Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-08-15
From ne Knickerboeker.
mMR HSEEM&G,

tween two hills, in q quiet green V"asSs H..
stream wound laziiy through ms s~y
which keptthe slopes and level ~ tue OsC' :.
shining with living green. itM%ayy M"S !,
Unlocking spot, and every onlcct 1871,
Deared lust SO tranquil. and just SO ihoole"';
Everv thing. animate and inanimate, Sc smed
asleen one half the time, like silent spot de-
serted bv the plugIe. Yet Johnstown was
onr;ent MANY had been born and many
had died there and many lived there to
keep up the quorum of the place. A man
once caught within the magic of its atnNIs-
phere, seldom escaped he was prisoner tor
life, and lefi. nis bones within its soil. There
had beer no new buildings erected for many
years: this would have been sacrllege:-
Here was Deacon jones' house, there squire
Peabody,s, and what was termed tine OF"
store stood about the centre OF Inc Seule-
ment. Every body knewjust whereeyery 0ooy
lived, and it never entered into the neadS Of
The good people that change OF residence
could be effected. There was an ancient
little church at the upper end OF the place,
with little wooden spire. and wooden tlsh
TO noint the way Of the wind. The splre,
which once undoubtedly stood boldly up
leaned with weight Of years. ana the nsn
looked downward into the burytng- yard, as
seeking place Of repose. The ciaPOoaros
were loose and Auttering. and the winds PIT
ned d sad and crazy song among them. Yet
Inc old church had looked just so for many
wears: no one thought Of disturbing it,
There never have been, save the present, but
four ministers within its walls, and they lin
gered so long upon earth, that they seemed
70 pass away by gradual translation. You
may know their graves by yon little hillocks.
guarded with marble, for the others are
humble heWn stone. .4.-t 3
To assert for certainty who was the
greatest man in the village. would be task.
Lawyers usually occupy this distinction but
there were no lawyers in Johnstown. They
could not live. The doctor was thought to
be great man, but it was not for certainty
known. The Doctor as he was universally
termed, resided in low white cottage, upon
the brow Of the hill, and Of course looked
down upon his patients that lived in the line
of buildings which bounded the creek. Here
ne was born, and here his father and grand
father followed his profession before him.
The grandfather seemed to bequeath his skill
to his son, and from him it descended to the
grandson. The people looked upon them as
that station. They seemed to view them as
appointments by the Creator, as the governor
makes appointments for the state. The
grandfather had thread bare surtout-coat,
a wide brinmed hat, a pair Of goggles. and
on old niouldy carriage, all which, with his
profession, descended 10 the son, and 80 down.
ward. The grandfather drove one horse for
fifty years, and ere death came to his relief,
II was thought he was well nigh as skillful
as his master-for he had been among medi.
cine and the sick all bis. days. The horse
undoubtedly; pissed of by consumption, for
his sunken eye and efnaciated form-his
'nerveless limbs and dependant tail-were,
as the doctor said, symptoms which should
not pass unnoticed. Ifany one would know
the last narrow home Of this faithful beast,
tiis poor remains may be found in one corner
of the doctors gardens brown stone at his
head and foot, upon one of which stands out
his deep.cut epitaph, which speaks with an
eloquence sufficient to thrill the heart.strings
of the most obstinate reader. After the de-
mise ofthis poor beast, the doctor failed rap
idly, and he who had battled death, (some-
times with and sometimes against submit
ted at last himself and was laid down to
Slumber with the faithful animal who had
been called away before him. This was the
grGndtather, and upon his tombstone may be
read the following inscription: DocToR
'RANNEY, aged eighty. years-Johnstown's
first physician Whether the doctor exhib-
ited any vanity by leaving such an epi.aph to
iadorn his grave, the writer saith not. He
recorded the truth, which-Heayen pardon
the falsehood lis more than could be said
OF every epitaph. HE lies like tomb.
stonc! is a common and very expressive
phrase. The doctor left TO Johnstown his
son Ezekiel, and to him his profession, and
title. Things soon resumed their old appear.
.ance; and new horse having been enlist
ed, the old carriage moved around again MS
'ifnothing had happened. Of course, Ezeki.
eel was, considered equal to his father, and
the utmost confidence was placed in him.
He could not be superior, for that would be
impossible; he must be equal, for he had inher-
ited this wisdom. Ezekiel and his horse, at.
ter the lapse of fifty years, passed off the
stage; the horse and bis master becoming
the propsietors each of grave and monu-
ment BY the side oftheir predecessors. Then
came Peter. Peter was the one am about
to treat OF, and descended as he is from such
iiiustrious ancestors, great merit is undoubt-
eddy anticipated. Ezekiel left three chill.
dren, the youngest Of whom was this self
same Peter. He Of course equipped himself
an the Coat, hat and goggles before spoken
bt--.for without these, the good people of the
village would have had no faith in him: the
clothes were indispensable. Another horse
being engaged as II were-set
apart and devoted to higher calliDg-the
carriage commenced its rounds, and death
was again set at defiance. Now-to resort
q the previous question-whether Doctor
feser hanney was the greatest man in Johns
town was not certainly known. He was
seldom heard TO speak, and ever maintained
q gravity Of .denieanor which betokened a
mighty mind. sOld Aunt Williams as she
was universally termed, was taken one eve
ming very violently with the bilious cholic.-
With the speed oflightning, intelligence few
70 the doctor The doctor looked wise, or
dered. with moderate tone, his horse; sip
PED quietly his tea. and in about half an
nous. with great precision. walked out 10 his
carriage and seated himself He drove off
VAN moderate tr0t, for 1t was inconsistent