John Brahler lost a horse the other day, it is the ninth one since he commenced farming for himself. 

     It is very sad news I heard the day, that some persons around here [Fulda] have subscribed to the New York Police Gazette, one of the most shameful papers that is published; in which evil, with a transparent cover of ornamentation, is glorified and made heroic.  Bad reading is the bane of the age.  It poisons the blood of youth.  It kills more souls, deadens more consciences, ruins more minds, than any other cause.  Any father who wants to raise good children and useful citizens should look to their reading, the bad literature of our time is a plague-spot and it spreads.  The catholic church in order to guard her members has forbidden under pain of sin to read the Police Gazette and other papers of that kind. 

      Rev. Kluber while riding one night last week to visit a sick person, lost a very useful vestment, he hopes the finder will bring it back to him, as it is of no use to any one else.  

      Last Friday the priest here read to his congregation the financial condition of his parish; the gross amount of income of all sources, was during the last year $2353, total amount of expenses $1789; debt remaining about $1500, which has been borrowed at 6 per cent interest.  He thinks in a few years all will be paid.  On Sunday he held services at St. Michael's Church; his discourse was on the lessons we should learn from the three wise men. 

[regarding smallpox] 

      Dr. Way has been over here [Fulda] to vaccinate those who wished to have the operation performed upon them.  It is said that this terrible malady is coming nearer to our neighborhood.  People who are afraid of this disease should supply themselves with Major Lane's Indian Remedy, called "Mic-Mac."  It is a specific remedy for small-pox and scarlet fever, breaking them within twelve hours, if counteracted by no other medicine.  It has been attested and is now the only remedy against small pox.  Vaccination is considered by many as a very good remedy against it, but on the other hand, a great many reject it, and would rather see their children die than to have them inoculated with this poison.  

      Opthalmia is not so common here as some might think. Only two cases have developed: Nic. Schad and J. B. Arnold were afflicted with it.  ["Opthalmia" was a generic term referring to eye disease, especially eye infections.]

        A number of persons inquired why this place is called Fulda.  We reply that the first German settlers here came from either the town of Fulda or from its immediate neighborhood, and as every person loves the place of his birth, so our fathers desired to perpetuate their native town in the Fatherland.  Fulda, in Germany, lies on the river Fulda, in a smiling country between Frankfort-on-the-Main and Eisinach.  It has about 10,000 inhabitants and a Roman Catholic Bishop resides there.  In times past it was held by a prince prelate.  The cathedral was rebuilt in 1704, after the model of St. Peter's in Rome.  

     Henry Crock, who was so badly hurt at Philip Miller's raising, is able to come to town.  

     During the few days of sleighing our place {Fulda] was very lively.  How the sleights ran in every direction, but they were soon hid away.  

     Miss Webber complains of the muddy roads and will be glad to escape them to the well paved streets of Marietta when her term of school closes, about March 18th.  

         Thursday night of last week the Middleburg Band gave an entertainment here, how they succeeded I cannot say, but I was told that the Priest here forbade his people to be present.  I was astonished and went to him to find out the real truth.  In substance I was told: "The Catholic church is and must be against night parties, on account of the moral danger connected with such gatherings.  She has nothing against music and innocent enjoyment, but any assembly of young people of different sex which generally ends in a dance, her priest must forbid, even in day time, much more at night, and  member who go there in spite of the church break its laws and do not deserve the name of a good Catholic."  The band serenaded the priest before commencing their entertainment, but he did not show himself, and, considering is love of the church, could not do it, otherwise he would have encouraged the festival. He felt the compliment they paid him, but with this they must be satisfied, looking on him in his character as a Catholic priest, not as a private citizen.  

         Mr. John Kress, one of our oldest settlers, is in very feeble health. He has divided his property among his children. The home place he deeded to Peter Kress, and the farm he bought of the estate of Hohman, with store, he gave to his daughter [Mary] wife of Peter Heil.

         Mr. Meihn, of Pittsburg [sic], is rusticating among our hills.  

         As a general rule no marriage is blessed among Germans during the summer, but as soon as the outside work is done, our young men try to establish their own  home.  For those who contemplate engaging in this big army, I have this advice to give.  Too much silverware at the start is a dangerous thing for a young couple, for it calls for other things to correspond, and will keep him on a strain to keep up appearances.  I knew a pair of brass andirons to ruin a man twenty years ago, and he never recovered from it; for they called for a fender and the fender called for a fine rug, and the rug for a carpet and the carpet for curtains, and so on until he got in debt, and tried to sell his house to pay out but failed, but the sheriff came along and disposed of it easily.  

         Extravagance and trying to keep up with your neighbors is the great domestic trouble in this country.  It brings on financial distress, and that causes speculation and embezzlement, which in whisky and suicide.  There is no security in this life but honest industry and living within one's means.  

         Births - On the 1st, a son to Valentine Berker [Becker] and his wife.  On the 5th, a son to Valentine and Ottilia Schutz [Scheetz].  On the 6th, to John B. Heeil [Hill] a boy. 

          Monday afternoon, a fight occurred between two of our citizens.  Peter Lohad struck Charles Ruppel several times in the face, disfiguring the same in a terrible manner.  No arrests.  

          The English department of our schools will be under the management of Mr. Danford this winter.  

          Miss Elizabeth Shafer has gone to Wheeling to consult a physician.  

         A few weeks from now we shall be called upon to cast our votes for the welfare of our country.  The chief and most important question of the year is the temperance question.  There is no one more against intoxicating liquors than your correspondent [Father Kluber], and I will go with the Democrats.  If the agitation was only against liquor dealers, I would favor by all means the Republican principles, but the present agitation is only a mantle, by which they cover their hatred against foreigners, and mostly against the "Dutch." [The Germans -- from the word "Deutsch."]  Here I will give your readers a specimen of their song: 

                  "Come all you Dutch and foreign fools,

                   We'll make you live like hogs and work like mules;

                   We'll make you drink water forever much,

                   There shall be no more wine or beer for the Dutch;

                   We have now the negro free, 

                   The foreigner our slave shall be."

         Mr. Editor, you should not be afraid to publish the reprimand I wrote last week against one of our whiskey sellers.  Drunkards are seen here often, which ruins the reputation of our place, to say nothing about the blame laid against the Catholic church on this account.  If private counsel will not stop it, if the church's voice will not be heard, they should be taught a lesson by the law.  

         Birth -- On the 8th, to Henry and Mary Hupp, a girl.  

         The large cross in the cemetery near our church fell down some weeks ago, and a new one was placed here last Friday, and solemnly blessed by our priest Sunday afternoon.  

         Mrs. Bisold [widow Augusta Hohman Bosold] sued Mrs. Schad for breach of the peace.  The trial came off last Saturday before John Hill.  Mrs. Schad was fined. I mention this fact for the purpose to deter my German fiends from breaking the peace with their neighbors, for if such things come to my knowledge, they shall be published, even if it makes them angry.  Let us have peace with everyone.  [It is not known who "Mrs. Schad" is.  There were several women in Fulda at that time whose married name was Schott.]

         As almost all work is done on our farms our boys should come and give us some holy days.  We have had no marriages here for over a year.  I suppose Judge Brown will not object to issue the proper license, and the priest will be happy to unite them for better or worse, as the case may be.  

         Our school is progressing nicely.  Over one hundred scholars are enrolled in the German department.  

         Mr. Mart McBride sold his farm to Ambrose Schmitt for $50.00 per acre.  A high price for a country farm.  

        The second day of November is always a "decoration day" in the truest sense of the word -- a day when loving hands lay their gifts upon the graves of their peaceful dead.  As everywhere in Catholic settlements, so it was kept here.  Very imposing are the ceremonies at the church, everything reminds you of death;  black are the hangings around; in black vestments the priest is dressed, as coming from the grave, the organ is played and the dinging is done.  A stand with a burial case covered in black stands in the middle of the church; burning candles around to speak as much as to say, to each one, that is your place. After services all went tot he cemetery, every grave was sprinkled with blessed water and heavy clouds of incense rose from a singing censer. High and low, rich and poor, gathered around the graves of their loved ones; the mother kneels beside the tomb of her infant child, tenderly playing with the waving grass as with the ends of an infant's hair; brothers and sisters met at their parents' grave.  No loud talking was heard, no smile was seen, soberly was they passed from grave to grave, offering their prayers for their soul's repose.  

        A few crops [?previous word obscured]  of tobacco have been sold around here at $5 per hundred, the buyers were from East Union.

        Hog killing has commenced among our farmers.  Smoke-houses will soon be filled with German sausage. Thieves will be watched more closely than last year.  

        John Singer, whose son Albert has been sick for the last four or five months, has taken him to Columbus for treatment.  

        Mrs. Hal???in [?previous word obscured]  while visiting the grave of her husband lately, fell down and injured her leg.

        The English department of our school commenced last Monday, with about twenty scholars.  This term will last three months.  

        I believe a person would go a great distance before finding as much mud as is accumulated before the church at this place, and no one is moving hand or foot to stone it.  It is a shame.  

     Magnus Webber [Weaver] is spending the holidays in Pittsburgh.  

     I understand that Albert Singer [son of John Singer] is doing well at hospital in Columbus.