Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-02-16

in two directions, and on it stands the lhiclily-
settled portion of the town. The main street
continues nearly mile, parallel with the river,
is, we should Judge, some twelve or fifteen rods
vide, and is ornamen,ed by four rows Of the
most beautiful trees, mostly of the American
elm, but intcrspersed, occasionally, with the
rock maple. Standing about two rods apart,
and extending three-fourtbs of a mile at least,
they must number some five hundred trees in
all.
1t was our good fortune to be called into this
beautiful town on the evening Of the 22d inst,
to have an agricultural talk with the good peo-
pie at their Lyceum, and in passing through the
street our attention was Instantly arrested by the
noble trees which adorn it, and Of which il is
our purpose nov to give brief account.
Ia the year 1911, young man, born in Bos-
ton, and there educated to practice law, found
himself surrounded by many already possessing
"nine points in the essentials of practice, if
not 10 the substantial requirements Of the mys-
terious profession. 30 he cast about to see
where he should go 10 carve out his fortune, aud
his good genius directed him 10 Mortified, Mass
There he found the Connecticut. with It's green
and fertile meadows, higher up plain about
mile in length aud half that distance in width,
bounded at each termination of the mile By a
limped brook, sparkling and fresh from the hills
which boldly rise from the edge of the plain.
In this lovely valley was once, undoubtedly,
lake, and this plain was made up of The de-
bris of the hills aud the aluvion Of the river,
gathered and deposited through long ages Of
passing time. In form, nothing could be better
adapted for planting a town than this spot
Stretching along on the bank Of the river, il
gives access 10 it to large proportion Of the
settlers, and on the other side Of the street fine
lots for buildings and farms, and way TO the
grazing lands farther back. The water was
pure, wood fur timber and fuel abounded on the
hills, while the prospect down the winding val
ley Of the river, or away upon the recedng
mountains, was lovely in the extreme.
But though the hills and the banks Of the
river were covered with trees. there we're none
on this plain, where the early settlement was
commenced. Houses had been erected, and
the lands cultivated, on either side of the broad
road, but The sun fell with uuohsirucied power,
or the winds whirled the dust into the travellers
face.
~ hc POliNu VI tNio luunr man ; eeillemeut
in the town, these lands had been cultivated a.
bout one hundred years, and thrifty farmers &C.
cupied them, and were gradually increasing their
worldly goods, and drawing around them more
of the comforts and elegancies Of life. But
even at this time, the plain was sIifi destitute
OF trees and shrubs not flower, planted by
The hand OF man, moi even a rose, could be
found. No ornamental tree, or shrub, or climb
ing plant, east shadow in the burning SUM-
The road-sides were encountered with cast of
implements of husbandry the relics of an an
cient log house, or some dilapidated vehicle,
and among these, the burdock and thistle, the
MULLEN, milk weed and johnswori, were -four
isniug In rark iuxurianre.
Such was the general appearance ofihe place
in 1918, about three years after this gentleman
entered it, with the intention Of making il his
future home. There was within bin love of
the beautiful in rural life, which the scene be-
fore him aroused into action aud after arrane-
ing the whole matter in his own mind, he call
ed on some Of the farmers with whom he had
become acquainted, on the minister, the phys-
clan, and others, and proposed to them to plant
four rows of the American Elm, hundreds of
which, young and thrifty, were then standing
on the banks of the river, through the entire
length Of the street BY most. the proposition
was cordially received, and they were ready To
lend ahelping hand in the work. But BY others
it was fiercely opposed. and denounced as "a
ID fedral tFick"--it being during the war
when parties we've strongly arrayed against each
other, and when burning jealousies were more
common than desire to embelish and increase
the comforts Of home. But survey was made
the lines were struck, and the work went on
The farmer came wi his team, the lawyer, and
doctor, and minister, and store keeper came with
their implements, and in few days the noble
work was accomplished But here and there,
in front otsceriain premises, there was gap
and shot was threatened 10 be thrown if these
public benefactors broke ground there And
so they passed them by, and broke ground where
no guns were charged or threats made, and the
gaps stood as living remembrances of the hos
nlily to the work. The traveller, however,
viii find no vacant places now-ihey were af-
forwards planted with naples by the recusants,
and Gods sun and rains have maluled them in
to lofty, spreading trees, along with the rest
There are now four rows Of trees extending
the whole length Of the village, with a carriage.
way between the two centre rows, and foot
walks between each outer row and the orna-
menied grounds in front Of the Substantial dwell
ings oiihe place. The once barren plain is now a
rich gem. whose surroundings are the fertile
hills, covered with verdure in summer. and
dotted with cattle and sheep, or dark with the
forests which spring from their sides.
And who was the enchanier that touched and
transformed the scene : 1t was Thomas Pow
Err, now, aud for long time, the efficient and
kind hearted Clerk of the Police Court. in Bos-
ton, whose sympaihes know no limits wherever
kind word or good deed may benefit his kind.
We have little reverence for kings, or bishops.
or men of high estate, merely as such but to
mobility like this, we pay the homage of
greaiful heart. He has erected monument
more enduring than brass,-for when the trees
which he planted shall have mingled with the
dust, chldren's children will repeat in delight
ful remembrance the mama Of Tuo...e D.