The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-02

only WOOuCuuCk We saw Al1o bVbA4
ears frosted and his tail frozen
on. short. Shadows don't interest
nobody, notow, this year. Folks
want heat, not hope.
We saw one elderly lady with
eight skirts on. ice Evarts Is 20
busy making axe handles that he
cannot attend to his traps. Nc
Carthy's store doesn't get warmed
up much before afternoon ana
the other stores are no more COM
Portable. George McLaughlin'S
plumbing Is frozen; Jerry TarbOx
seldom leaves the rug behind the
stove. Ike Flats wateflines frOze
and his COWS Stacked on ON pro-
ductiOn.
If we only had that red-haired
negro woodchopper from Canaan
here, we might thaW out q few
tales of the hills. That chopper
claimed a checked record Of one
cord Of 4-foot wood chopped, split,
and piled in A minutes. OF course,
used long axe handle, and no.
body ever publicized his exploits.
The chopping was done in Goshen.
George Mclaughlin knew the gen.
tleman well, claims he was steady
until payday and then just SO
much bad news. He got that red
hair down in the Gone With the
Wind country, where folks are
friendly-like and easy-going.
The unhappiest man we saw to-
day was q fellow who had paid q
dollar for the privilege Of fishing
through the ice ON nearby pond
and then, when he started cut
ting holes, found the pond frozen
solid. He asked for his money back
but was refused. Selling fishing
rights ON ponds frozen solid Is like
serving beer in paper cups 50 the
customers cannot see how much
head they are paying for.
Ira Hawkins was about the only
man. we ever knew who really en-
joyed zero weather. Mr.. Hawkins
claimed that red foxes ran faster
during a cold spell and that the
frigid temperature chilled shot
and made it hit harder. Ira al
ways kept his shells in cool place
and nobody, not even Putt Smith,
could bore as many holes in a
galloping fox.
Folks get short tempered during
a spell of frigid weather. Bread
dough doesn't rise, butter won't
come, and the women folks start
reading about Florida or Bali and
there's mo peace anywhere. South
Britain is lucky, however. We've
never enjoyed but a few murders.
Probably the best murder here
abouts took place in Southville, at
the DAILY saloon. Mr.. Leavenworth
was the victim and the lowdown
on the case was never rightly un-
raveled. Folks speculate about it
today, just as they try to figure
out who hopes to run for the Gen
eral Assembly, or how small the
next milk check will be. Leavel1-
worth got tunked on the head in
a rum-hole fracas, and failed to
recover. Somebody dumped the
body into the Housatonic and the
people who were arrested and
charged with the crime, claimed
that Leavenworth got cocky, in
vited all hands to do little
wrestling, and slipped into the
river during friendly bout. The
law claimed different. One Gilbert
was supposed to have been tangled
up in the mess and, hereaboutS,
at least, people thought he not
only had the name but also the
game, Another person involved
carried the name of Manville. The
trial made brief headlines and
court history. Leavenworth was
finally buried. Days saloon closed.
About the liveliest thing around
Southville today is the game war
den trying to spot deer hunters
or fishermen with short trout.
Sometime, in years to come, an
author Is liable to uAaearth the
court records of this mystery and
write chapters about the smoky
oil lamps in Days Den of In
iquity. Maybe it's worth a little
research, when there's time?
Doc Travers Of Woodbury. had
. hurry call to Britain the other
day. One Of our leading younger
citizens ate so much venison that
his palate got clogged and he
started TO bloat like q COW chOk-
ing on an apple. Doc gave the kid
dose Of castor oil and ordered
him to lay of fried foods for a
few days. Moderation i'm all things
Is advisable and rich rations such
rs venison should be eaten spar
ingly.
Putt Smith came to town the
other day and tried to borrow a
blow torch. 1t seems that the
Smith cider barrel froze up. Putt
says he will draw a glass at a
time when 1t thaws out and put
away the jug until spring.
GABLE. LOMBARD