Polynesian., 1857-03-28
Ole })olnnesiou.
From the New Yorb Tribune.l
PETER PARLEY,S RECOLLECTIONS.

PETER PARIEY'S RECOLLECTIONS
Mr.. Goodrich was born in one of those modes
1 hamlets which have graded so many specimens q
the Yankee race, whose names are now cOnspicu
Gus IN the front ranks of public affairs. This wa
the little township of Ridgefeld, Connecticut, sit
uated IN the western part of the State, and from
Its numerous hills commanding a noble view o
Long Island Sound at the distance of fourteen
miles. He first saw the light in an antiquat,,
house OF clapboards and shingles August I9tn
1893. His father was the Congregational ministe
in Ridgefeld, faithfully feeding his peaceful focl
IN "a white wooden meeting house, and "passins
rlch' with family of eight children on four bun
dred dollars year. y good anecdote is relate,
of one of the clerical neghbos of this worthy pas
tor IN the very outset of the volume
/ ''In the contiguous town of Lower Salem dwell
an aged minister by the name of Mead He was
all his life marked with eccentricity. and about
these days of which speak, his mind was render
ed yet more erratic by touch of paralysis He
was, however, still able to preach and on a certain
Sunday, having exchanged with my father he was
engaged IN making his opening PRAYER He had
already begun his invocation, when David p,
who WIS the Jehu of that generation, dashed by
the front door upon a horse-a clever animal OF
winch he was but too prOud-in Il full, round trot.
The echo OF the gathering hoots filed the church
which being Of shingles and Clapboards was souor-
Gus as drunl-and arrested the atteption as well
OF the minister as the congregation, even before
the rider had reached it. The minister was fond
OF horses-almost to frailty-and from the first his
PTactlced ear perceived that the sounds came from
beast Of bottom. When the animal shot bv the
door, he could not restrain his admiration. which
was accordingly thrust into the very marrow of his
prayer; I'VE pray thee, O Lord, IN partcular
and peculiar manner-that's real smart critter-
to forgive us our manifold treSpasses in partcu-
lar and peculiar manner" DC.
., h. ID
learned to read and spell has an almost classical
interest, but with the lively description which he
has given OF IFS character and surroundings, it will
never prove so fruitful theme of historic discus
sion as has been the birthplace of Homer
''About tAreel lourllls of a mile from my fathers
house, on the winding road to Lower Salem which
| have already mentioned, and which bore the name
of West Lane, was the school-house where l took
my first lessons and received the foundations of nv
very slender education. [ have since been some
times asked where graduated my reply has al
ways been, ''at West Lane" Generally speaking
this has ended the inquiry whether because my in
have confounded this venerable nstitu-
ton with Lame Seminary, or have not thought
1t worth while to risk al exposure of their igno-
rance as to the college in which l was educated, |
am unable TO say.
"Ehe site Of the school-houso was triangular
piece of land, measuring perhaps rood in extent,
and lying, according to the custom of those davs
at the meeting of the four roads The ground here
abouts-ds everywhere else in Ridgefed-was OK
ceedlngly stony, and in making the pathway the
stones had been thrown out right and left and re-
manned IN heaps on either side, from generation to
All around was bleak and desoIatc
Loose, squat stone walls Win innumerable breach
es. enclosed the adjacent fields A few tufts of
cider, with here and there patch of briers and
r3kcwecd, tloarished in the gravelIy soil. Not
tree, however, remained, save an aged chcsnut, at
the western angle of the space. This, certainly,
had not been spared for shade or ornament, but
probably because it would have cost too much la
Dor to cut it down, for it was of ample girth At
all events, 1t was the oasis in our desert during
summer, and in autumn, as the burrs disclosed its
fruit, it resembled beseiged CITY. The bows I
like so many catapults, hurled at it stones and
sticks, until every nut had capituated." q.
Rldgeheld at that time was 4 wcll-markcd spC-
-imen of the rural New England village, although
ike so many others, II has lost It's primitive fea-
ures of quaintness and simplicity in the march of
modern improvement. 1t was situated on a group
of hills with an unerateful soil and thickly sown
with stones of every size. The climate was So
-ere on accounto Of the elevation of the site though
favorable to life and longevity. The fields were
divided by rude stone walls, and for the most part
iotted over with heaps of stones and rocks which
lad been gathered at short intervals to make room
Tor cultivation. The town was settled by a sturdy /
.dce of men, who were mostly the immediate de-
scendents of English en,igrants There was but
1ne lrishman, one negro and one Indian IN the
place single proiessed beTgar, who had served .
IN the armies of more than one of the Georges, 4
simulated the patriotic fervor of the boys, who
threatened TO ride hun a rail for CRYING ''GOd
save the king" even on the fourth of July. The
)nly regular pauper was an ancient woman relOlc-
ng in the delicious name of Yabacomb, who for
he first dozen years of our remnscent's life fur
lished him with the standard type for the witch of
Endor. Every other person possessed a moderate
competence. Nearly all the inhabitants were farm
,rs with only the spTinkling of mechanics essen
ial to society in a state of primeval rusticity.
Even of the latter class each had his farm, or at
east his garden and home-lot, with his pi-s, poul-
nv and cattle. All could read and write, but their
title attainments in few instances, extended be-
'ond the Almanac, the Bible, and Watts Psalms
md Hymns.
The family of the authors father were in what
night be called easy circumstances. They had a
arm of forty acres, with four cows, two horses,
ONE two dozen sheep, and good stock of poul-
ry, including flock of geese. The busy clergy
nan carried on the farm, beside his assiduous de-
otion to the cure of souls He laid out beds and +
Ianted the garden with his own hands, pruned the /
rult trees with the zeal of amateur, and IN hay
no time worked in the meadow with his men. lie /.
lsually cut the corn-stalks himself, and always
helIed the ears--the latter being done by drawing
hem across the handle of the fIaying.pan fastened
yer wash-tub. Every family lived much
ossible within itself OF money there was little.
Wages which were about 80 cents day, were I
aid in meat vegetables, and other articles OF home
onsumption. There was not factory of any kind {
n the place. There was halter who covered the
eads Of the population in exchange for the skins
f foxes, rabbits, muskrats and other peltry-a t
utcher who only went from house to house TO {
tho rattie and swine OF his neirhbOrS-a
amer who it is rather ambiguously stated, 'ouly
ressed other peoples SKINS" and clothier who c
ned and dressed other peoples cloth. dye-tub t
. the chimney corner was as familiar in all thrifty 5