The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-01-03
From Seneca.

SENECA Dec. 3l.--RcentlcSs Time IS hurry
ing US ON even to the portals Of new year,
and an Incident connected with this season
some years ago occurs to my mind A bright
little boy about nine years old, came to me
with puzzled expression on his face, and
said Teacher, don't you ever wonder how
God can keep SO many new years agolng?
sftn do,'-5less the boy wonder where he
- BOW, and If his young manhood fulfils tho
prophesy of his childish years.
The year just passing away has not been one
whose history We could wish to see repeated
A twelve month since, Seneca had as fine hall
AS We have ever seen outside of a city and to
The public sprltcdncss Of It's owner David
u. tndcrhill, our citizens were largely indcbt
cd. That hall served well for all purposes
There festive parties mcrrily danced away the
hours, or audiences applaudcd favoritc speak
cTs. 1t was there, one year ago last April, that
George Woodiord opened the Red Ribbon
campaign. lie had been preceded by Eli Per
bins with his wtticisms O., Fitzpatrick with
"reminiscences of the late war, Coliax who lee.
L,
but not least important by the venerable Sus.
an b. Anthony, who spoke upon some of the
many phases of the woman question Thcat
reals also had engaged the public attention,
and the hall had been admirably fitted up with
a stage Of goodly dimensions, with Mclpomonc
upon the right, and Eutcrpc with an appro.
pirate roll of music in her hand on the left
wing But never, until Woodford came, had
NE halls seating capacity been so tested or its
walls so shaken by applause, as when his voice
rang out IN protest against the vice of intcm.
perance, Then, after the organization of the
club what pleasant evenings were passed there
ana what nice entertainments the juveniles
gave us. 1t was a capital place, too, for a
Christmas festival, but alas it has echoed hol
lday mcrriment for the last time. The dread
hrc iiend, IN his visit last March, grecdly de
Voufed 1t, together with so many buildings in
is vicinity NOW, while many of them have
been replaced, and business seems TO be more
brisk than ever, the lot on which stood Eader
hiPs HaH is still vacant, and we never can
pass II without pang Of regret
Christmas of 1879 will long be remembered
Tor the slippy" state of roads and walks, i'll
nothing else. | think a certain c0Hultttoe who
went To Ottawa from here, will not soon forget
H. By the way, as we had the pleasure of
meeting Mr.. J. i. Ham, formerly resident Of
Seneca anG deeply interested in Sunday school
WORK, The committee wish to acknowledge his
courtesy and contribution to the fund for Christ
mas presents for the NJ. l.. ). s. The bows
VIII treasure the memory OF the gay skating"
whilo some men OF years and dignity may with
less pleasure recall certain slides with "A dO,r,
hp1 4.
10 90 last week and was cautioned 10 rcmem
Der that sinners stand in slippery places" II
proved the assertion true, for never once fell
no, ncVer-durlng the glacial period.
oh CHRISTMAS eve the two sunday schools
baptlst ana NJ. E.-unitcd, and had a Christ
mas Tree IN the Baptist church twas ore of
he hhest we ever saw, and reflects great credit
apon The parties who trimmed il. The gifts
were numerous, each school giving presents AS
rewards lor faithful attendance, many beng
rom outside parties We had never seen n
eoiiectoh OF Christmas gifts combining so
wei .ogether the useful and the beauti- |
and while waiting for him Mr.. Robinson en- J
iertalned the young people with few re !
marks and Artie Stevens recited an address !
composed Tor the occasion As we looked
around ana over the audience, composed of
young and old, our thoughts seemed In Nv
back to the time when We, too. SAT walting ,I,c
appearance Of the Christmas visitor. who drove
a pair of RENDERS, with as much subdned I'M.
patience as any of the little folks there We
noted the older faces, but they expressed less
Than the juveniles. whose eyes were br,obt
with expectation. We had time TO think of
faces we were wont TO see at such times and
places, and TO miss them, We know not where
they all are-probabIy many are to be seen in |
Christmas gatherings elsewhere. but some. Nc |
are sure, nes ~updcr Ne dsIsies,r and the |