Litchfield enquirer., 1857-07-23
GBe Gittb6ela Gnquwn
Litohdeld, Conn., Thursday, July 23 1857.

Nearly an hundred years ago, a party of men might have been leaving the streets of this v- lage and taking their way toward the dark, and at that time, almost unlmtable forests which stretched westerly beyond the line of the Housa- tonic range of mountains They were most of them of the original settlers, among them, however, were some of the old pioneers themselves. They remained several days ill the forest, each evening returning to theirhomes driving before them loaded teams which bore numerous young saplings; thrifty elms, which intended to grace the long streets whose houses were now unprotected either by fence or shrub.
 Strange to say, it may scem, the planting of these trees created an undue excitement in the town "What!' said an old man, whose snewy arm had grown strong in yielding his axe, and before whose stroke tho mighty patriarhs of the forest had bowed their heads, What shall we re-instate the vii dcrncss which we have been laboring long to overthrow' fig for your shade-trees! Give me an open track in front of my dwelling. No place will have about for skulking Indian. I want a clear sight from my window And. therefore, be- fore his house. and the dwellings of several of his neghhors no trees were planted for many years
 In spite of all opposition, however, goodly line of thrifty elms ranged along the streets which soon brought out leaves, and gave evidence of a healthy future. The next Spring saw them putting forth vgo' ous shoots and among some more yer dant than the rest. few robbins built their nests trusting to the shelter of the leaves for security They still attracted but little attention the settlers were busy with the duties of their frontier lite ; wolves devastated their hocks struggling Indians occasionally harrassed them and they too had joined which now pcrvdded the colonies in relation to the mother government. Still the trees grew. Anoth- er year, and they afforded meagre shade and un der them, dog or sheep would occasionally seek shelter from the heat of noonday, and in their viz orous farshooting limbs, the villagers began to be- hold an object of honest pridc Not yet: however, did they speak for themselves and several years elapsed, ere their tall heads began to bow in the Spring breeze and their leaves to rustic it swept by, making on the of children low, whisper ing sound. At length. however, they shot beyond the control of frame support, stretching their great along the of the roofs and gather ne upon the shingles mildewcd spots, where moses and lichens clung rotting the wood and often cho- king the watcrspouts. Then it was that many grave economists among the townsfolk suggested their removal, cohceiving it would be better to dwell without their shade, than to pay ar additional tax for nails and capboards on their account. Thanks to the better impulses of their natures, the suggestions were not adopted, and the trees were still permitted to grow where the fathers had placed them stretching out their branches farther and far thef beyond the ridge pole and down the steep side of the linter roof in the rear. Now indeed had they become an ornament to the village; and some of those who had originally opposed their being planted, regretted their words even giving orders fr young trees to be placed in the vacaft places. Thus were naples and button woods introduced, they being of quicker growth.
 By this time, many of the original settlers had gone the way of all the earth. Hearth stones had become deserted to degree, and here and there lonely old man. or gray-haircd decrepid woman, sat sad and silent, listefirg, at evening the trees shook in the autumn breeze wildly in the winter storm, echoed back the wind tha. howled OCT the huge chimney and snow-swept roofs To them the elms had a sadly comprehensive language They spoke of husbands and wives who had sat under their shadows, but whose feet had gone into the un- explored country. They spoke of children who had once climbed into their branches and fastened there the ropes of their swings wherein they sported for many a sufnme, holhay-ehildren who had chil- dren of their own, and who with their babes, had pushed farther into the wilderness and were now hewing the forests beyond the Mohawk and Black River Their bare limbs knocked against the roofs. and with the sound aweke vision of children who had been, and now were not-the daughter who sang sweetly in the village choir, and who now. Asev d..sed nes ~ns singing, x:.a si1e .useis-tne son who had made merry at the husking feast whose genial spirit and affectionate heart they trusted might be acceptable to the King of Kings, though he carried away with him evidence of belief in the tenets of their stern religion.