our Whos duty as seusibie aud intelligent beings. W, cen in some measure at cast, make the nes. year a happy one ii we are deteIInlned ii shall be 80. One difficulty in the way seene to be Cit is perhaps uue 10 the OId Adam Iu us) an Inciihallon on the part of everyoi" to make himself unhappy and every bou :, eise. If mankind would use half the txtI ton, would work half as hard to brIng hap piness into the world as they do 10 bring misery into it, 1t would be much better ant each ciIcliDg year would be much happier. Then Tel us all resolve here oD the threshOi, .oI the new ear, thai W. wlli put behinu Ls ali had habits, all eYil passions and desrcs and lead better and purer lIyee-WalsiDg up- Eightly in our several stations pefuIe Gu. aud man, with malice toward noue anu charity for all, ,snd then We doubt not whei another year shali have passed away il WI in reality have been to ali ot us c happy
 fsr year,
 t.s xst
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
open weather.

-'Oid Probabilities" is making queti work with the weather this winter. To, holidays have come and gone and yet W. have had no sleighing, while all around lie we may Say they have had severe snoN slornIs. He seems to have some petty spl, against this section, but what it can be !o we can't imagine. Iu England they hay, had the heaviest fall oi snow that has oe, known there for mauy years in some tn stances, it IS said, IL Was twelve feet deep. blockading railway trains for days. l.. Northern New York they had an unprec,- dented snow storm last week, which las,ec several days and ragged with great fury Tit snow was four feet deep on level and se- riously inte,te with travel. The storu. seems to have extended Westward along the Lakes, into the Mississippi Valley Kansas City, Mo-, it is reported, the weatL- CT has been the severest known iu that re- zion for twenty years. Over two feet C: snow covers the earth and the mercury ha: been several degrees below zero. The Ms souri river has been closed for week anc the ice is foot thick.
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
Pedestrian Feats--.O'Lenry beats
 CAmPsAnns

O'Leary. the champion pedestrian of the country. wins the SIX days contest in Gi- more's garden over Campana. the Bridge port man, having covered up to 10 45 Sat- urday night 400 l-9 miles to 357 IA OY hIs opponent. O'Leary seemed fresh at the end of the contest, wbiie Canpana was sh worn out. O'Lsary Was off the track days. hours. minute and 35 seconds dur ing the week. and Campanal day. 23 hours, 80 minutes and 40 seconds. After they goi through. Campana, ln an address to the su- dience, charged the trainers he had early iu the week with paralyzing him, and said that, it he had had his present trainer at tE' beginning he would have won by at least 5U miles. He then offered to run any man Ii England or America l2 days match iul $i0,00O. O'Leary offers to oel $5O0O th:,' he can walk 54O mics ID IA hours. The fees tor admlssIon to the O'Leary -Campa | contest amount to $2O. 900. The crowd wrs very large the last evening.
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
Butler vs. >heriden.

An interesting Case was recently tried in the U. 5. Circuit Court in New York, be-
 fore Judge Wallace. A man by the name of W Nhalen brought a suit against Genera; Sheriden for having Issued an order whiie in command at New Orleans and tuning him out of the possession of what was cai
 ed the Klllona Plantation, and putting one Mark Hoyt Tn possession. Tue suit was for $4l6 900 and General Butler was Wha- len's leading counsel. Judge Wallace de cided that tue Generals order was utterly void; that he had authority to do any such thing and that he was in court simply us u private individual and liable ss such ; Uu, he held that if he could show that Hoy: was in fact the actual owner of the premis- es that was good defence in civil action. The jury so found and Butler lost his case
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
PardOned Out.

James L. Chapman, formerly Cashler O. the Farmers and Mcchanlcs' Nttioual Ban~ who was sentenced in May, 1877, to tiv' years ID prison for embezzling the funds oi the bank, has been pardoned out by the president. His atcomplice ln the crime, the president of the bank, is still in prison, but will undoubtedly soon be released. Wonder whether hs would have been par dontd out after serving one-quarter Of his term If he had been some ''poor cuss" sen- fenced for manufacturing few cigars, for instance, without paying the tax. Not much.
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01

AT CHRIST CHURCH.

On Christmas day Rev. Mir. Bodl,S preached from St. Luke, ii-l4, Glory [, God in the highest. and on earth peace, good will toward men.
 There are certain times when we may forget all that is dark and sinful in our selves and the world: when We may dwell uot on the evil but the genus of good with m us. Christmas is such tune for it tells ot the exaitatiOn ot man, not the fall. Il ,s not strange therefore that We should choose angelic words to express our joy ra- ther than employ our own t1a,teling speech. There is, however, u still better way nt showing our gladness- That IS 5y living q higher, boiler lite ana so causing every member, every faculty to yield praise and glory to God. The great gift ot God to Us at this time through Christ was the enlarg ing of the possibilities ot our nature. He made it possible for us to gaoao in grace; to uecome higher and nobler beings. TLt x. edllng is made 10 produce better fImt bS grating. So our nature wassrenoered Ca lable of bearing more and better tIun when GoG's divine nature was gratt.d upon ,t. This growth, improvement, widening ut our nature is the luitlllment ot the prom ,ses of the 35th chapter of Isaiah. PooI human nature had become blind, deaf, lame and dumb. Now ''The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deat shall be unstoppcd:" now shall the lame man leap as 8 hare, and the tongue of the
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01

subscription Accountable date on tr, 'olnred >hp"i paper with the Eame of the sub
 cri6ef Show> the time to which the SHb scriPdiOn is paid thus. smith 5JnlI9, nd1cates that MT smith hak paid for his paper !o 'uly 5th 1879, II Ia hoped that subscribers will zee to il thar their account az indicated bS late on thei papers, ie aways correct ana whe,, they pay tor Il renewal of their subscription, will observe whether their date is changed to indicai. the proper credit and in the event of error. [" inform us for correction at once. Nc claime f0 errors in these accounts will hereafter be cOnStd cred unless presented within thirty days after the payment is claimed to have beer made, the regular receipt of the paper with the iate to which the subscription is paid plainl, printed thereon is prima facie evidence of it's ac ceptance correct
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
WEDNESDAY, JAN. I. 1s79,
Major Andre Monument.

Cyrus w. Field proposes to erect a moi = ument on lhe spot where Major Andre w s ex cnted ss spy. He should al the s"nie lime erect onr hy the side of II 10 the mru. Ory ot Brpedict Arnod. The Washn .,inn Monument is still about halt con ple,rd. aud stand: ,not us d monument 70 the Fathe of his country, but to the nations shame Would Mir. Field contribute towards tn, hung Andre?
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01

A Milford man, stupefed hy drink and the cold was found near the Fair Haven rolling mill the other night, and taken in and resus- tated amid the lurid glare of the molten iron and the din of the machinery. As he slowly came to and was asked where he belonged. he 1 ooked about him ill a frightened manner and rrplied: "WeIl, when was on earth, hyed in Milford"
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
LOCAL NEWS.

'4* We shall feel greatly obliged to any of our friends in the county, or elsewhere, who will send us particulars of any occurrence ot interest which may come under their notice.
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
CORRESPONDENTS.
South Canaan.

South Canaan
 The funeral of George K. Peck, (whosc sudden death has startled tue town IN which most of his life has been spent), was attended at the ConpregatIoual church ili this place. The Peck family are inferred m the cemetery near the church. where considerable improvements have been lately made. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Ro bert Hunt of Sheffield from the words, My Grace IS sufficient for thee" an able and impressive discourse. He was assisted Tn the services by Rev. Mir. Moore the pastor. The flowers on the casket were choice and abundant. The tM- neral was very largely attended.
 MT. Connolly leads the lun in filling his Ice house this year agaln, followed closely by MT. Erastus Merwln. or his manager, ''FIank." The ice is said to be very clear and quite thick. MT. Merwin is inproviuA ln health, and 1t is Eoped he may socn bt aOUut again.
 Mrs. Burger has closed her fall term in the unC CT mountain district, and will take a little rest before commencing her winter Cerm Tn the school house near the church.
 
 fall term on Canaan Mountain,
 The week of prayer IS to be observed by union services between the Methodist auG Congregational churches.
 East Canaan. $. A. Herman, prosecuting agent foi Lltchtieid Co. brought five cases tor rep utatlon of sale of luLoxicants before D. $.
  paid up.
 A new case of diphtherla made It's ap- pearance Sunday last, Bridget MonnahaD IS the unfortunate.
 k. $. Roberts Lad large Family cat" and some one was mean and low enough t. ] hrow a G1sn of hot grease all over it aud burnt It so horribly that after dragging It selt around few days, It died. Mem dou, use hot grease as an Implement of warfare, 1t has u.ore of a tenll'lhe look. Comment IS needless. lI IS characterzed ln thls section as an act that the North AmerIcah Indian would not be guilty ofR sharon.
 Christmas week has passed by with its anticipated joys. Services were held H. the Episcopal church which was hand somely tnmmed, Many dlnner parties were given lu town, wulIe others went abroad Altogether it was a day Ot much happiness.
 Rev. w. k. TeIrctte of Saratoga came ln town last week with hls bride. Ho lectur- ed on Temperance ill the town hall Mob day evening.
 Prof. Owen the glass spinner occupied the hall last week. His lectures etc, gave general satisfaction. Many received hand some pIIzes.
 The funeral of Richard Smith, Esq, was attended from the Congregational church last Tuesday. His remains were lad Il, Hillside cemetery.
 The several schools in town are having vacations, and the teachers having a gooO time genera lily.
 There was very pleasant party at tue Pleasant View House on Friday eve, winch was hrst-ciasS lu every respect. Tue choice aud Loumuful supper gotten up by Mir. Bradley, moprletor of the house, dld great credit to himself and lady, and prov ed to certainty tLat he knows hIs busl- ness.
 Baby show at R. Goodwln's New Years day, ARCANUM
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01
I,onmect.cu, N esaepn Nexv..

OOmnecticut " esseRD NeNvs.
 Extra Copies of the Nsws can be obtained a, Grahams Drug Store, Salisbury G k Marble New Hartford Cornell N Hoyt's store. Lakeville J. Turner Falls Villax. Humphrey'e Drng Store Canaan Post Office, West Cornwall The !" Emporinm,'' Yves, Wirateo W, A. Roberts, East Canaan D. L. Pratt, Southfeld and Mill kiver Welch 6 GEJuhnson, Norfolk
Connecticut western news., 1879-01-01


 -Sahdtown is DOW plunged into morts ..lr,r on account ot The wild stories ut |. ,ranye animal which has been seen in H.. !lcinily, and the dt sCTiptlOus of which val, 'c"fdine ,u 'bt ln,' glnaliuhs Of the ttlli- ned narra,uTs. Some dc esclihe it as heira yellow. wiih long tcdy, and abun, tw, lee, high; others say il is black, with clov- n te,t, with barb on its tail ard spis lite while otheIs stfirm that it walks up,ilt ,ns EorIs on It's head. and u mouth ike -.lppcpniamus, wilb two LOWS of dOub;t '.th all lound. Fr n these vscilla,Ing Ct. ,criptions all sorts oI theories are ser forth. some ltirk II is a panther, some b hue' VI l!G-cat aud some thins it is an oraup.uu,- ~ng escaped from mtnagerie. But VI out Nink irs ti,htl ot tbese-they are al: mistaken. We btiitve it is the Devil hlm. ,cif, tor we know his Satsnic Majesty hes "en lurking in the locality of SaLuiowh Or come time past. as witness all the free fights. insure c'iors, Iawsui,s, elop. nentt, -'c, cons'snily trsnspiripg there. The it xI man that stts h,m should look and Set if he don't ca'iy a harhed pitchfo,k and ms fiery tongue isn't split, with hruk oi. acb side. ri iis "la esi" is said lU muk. ls u, at;.qnaIlrls srmcwLtre ill lie viciun, oi the can.L-g'"uld, urd wt hope. now ,hnl tbe iphahiisLts art on his track, the1 will give him ''dusty huht," as these Surdtcwn uffalrs aIc becoming mOnOtOhous md no doub, the capture Ot the devil wuulu end 10 less,n D their tl'quency. Ali ,u1r out, boys, and chase the devil around lhe stump.