Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-24
THE NORTHERN NECK.
GREAT PREPARATIONS FOR THE
CHRISTMAS SEASON.
A REAL GOOD TINE EXPECTED
ny Both Young and OId--Cattle Dis
ease-Tbe supply of Timber En-
bnusted-Personai Notes of Inter
est-successfui Hunters.
est-successfui Hunte

last Mohud4 HlolHlhB. Inc MIST OF the
week found everybody with a carefully
thought-out programme, and nothing but
unavoidable, providental hindrances
have been allowed TO turn young or old
from their purpose to get ready for
Christmas" Housekeepers have cooked
and prepared all manner Of good things
and stored them away for Monday. and
these goodies" the little folks have not
been allowed 10 feast their eyes upon as
yet. The "men folks" have provided
abundant fuel. so that the sound Of the
axe will not be heard upon the wood
pile until after the holidays. The coun-
try stores have been crowded with GUS
toners every day this week. and hundreds
Of our people have had 10 go TO town
10 LAY IN" what the country merchants
did not have. Many who have not aban-
dOned the old custom OF the Christmas
"eggnog" and "hOt-pot have received
their cackling jugs from Fredericksburg
And the little ones happiness has not
been overlooked. Tin horns. tin whistles
hrecrackors. and the usual Christmas in
struments of torture have been provided.
and to-day the uTchin is beside himself
and refuses 10 be COmfOrted because Sun
day is Christmas-Eve and the holy Sab
bath interVenes between now and Christ
mas day-the little folks being simply
crazy 10 begin their capers and J. ,hrities
on Christmas-Eye and thus anticipate
and usher in the great holiday. \ good
crop, an open and pleasant fan, and the
immunity from serious sickness, misfor-
tune, and casualties have enabled the
masses 20 make satisfactory preparation
for the holidays. The very poor and des-
| ttute families and individuals have been
! remembered by their more fortunate
ncighbors, and. all things considered, the
! present indications are that Christmas
1899. will be the most pleasant one in
| recent years.
Several days ago o gentleman I'm this
neighborhood had seventy-hye head Of his
vealed the startling fact that seventy
| Two head OF that number had hollow
horns. The operation was begun for the
! purpose Of deprivng some "spitefuP' anil
! mails Of their horns so that herd Of
| about one hundred and fifty could be
! penned and fed together without danger
of being "gored, but when hollow horn
| was discovered with those selected 10 be
! dchorned, the operation was continued
| with the result that only three cattle out
| of the seycnty-fve had sound. or healthy
|
! of cattle have died in various sections,
and no one has been able 10 satisfactorily
account for the cause OF the deaths. In
! vestigatOns revealed no signs of epidemic
or contagious disease and the deaths
| We're not confined 20 any particular com
munity OF locality. The theory is now
advanced that the animals may have died
| from the effects of hollow-hOrn, and that
this affection may have been caused by
intense suffering during the hard weather
] last winter.
Saw-milling, like the rallrOad-tie and
! cOrd-wood business is nearly at an end
i'm King George. The timber is about eX-
hausted. and some of the mills are saw
| ing up trees not much larger than ordi-
| nary pine poles. Lumber for building
purposes will hereafter have to be ship
ped here from distant points.
Bell Grove Council, No 1872, Junior Or
der United American Mechanics OF this
county, will have appropriate services at
| the Courthouse December &st. 1t will be
a thanksgiving service observed i'm place
Of that arranged for THANKSGIVING
and which had to be- postponed. Rev. Mr..
Latane. an Episcopal clergyman Of West
| mOreland, and Rev George NJ. Connolly,
of Richmond county. will conduct the
| services.
Mr. Ira Lee, a highly respected citizen
| OF the shiloh neiehbOrhood, in this coun-
| ty, was thrown from an OX-cart some
days ago. and had one of his legs badly
broken lie is young man, and has "a
wife and four children.
Mr.. Hezaliah Potts has been appointed
land assessor for King George by Judge
! Chichester. Of the County Court
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Purks, OF Pitts
burg. Pa. are spending some time with
! tna formers parents here.
Mrs. NJ. Mountjoy left here THURSDAY
! for Washington. ID. c., where she Will
spend the winter.
Rev. Norman Luck. of Essex, has been
called TO the pastorate Of Oakland Bapusl
church, in this county and it is rumored
that he has signifed his willingness to ac-
cent. and that he will locate in Port
| ROYAL and serve EnOn church, in Caro-
| line. i'm connection with Oakland.
MIR Polk Newton, an enterprislng
| farmer. IS having a modern residence
| erected on his farm few miles from
| this place.
Miss Emma Bruce. Of Washington city,
| paid a brief visit 10 King George TINS
week.
MIR. Junius Saunders, Of Essex, who has
| been doing some surveying in TINS county
! has returned home
! Mr.. T.. l.. Tayloe Of Chatterton' TINS
| county, lcll lilln WEN 4"A ".'r - N'
| other points down the Rappahanhoch
| valley. the interest of business III
! which he Is engaged down there.
Mr.. II. b. Baker OF this neighpoihoou
is visiting his mother and brother III
| Washington, ID. c.
Rev. j. ". n. McNiel. of Gordonsville
formerly pastor Of Potomac church here
will spend the Christmas holidays IN
| King George.
Miss Monie =. Rogers, who Is teaching
I'm Stafford. came down last evening 10
spend Christmas at her home, near mere
Mr.. W. H. Baker. Jr., OF Westmoreland
has arrived In King George To spend the
holidays with relatives.
Committees from number OF the hinl
| George and STAFFORD churches have visited
| Fredericksburg since the middle or the
week and purchased supplies for sunday
| school Christmas-trees and entertain
ments Several hundred dollars have gone
| from comparatively small radius iol
| this purpose. and the Sunday -schoo
folks will have elaborate treats mex
| week ,,,.,,t-.
Mr. wilkins TAYLOR and Mr. FIELDING
Lewis Of this neighb0rhood, killed some
fine wild turkeys this week making
eoodlv number slaughtered by these W.
voung gentlemen this season notWilh
standing the daily complaint or an UMPIRE
cedented scarcity OF wild game.
number of huntsmen and irapper
"exchanging experiences the other day
agreed that rabbits are scarcer this sea
son than ever before known.
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