Thursday,
January 9, 1913
 
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
A congregational meeting will be held at the Marlinton Presbyterian Church, Sunday morning, January 11, for the purpose of acting on the question of building a new church.
 
THE “FAST” METER
“Don’t judge a man by appearance,” said a speaker recently at a banquet.
“Jackson Wentworth, after an absence of 30 years, returned to the home of his youth. Jackson had a slight affection of the skin which made his nose very red.
Hence when he called at the parsonage the old minister remarked:
‘Jackson, Jackson, my man, I’m afraid you’ve become a hard drinker.’
‘Don’t judge by appearance, Dr. Steenthly, said Jackson Wentworth. I hardly average two glasses of beer a week.’
‘Well, then,’ said the minister in a soothing voice, ‘I guess your face is like an electric light meter.
It registers more than it consumes.’”
 
SNAKES
Myersville, Pennsylvania - Going into her “spare room” Mrs. Carrie McAtee found the bed occupied by a big blacksnake which sprang past her and disappeared. A few hours later she tiptoed her way to the spare room and there the snake again was curled up on the bed.  This time Mrs. McAtee chopped off the blacksnake’s head with a hoe.
About 20 years ago, a big rattlesnake got into bed with Mrs. McAtee and her grandmother.  Mrs. McAtee discovered the reptile’s presence when her bare feet touched the clammy body.  When she turned back the bed covers she was horrified to see a glistening snake with 13 rattles. She and her grandmother succeeded in leaving the bed without being bitten and the snake was killed.
 
DOGS
We regret to say that this seems to be a bad community for dogs and the use of poison. For many years dogs have been killed by strychnine poisoning and the danger is so great that many persons who are fond of dogs are afraid to own for the very reason that having become fond of the pet, they are apt to suffer by the dub friend’s violent and untimely death. Kipling says:
“We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to buying Christian clay.
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie -
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.”
 There were some particularly painful poisoning cases last week. A dog’s life at the best is a short one, and as they have the faculty of inciting the greatest fondness in their masters, the lover of dogs is usually doomed to severe and secret sorrow. And even if the dog lives out his full years, he grows old before his master. It is different with friendships among men. If wrinkles come into the face of a dear friend your eyes grow too dim to see them. But as to the dear dog-friend, the time comes too quickly when you can say:
“The rogue is growing a little old;
Five years we’ve tramped through wind and weather,
And slept out-doors when nights were cold
And ate and drank and starved together.”
 
CUMMINGS CREEK
We are having quite a bit of cold weather at present with high winds.
W. P. McComb is building camps for M. W. Whiting. Mr. Whiting has contracted to cut and skid all of Watoga Lumber Company’s timber.
Michael Underwood died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Clarkson, on Douthards Creek, last Tuesday, aged 94 years. He was about the oldest citizen in Pocahontas County. He was buried at the Old Church cemetery here last Thursday. He leaves four children – Mrs. John Clarkston, Wesley, Howard and Wallace Underwood.
James McComb and Floyd Gillispie returned from Arbovale last Thursday.
 
LAUREL CREEK
The health of the people of this section is very good at this time.
Miss Grace Friel has returned to her home with her sister, Mrs. Vester Gilmer, after spending about six weeks with relatives at Fairview.
The worst storm of the season was Friday, the 3rd, but it only lasted one day.
Preston Duncan is driving a team for Lloyd VanReenan, skidding logs.
Miss Ida Beverage, of Stony Creek, spent several days with relatives here recently.
S. C. Baxter, J. L. McNeil, Vester Gilmer and Dave McClure attended the general business meeting of the Marlinton and Stony Creek Mutual Telephone Co., Saturday. A. C. Barlow was re-elected president; J. L. McNeil, vice-president; P. L. Carter and C. C. Baxter were re-elected directors and Amos Gay was elected a director to take the place of R. W. Hill.
Mrs. Vester Gilmer has been sick with the cold and grippe for a few days.
 
LOCAL MENTION
Israel Friel, an aged citizen of the Lobelia neighborhood, died last week. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
F. A. McDonald, editor and owner of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, is dead.
The “Fortune Hunter” at the Opera House Monday night was one of the best shows ever given here. John Grogg has sold his property at Huntersville to W. H. Barlow and is moving to his mother’s place near Boyer.
 
ARBOVALE
We are having very wet weather at present and the roads very muddy.
The school teachers in our section are getting along fine.
Hezekiah Simmons, of our town, has been very ill for some time.
J. A. Weager is clerking for J. Hamed & Bro. Our merchant has more goods this season than ever before and are selling lots more.
 
HUNTERSVILLE
Plenty of rain and mud seems to be the order of the day.
R. H. Lockridge, of Warm Springs, Virginia, and O. M. Keyser, of Indianapolis, Indiana, were guests of Misses Lollie and Jessie McComb Saturday and Sunday, the latter returning to Indianapolis where he has a position as street car conductor.
Miss Fay Grose entertained at her home New Year’s eve: Misses Mayme Ginger, Lynette McKeever, Maude Loury, Jessie McComb, Lollie McComb, Winfred Moore, Clarence Moore, Fred Moore, Chase Loury and Jack Kincaid, of Marlinton. They were nicely entertained with flinch, checkers and rook, and at five minutes before twelve they all proceeded to the church and rang the old year out and the new one in.
 
The Huntersville Literary Society will be organized Friday night January 10. All are notified to attend.
Miss Lollie McComb nicely entertained at her home last Friday night at flinch, 500 and checkers. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Herold, Misses Fay Grose, Maymen Ginger, Kathleen Carey, Jessie McComb, Winfred Moore, Clarence Moore, Opal McComb, Clarence McComb. All had a very nice time.
Miss Annie Cleek, who had been at the bedside of her father, Peter Cleek, for several days, returned to Millpoint Saturday to continue her school.
Mrs. Zane Moore has been at Miliard Herold’s , near Frost, for several days at the bedside of her mother, Mrs. Herold, who is ver low at this writing.
 
Rev. O. P. McNeil preached an interesting sermon at the Presbyterian Chruch Sunday evening from the text: “With what measure you mete it shall be measured to you again.”
 
EDRAY
The holidays are over and the next thing will be ground-hog day.
E. H. Williams has bought S. B. Moore’s timber and will cut and skid it this winter.
Miss Ruby Mann has been very sick for a few days.
Lake Vaughan, of Lobelia, stopped here one day with his friend, Clark Young, on his way to Parkersburg where he will attend the Mountain State Business College.
Ed. Robertson is doing a job of sawing at Jim Sharp’s for Ed Williams.
 
POAGE LANE
We are having some very rainy weather after the storm.
The Poage Lane School is progressing nicely under the management of Miss Rachel Cassell; the children seem to be taking great interest in the school. 
Ward and Arlie Williams drove over a fine bunch of calves for their grandfather, John R. Poage, last Friday.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Allen, of Clover Lick on December 29, a daughter; mother and child are doing nicely.
Hoxie McClung is cutting timber on Spruce Flats for Crawford Wooddell.
Several people in this neighborhood have the cold and gripp.
Harper Beverage has been very sick, but is now better.