Litchfield enquirer., 1839-08-29
feOm shs Bangor Courier.
4 sToRY OF OUR own TIMES.

A venerable old Dutchman, after having
occupied all the Offices of one of the princi-
pal cities of the republic with great honor,
and having amassed large fortune IN the
most unexceptionable manner, finally form
ed the resolution of going to terminate his
davs TRANQUILITY at his country seat. But be-
fore retiring, he wished to take leave of his
friends and connexions, and accordingly in
yited them all to n feast at his house.
The guests, who expected a most sumptu-
Gus repast, were much surprised on entering
the eating room, to see there Il long oaken ta-
BILE, hardly covered with a coarse blue cloth.
On being seated, they were served on wood
en- plates, with sailed herring, rye bread and
butter, with some cheese and curdlcd milk.
Wooden vases, filled with small beer, were
passed round for each of the guests to serve
themselves. This extreme oddity of the old
gentleman caused secret murmurings among
the company; but out of respect to his age
and wealth, instead of showing discomfort,
they pretended TO relish their frugal fare !;
and some ofthcm even complimented him
upon the cordiallty of those good old times
which he had brought to remembrance. The
old man-who was not duped by this feign-
ed satisfaction-did not wish to carry the
joke further, but at given signal which he
gave, some servants, habited as country wo-
men, entered, bringing a. second service. A
white cloth succeeded the brown one, and
some pewter plates succeeded the wooden
ones. Instead of rye bread, herring and
cheese, they were served with good brown
bread, fresh beef, boiled fish, and strong
beer. At this unexpected change, the secret
murmurS ceased; the polite invitations on
the part of the old man became more press
| ing, and the guests ate with better appetite
| Hardly had they had time to taste this Sec
ond service, when they saw butler enter.
| followed by half dozen servants in brilliant
livery, bringing the third. A superb table
of mahogany, covered with beautiful flow
cred cloth, replaced the old oaken one. A
side board was Immediately covered with
the richest plate and most curious china !;
and the guests charmed at the sight of a pro-
fusion of rare and exquisite meats. The
most delicious wines were freely passed
around while melodious concert was heard
! in an adjoining room. Toasts were drank,
and all were merry. But the good old man
perceiving that his presence hindered the
guests from giving themselves up to their full
Joy, rose and addressed them thus:
81 give you thanks, ladies and gentlemen,
for the favor which you have granted me-
It is time should retire, myself, and leave
you to your liberty. But before the ball
commences, which have ordered to be pre-
pared for those who love the dance, permit
me to acquaint you with the design that l
proposed to myself in inviting you TO a re-
past which has appeared so odd. l have
wished to give you an idea of our Republic.
Our ancestors rose to their high state, and ac-
CURED liberty, riches and power, by living
in the frugal manner which you saw in the
FIRST service. Our fathers preserved these
great blessings only by living in the simple
manner of which the second service has re-
traced an image. Ifit is permitted to an old
man who is about to leave you, and who ten
derby loves you, to speak clearly what he
thinks, must say, | fear that the extrava-
CANT profusion which you may have remark
ed in the last service, and which is the pres
ent style of living-will deprive us of more
than our ancestors have acquired by the
sweat of the brow, and our fathers have trans
mitted to us by their industry and wise admi-
nistration." 1ai.@ iaH bgt
DEATH THE SUPPORT OF LIFE.
Prize Composition, by Miss ANNA j. LANSING Of the
/ Second department otthe Albany Female Acade-
my, for which gold medal was awardcd.]
"There is neither waste nor ruin in ma
ture;" for the smallest particle of matter in
the vast universe. around u.s. is composed of
an infinite number of atoms which can never
be destroyed. but being united with other at
oms, constitute a new combination. One
plant decays. scatters its seed, and another
springs up, perhaps more beautiful, in the
place which it occupied. Even that which
we look upon with disgust and horror Sis a
step in the progress of life" "The tiniest
thing that moves-we behold decay. moving
through its veins, and its corruption, uncon-
scions to itself, engenders new tribes of life.
There is not such thing as beauty, there is
not such thing as life, that does not gene
rate from its own corruption, loathsome life
for Others" The dust which we trod under
foot, has become a beauteous rose bud, filling
the air with its fragrance; or lofty oak, i'm
parting its shade to every thing around. It
may have formed a part Oft the winged eagle,
who hovers in regions Of space, or the gigan-
tic elephant who treads the earth with maies
ty. II may have tended to the formation of
the human frame. How strange that the
dust of the earth should give to the lip of
loneliness its richest glow! to the ear its in
Vulnerable and exquisitely minute cavities !
and to the eye its floating humors and its
brilliant colorings! How strange that it
should form the enclosure of the adivine
spark" ITSELF the soul! That it should form
the tenement Of the fancy, that loves 10 soar
IN unknown regions THE memory, that
treasurer OF the soul!-the reason, that
weighs and balances, that guides and deter
mines and proves n
.Changes are continually going on among
allliving bodies. The drop Of water that to-
day sparkles in the diamond, and tomorrow
gives its calm and quiet beauty to the pearl,
soon becomes the fleecy, heavy cloud, float
ing in the blue sky, and again descending
gives freshness and health to the humble
night flower, or the burning blush to the
cheek of the early rose. "The snowflake
ofwinter revives when the sunbeams are vel
low and warm, and forms gem for the spot
less cup OF the lily, or is restored in the bios
som of the jessamine."
Although change and decay are stamped
upon all animated nnture--although The flow