The Press., 1889-07-18
STAFEO RID.
The following letter explains itself:

Enfield, July 8, 1889.
 Julius Converse, Esq.-Dear Sir: Altho am not known to you, I knew your father, your grandfather, and your great grandfather. Their names were Solva, Jr., Solva, and Asa.
 About 85 years ago I first saw your uncle, Farley Converse, who was then driving an OK team with load of charcoal from "Crow Hill" to the 'tOld Furnace" by the way of Whitaker Hill," through Stafford Street" and down by Ben. Blodgett's to the Furnace. At that time was afflicted with 8 skin dis ease, called ''salt rheum," and my uncle, Resolved Johnson, lived near the Springs, and owned saw mill just above the grist mill, and his wife persuaded my mother to let me live with her and try the spring water, thinking it would be beneficial to me. I ac- cordingly went and spent the summer there, using no other water fof any purpose what7 ever. I was relieved of my scrofulous dis ease, and have never been troubled with it since.
 should not have presumed to write to you had I not read in this mornings "Daily Courant" that you are now bottllng the 'sspring water," and sending it about the country for sale, and had desire to certify to the effects it produced on me, whose age is now over 90 years. Respectfully yours, &c.,
 AHoLIAB JOHNSON.
 Mir. Converse wrote to MT. Johnson for permission to publish the letter, which was granted, with an apology for its style, it not having been written for print. He al- so in the second letter added the following to the reminiscences given. MT. Johnson IS father of J. Warren Johnson, the well known Thompsonville lawyer, and has be- fore made valuable contributions to The Press:
 On the occasion of the marriage of MT. eoA14 # T.. Mrcc Needham, at the house of her father, Capt. Robert Needham, in Stafford, was present, with some of my sisters, and quite a consid- erable number of other neighbors and friends, among whom was Robert Blodgett, bach elor, aged between 50 and 60 years, of first rate character, in easy circumstances, and very great admirer of all respectable unmar- ried females, below the age of 20 years.
 After the marriage ceremony had been com both liquid and solid, among them 8 sort of cake, to be eaten with cheese, of which had some. Now MT. Blodgett was leaning against sort of temporary side-board against one side of the room, with about half dozen young girls around him, all talking and gig gling in quite high-falutin manner, which made Blodgett appear to me very ridiculous. Now, in eating, my cake and cheese did not come out even, and I had 8 small piece of cheese left, and, to gratify my inborn love of "fun," threw it across the room and hit Blodgett directly on the tip of his nose He ejaculated an ''Oh!" and sprang backward, and down came side-board, dishes, Blodgett and all. The girls scattered, and the compa- ny soon dispersed.
 GRACE CHURCH NOTES. annual pic nic of Grace church will take place Friday, July 18th, at Evergreen Park. If not clear on that day the picnic will be postponed until Saturday, July 20th. Those who will attend will please meet at the Sunday school room of the church at 8.30 8. m. Friday. :. . There will be no evening ser vice in Grace church, Sunday, July 21st. ....Service at Hydeville, at 3 p. m., July 2lst.
 -Needham will unload on Saturday morning another car load of what are said to be the finest driving and general pur- pose horses ever brought to this market.
 A farmer, who has city guests at his pleasant mansion in the suburbs of the borough, at twilight recently heard con- motion in his chickennery, and with city gentleman started out to slaughter the supposed invading "varmint." The guest armed himself with croquet mallet, while the landlord, made demonstration calcu- lated to drive all occupants of the coop out through the small opening over which the mallet was held. The chickens came out, scant as to feathers, one by one. Finally came the last, differing in appearance by greater size and more luxuriant featheriug. Its different appearance in the dim light doomed it. Down came the mallet. The genial host considered the joke so good that he smiled at the death blow dealt at the flower of his flock, and all present were sworn to secrecy on the spot
 The Athletics of Stafford Springs beat the Eaglevilles at the second game, last Saturday, on the grounds of the latter, 13 to 12. The third game will probably be played on Saturday next.
 In another column are advertised prep arations of mineral spring water on sale at the bottling house, with various favors of ginger ale, birch, lemon, etc., on terms that will bring it extensively into local family use. Fully equal to any in the mar ket, domestic or imported.
 The statement last week that "equal efforts were made by two contending pa- irons to bring out voters" at the Street district school meeting has probably given readers the wrong impression that The Press was under when making it, as there was no leading candidate in opposition to the successful one, the SIX opposition votes being divided between three men, the highest vote given to any one being 3.