Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1842-05-12
NEW-ENGLAND VILLAGES.

The external appearance of these ancient
agricultural towns makes Il singular impress
sion upon stranger. The titne-worn church
is situaatcd most likely on tho highest and
bieakest hill where its builders could find u
public road, and behind it run off the long
sheds, numbering as many stalls as there are
chascs and wagons in the parish. Low, ga
bic rooted farm houses, Of all shades and CO.
lors, stand Ike decrcpit patriarchs among
the huge barns which have groWnUp around
them. Red school-hOuses in the centre Of
each district--old cemeteries, with the slate
head stones l.,.!f sunk in tho earth, or hid in
the rank luXuriancc OF the grass-whole
miles of the moss-covercd stone Walls--:he
road, without regard to hills or points of
compass. winding from farm 10 farm
the powder house., the pound, the poor
houses and county house, are all objects Of
notice to the traveller. The antique garb Of
the inhabitants may strike him strangely 5;
but it he be in pleasant humor, the rustic
ciVi!iiy which accompanies il, and which he
meets with every whefc,cannnt fail to delight
him. The urchins trudging honeward from
school greet him with doifed hats and ready
bows; the checked trocks and aprons III
their rear render the graceful courtesy, while
the complaisant smile Of the parnsoled and
goved school ma'am balrays her pride in the
good breeding Of her little flock lit chance
t. be pleasant afternoon ofsummer, he will
find bright faces looking after him from eve
ry door; the grand dame plying her knit
tng.necdies or turning the foot wheel, less
for gain than rs IL thrifty pastime the care
full mother, making "aud claes look amaist
as wecls the new - tho daughters carding
the white rolls OF wool, or rapidly shifting
tho bobbins ofthe lace pilloWs-and all list
ening the meanwhile to the simple ballad Or
fast chattering of the neighbours news from
the market town. The boys suspend their
ball game while he drives over the green
The veteran 'sQuirc-:hc patriarch of tho
place
"With his old three cornerod hat,
Ills brooches and q! that"
respectfully uncovers his head, with the true.
dignity Of the old John Hancock courtesy,
and rustic maid, full blown AS the summer
rose, glanccs tt coquetting look from beneath
her dark cye-laShes, and baStens home to tell
OF the handsOn8 stranger whom she met
While not least, the fat landlord-mine host
OF the Sun for forty years-meets him at the
door, and welcomes him with the most gra-
cious air TO the well-sanded parior.
You are in truth, reminded at every step
that nature is not out of date here, and that
the standard which art and fashion have in-
troduccd over the world-which. like the
bed Of Procrustes, reduces redundance
and racks out DEFICIENCIES 10 suit his di-
,nensons and Observation-Disclosures no dwell
ling. place among this people. Take your
fishing rod in your hand, and travel through
all the country; sit down by the huge sirloin
Of the farmers table, or take pollock at tho
more simple dripping limbs against the peat
embers OF the cottnger's hearth, or before
the roaring beacon of the landlords hall
or trace every stream from its mouth thro'
all its windngs to its source. and that with
every one you meet. the same unaffected
simplicity, the same homes: and manly
frankness, the same Independence Of thought
and manner, will arrest your attention eve.
ry-whcre. -Kn1ker6ocker
MoRTALlTY.-Ths following is said to
be- the rates Of mortality. in the p, incipal
cities of Europe; Vienna. one in %;
Rome, one in "a; Naples and Amsterdam.