Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-01-24
MISC cELLAEEoU
LETTER FROM MIDDLEWAY.

NEAR MGDDLEwAY, JAN 9TH, 1882.
Editor Of the SpirH Of Jc6erson =
AS an item OF local interest, l send you a
brief .ccouu, of the manner iu which the
| II Holidays we're spent in our ancient and se>
questered village. And if We except an act
OF lawlessncss, which occurred on Christmas
eve, peace and good will, according to the
teachings of the Divine Master, ,predominatcd
and all enjoyed themselves agreeably, and
had a htppy time On that night. however,
in consequence of rather liberal indu gence
of benzIne, by the parties engaged in it,
free fight was the result which with a single
exception. was confined to the cullud geu-
try in which knives and axe helves were
used rather cRrelssSly and indscreetly, az
one copper cullud pussou, who acted prom
inent part in the melee, and the priucipaI
character in promoting it, was pretty rough
ly handled and received a severe cut, some
where near the juguIsr, which might have
proved fatal if the knife had penetrated q
little lower. While snother of q more sable
hue, had his hand badly gashed in attempts
ing to ward of the thrust of knife. intended
for him, who was the instigstor of the row.
For these riotous proceedings and distur nee
of the public peace, these pugpacious and
beligerant gentlenea we're arrested by Town
Sergeant Clrothers and taken before the
proper authorities, whers the pains and pom
aties of the law were imposed upon them,
and their pockets were made to bleed as
freely, as their persons did profusely, in
their savage and brutal encounter But We
pass from this drunken and disgraceful brnvl
to a topic of a more sgreeabIs and ple.siug
nsture-the festivals of the Sunday Schools
which were perhaps the most interesting and
enjoyable of occasions this glad and festive
season, and in harmony with the anniversary
commemorative of the birth of Him who
said ''suffer the little ones to come unto Me-"
and was the delight of ell who participated
in them, whether old or young. There rre in
| this place two of these schools one con =
uected with Grace (EpscopaI) and the other
with the Methodist Protestant Church. The
festival Of the last named was held in the
| church building On Monday night succeed
| ing Christmas. Your humble servant was
! not present but has been Informed that all
| the arrangements were in excellent taste and
| gotten up with view to please all bat more
! particularly those for whom they were de-
signed beautiful Christmas tree, with it's
spreading branches laden snd bending under
| the weigh. of the presents intended for
| scholars, teachers and superintendent, and
| brilliantly illnmi mated with numerous burn
| ing tapers. presented a picture of kaleido-
| scopic beauty that was the admiration Of all;
| and notwithstanding the extremely stormy
| condition of the weather, the church was
crowded with nu osger and anxious audience
to witness the interesting ceremonies and
| distribution of the presents which after sew
| ersl hymns had been sung and prayer offered
was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Livingston,
the esteemed pastor and efficient superinten-
dent. who. as be lifted them from the tree,
handed them to the recipients, who received
them with faces radiant with smiles and sup
pressed e1camations of joy, indicative of
their delight And that of the Episcopal
! Church, did not take place until the Friday
| preceding the New Year aud was held in
! the spacious building OF the late Jacob Gi
| bert, over the storeroom in the oceu-
pancy of the Messrs. Lloyds who kindly per-
mit,ed the use of it for the purpose and in
lieu of the consuetudinsl Christmas tree.
those who attend at that school partook of an
excellent and bountiful supper provided for
them by the Ladies' Aid Society, connected
| with that church. consisting of turkey,
chicken and oysters with the necessary cou-
comitants usual on such occasion, and found
| on a weIl>suppIied table. filed with the
! choicest lu1uries. The scholars, in accord
ance with previous arrangements, were as
senbled at the church at the ringing Of the
| Oc'l, bue GppOlHteu DolDR naI past tSO
where after q few well timed remarks by
their eficen. superintendent, s. F White,
Esq-, they were marsha!ed into line and
marched to the room, where everything was
in readiness, and = collation., under the .u>
spices of Mrs Walter Shirley, Mrs. DR.. A.
NJ Evans and Miss Nary Brisrly. of the 60
ciety, assisted by Mrs. Seibert, Miss Helen
Bates, Mrs. John Shirley, Miss Lillian Sci.
bert and Mrs. Hinton, WAS prepared for
aud awaiting them, which vouId have
tempted the appetite of a gsstronGner. and
that made the wee scholars clap their hand,
in childish glee and the eyes of tho large
ones to sparkle with joy, as they gszsd upon
the tables loaded with the good things o.
which they were to psrtakc, and proTidsc
expressly for their enjoyment. On one sid.
of the room WAS large table on which wer,
big, plump, fat and nicely roasted turkis
! aud chickens, with vialds and delieacics o