Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-06-24
GBolte SflistelIang.
A LEG END
OF THE
CH A z TER OAK.
By BEN. PERLEY P ORE.

1t was near the close Of beautiful
October day, in the gear 1886, that a
young man approached the town OF
Hartford, in Connecticut, by the road
leading from New Haven. At that time
the valley of the Connecticut was densely
wooded, affording at that golden season
of The year, every variety of tint that
nature can display. The maple was gor-
geously beautiful; the chestnuts were ol
deep yellow; other species of trees had
put on a motley livery, and the elms
that bordered the highway were clothed
in foliage of varied hues, from lively
green TO the deepest orange, all mingling
by the ,nidest gradaiious of shades, like
the prismatic colors. As he entered the
main street, 1.-THE western waves of eb-
bing day" poured flood OF glistening
light uPen the diamond panel easements
in the eastern fronts of the houses; while
beyond was the broad Connecticut spark
ling ike a mirror The overhanging
arch was of a lovely azure, studded
here and there with frecy clouds: while
high in the zenith was the silver moon,
only awaiting the retreat of her eclips-
ing orb 10 shed a more chaste light
upon the lovely scene.
TIE young man was Gne specimen
of the sturdy colonists of those days.
Born in Deerfeld, his infant slumbers
had often been disturbed by the prepar-
ations of his father for defense, when the
war whoop of the savage resounded
through the surrounding forest. The
life was familiar to him in boyhood,
land although he now carried on farm
at Middletown, he had net entirely relin
qulsned his fondness for the forest sports.
We have said he was young, but his elec
tnc black eye, compressed lip and gal
liant horsemanship, showed that Eyerard
Wallham could both think AID act for
himself, and was, therefore. well quaIifi
ed to represent his townsmen in the Gen
eral Assembly, then in session.
Entering the main street. even then a
beautiful avenue, Everard Wal,ham !. de
slowly along, occasionally bowing to
some acquaintance, or speaking to one
of-the lads " were driving home the
COWS, kept a! nearly every house, and
mingling their shriIl cries with the mu-
sical Iinkle of the bells. At last. Low
ever, his gaze encountered couple,
which drew a half suppressed oath from
his pouting lips. Applying the spur to
his horse. the high-mettled animal
splang to the other side of the road. and
he thus had a good preiense for neglec-
ting to salute them. ln few moments
more he had reached the famed hostelrie
near the site of the present state house,
and. dismounting. threw his bride to a
negro hostler.
"Ah!" exclaimed an elderly gentle
man, who was pacing the porch with (
pipe in his mouth, ''the member from
has arrived just in time to
see the sport"
sit matters not" replied Waltham,
with a iroWn. for he thougt the allusion
was aimed al the couple he had met
Perhaps, that we should start more fair
y, we should explain who that couple
we're.
The gentleman was Lieutenant Coffin
/ pert coxcomb, who had been sent from
he Massachusetts, Bay, few weeks pre-
7ious, in command of a detachment of
Royal Fusileers, destined as a body
yuard for the new Governor. Insufer.