The Press., 1885-12-31

of fancy slippers. l have the largest ana neatest line ever shown in town, also Q com plese line of leather and rubber foot wear at the lowest prices. w. D Hanley, sign or the big boot, Oronoco Block.
 Shall close out the remainder of my street and stable blankets at prices that cannot fali to interest the most careful buyers. Ii. $. Abel, Blue Front Clothier.
 ~TAFEOseD.
 The Congregational Sunday school has organized for the year with F. N. Crane, superintendent F. J. Chandler, assistant Stephen c. Pease, secretary and treasurer M. D. Harris, librarian.
 --The Loyal Legion will meet Sunday at half past three o'clock at the Methodist church.
 Regular communication of Ionic Lodge No. 110, F. and A: M., will be held at Ionic Hall Monday, Jan. 4th, at 7.3O p. m. A full attsndance is requested.
 -G. H. Baker $ Go. have taken the agency of the we'll known monument works of McGregory & Casmau, Spring field.
 A Wyseman thinks that if the baihf will lock up some of the crowd who habit ually lounge on the narrow sidewalk just west of the post-office, it will do more good than to scatter them by appearing there at intervals. These loungers sell dom stir at all when unattended ladies de- sire to use the walk, and seem tO resent It whenever disconnected by passers by.
 Mrs Lorenzo G. Fairfield received on Tuesday at the hands of S.:F. Bfotison, agent of the Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Co.,, the company's draft for g, ,000, full amount of insurance policy held on MT. Fairfeld's life. The con- pany is considerably increasing it's busi- ness here as it is everywhere. During the last year it's new business amounts to $17, ,000, 900, an increase of.770 per cent over the previous year. ....
 Prof. Hibbard's reading at the M. E. church is to be Jan. 9th instead of 18th as has been announced Prof Hubbard al- ways got good audience in Stafford, and is most finished elocutionist. He will be greeted by good audience. Don't forget the time-next Wednesday evening.
 On Tuesday afternoon G. 0. Parkess received dispath stating that the F year old son of his brother, Albert Parkess of Hartford, had been drowned. The Cour- ant Wednesday morning gave particulars :, A sad drowning accident took place on the north branch of the Park river about noon yesterday. A party of boys between ten and fifteen years of age had gone skating on the Park river above the old Sharp's dam. The ice was thick enough for safety all the way to the division of the river above the Laurel street bridge. Here the crowd separated, part going one way and part another. Walter Parkess, aged 12, and Harry Klinger, aged 13, went up the north branch which runs short distance from Woodland street. Some distance up the stream Walter called out, 'I dare lead where nobody dare follow" and began skating over the thin ice near the center of the stream. A moment later there was a sharp cracking and Walter was in the icy water up to his neck clutching at the ice which broke off in his hands, and calling Harry, Harry" Harry went as near the edge as possible and got hold of Walter when the ice broke again and both were struggling for their lives. What happen ed next Harry could not tell, as the next thing he remembers is lying on the ground s few feet from the bank and too exhaust ed to stir. There he was found by man and carried home. Young Parkess's body was recovered just before 3 o'clock yes- terday afternoon.
 Many Stafford friends will sympathize with Mir. and Mrs. Parkess, who removed AAOA4 o6fiAoAo AIp4AhSo eO Ax6A LULU HI 4OOds 1t will be remembered that some ten years ago they lost son by drowning, who also was about 12 years of age. The funeral will be held this p. m., and the burial will be in Stafford Springs tomorrow afternoon.
 Christmas eve exercises were unusual ly pleasanr ct the different Sunday schools. At the Congregationalist the smaller ones did the speaking, interspersed with sing ing, and followed by a Christmas eve scene, where a band of children in nightgowns sang good night song, and then cleared the stage for Santa Claus, who soon appeared from the chimney. and made little introductory address in rhyme before distributing the presehfs.-: The part of Santa Claus was capitally taken. and gave the little ones great delight. At the Methodist church Santa Claus came in on pony, and while awaiting his advent an immense pudding was passed around, the pudding being of saw-dust, into which each child was invited to put thumb and pull out 6 plum.
 -The barn on the West place, just east of the borough, was burned, about 10 o'clock last evening. Frank Converse, who occupies the premises, had been in the barn about one hour before, and had gone to bed, and was aroused by the glare. of light, but was unable to get into the building. He loses new milch COW, with calf, 8 horse, harness, cutting ma chine, hay, ladder, etc., amounting in val ne to nearly $300, with no insurance. He also suffers damage to clothing, bedding, etc., used in saving the house. MT. O. is of opinion that some tramp had gone into the building and caused the fire by care lessness in smoking. We cannot learn of any insurance on the building in local agency, but no doubt the owner, Lawyer M R. West of Hartford, had the premises so protected.
 John Smiledge has bought. tue Dim- ock property opposite the depot; occupied by Parsons news room and. Williams shoe store. Sale made through. Rockwelps s real estate agency.
 Next Sabbath evening the sixth .lec- ture in the. course of bible characters will be given in the M. E. church. Subject Rizpah, or the Bible Picture of a Mothers
 m ". c. T. U. will meet meet in their room n the Dorman Block tomorrow at D. m. A full attendance is desired of all ladies interested in christian temper ance work.
 Ladies' benevolent society meet at M. E. church parlors next Wednesday after dy afternoon and evening" = .s ;.
 HI. G. Mclaughlin is doing the print ing at Fay, Peck $ Cos. straw shops in Monson. s.s
 The reading circle will: :inaat onsMon.