The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-02
A LADY BIT BY A SNAKE.
4 REHdRE fBLE. BUT ULIL ~
TEENTICITED CAsEIN iHHERsT.
The RcptiIe Fastened its Fungs In Her
Side and - killcd-InEsual
Longevity of Citizens.

AMHERST G. H.. VA. Jan. l.-spe-
cial.-The Christmas holidays have come
and gone. with the usual festivities and
conmviaities OF this season OF the year.
Fire-crackers and Roman candles have
occupied the attention Of the boys and
Of the older citizens OF rural mind,
until Il wen-nigh amounted to nuisance.
and occasionally a citizen could be seen,
possibly on account Of the hospitality
OF a neighbor. vainiy endeavoring to walk
a straight line but admirably succeed
ing in marking the line for the worm
Of an oid-fashloned rail fence.
There were celebrations by ne Sun
day schools. Christmas-trees for the chill
dren at the village churches. services at
II A. NJ on Christmas-Day at the L.
Il. church, and at night in the Presby-
terrain church. But along With this
season observed by all civilized nations,
the great panorama Of life seems 10 be
moving along as uaual-"sOme at the
altar and some ~ the tomb.
The clerks have issued an unusual
number OF marriage licenses. while, on
the other hand, our community has been
called upon 10 realize the uncertainty Of
life, from its saddest standpoint. in the
death on the oath ultlmo of Mrs. Rich
cson, wife Of our supervisor. Mr.. Var
land Richeson. leaving q family Of twelve
children, most Of them at an age when
such a loss "grieves the heart from
day TO day" She was a noble woman.
whose piety, force Of character. and i'm
fuence for good was widely known.
on Chrisimas-Day the death Of the
venerable John Henson occurred lacking
only four months Of being one hundred
years old. According % the statement
of his son. he was born on the 18th u
April. 1886. The prospect soeroed fair 20
reach the ono-hundredth mile-post, but
a false step. growing ont of the dimness
of sight. caused him fan. which has
tened the end.
This seems 10 be n locality where adj
vanced longevity is not an uncommon
thing In the last twelve months, not
a few Of our citizens have passed away.
al ages ranging from eighty 10 ninety
four years. We have now I'm the old
village Of New Glasgow. a few miles
distant. citizen. born and raised in
Amherst. who will reach ninety-siX IN
June. 1896. This Old man is never idle
but gets and cuts his own fre-wOod, and
works daily In his wheelwright's shop.
An evidence Of the midness OF this
winter so far might be found from a fact
which came 10 my knowledge few
days ago. on the 26th Of December
Mrs Blanks. a widow, living near Ebe-
nezer Baptist church, went 20 the spring
20 get a bucket Of water While stoop-
ing 10 fiji the bucket an eigfteen-inch
moccasin snake climbed up her body
under her clothing, and feeling sting
like that Of "A bee she hastened 20 the
house and obtained help in killing the
snake. which had fastened ifs fangs in
her side. Blindness and swelling soon
followed the bite. Medical aid was
sought. and some relief obtained. J an
not given TO snake stories, and / pro-
pose TO give the facts only. which have
been .substantiated, and leave others
to find the reasons for snakes In De
comber
our State senator. Judge John Thomp-
son Brown has been I'm our village this
week. visiting relations and constituents,
and our delegate I'm the lower house, Hon.
Beverly r. Harrison. is at home on
visit.
Mr.. Paul c. Cabell. now Of your city,
is also here on a visit 10 his sister, Mrs.
Edgar Whitehead