Litchfield enquirer., 1857-09-24
Whole No. I641

I many of them to revoke the past, and frjng up its faded scenes in a pastors heart Litch- field was large township, and the inhabitants were ia the neishborhoods among the hills, and along the clefts and valleys. It was necessa- ry to have preaching places in every direction. On the Sabbath, the farmers would come to the "town-hilr' mceting-house, but during the week, there were lectures and conference meetings appointed, in turn, ill every neighbor- hood, at distances from two to six miles from the center. As we rode along the aged pas tor, who was returning to the scenes of his early ministry was full of recollectons, as one name after another was called. In this house qe used to lecture in that he remembered an affecting funeral yonder he used to hold con- ference meetings and all the region about was storied with religious interest The sev- onteen years which Dr. Lyman Beochcr spent in LitChfeld, though not the most influential, perhaps upon the whole country, were proba- 1 hly the most laborious and energetic of his life. Some passages of his history here would seem almost fabulous to the economical work CTS of our day.
 It was halfpast ten o'clock when we rcach- 1 ed the Mansion-house The Rev. Leonard Bacon, Jr., received us cordialiy--the fifth
 
 the white-haired patriarch whom he noN greet cd. In the thrty-one years that separate | these two ministries, what history has trans pired And as the young pastor led the aged one across the old Common to bis house, is it strange that we followed, with more thoughts that can well Le put into expression ?
 A good fire blazed on the hearth Blessings on wood We should have despaircd at once had we come back to LitchheId to find a coal i fire, or worse than that, to find a black hole in i the corner of tbc room putting out dry heat, instead of the old hospitahIe fireplace, with ashes and coals, and the long fingered blaze that opens and shuts its red pam with every grace and sIeight of hand A good Litchirll fire of LitchfeId wool even if it was only the first week 0. September, was the very Ettcst banner that coud he spread out to greet us. and every fold and flicker of the fame drought back from the past old shapes and ong-buricd scenes, that used to fit around the fireplace years ago, before railroads were dreamed of and when New York lay a weeks journey from us when the old red or yellow stages came once day from the north, once from the soutb and once from the cast when the dr- vers blew the horns as they cane into town, and boys heard the curling notes go through the air, and thought that Stagc-dryGr was the greatest mah on earth, and that to hold four rcinS and whip in one hand, willie the other held to the pouting lips the long tin horn noisy at both ends, was the most won- dcrtuI feat of skill ever achieved
 { The next day it was sent out far and wide that Dr. BGcchcr was in town. Though the great body of his former parlsllloncrS had pass cd away, some remained that were old when he preached here. As we passed the grave yard coming into town, my father, pointing to it, said, There is the congregation to winch l preached when 1 Was here v Silent how, and without memory. The UNCONSCIOUS as- scmbly gave nc greeting as We as> ed but kept their long Sabbath without bell or tlthng man But some yet remained Men of fifty years now were boys when my father left Those who bIushtd to think of love and hus- band yet, now rocked their grandchlldren's cratilc. Those who were then ill the prime middle of life were now venerable
 And indeed LitcAEcld is the last place one should settle ill who desires to go early to his rest It seems hard to obtain release from earth, on this clear hill top. Men are count ed young at fifty, and sound at scYenty-iive and not very old at eighty One old man, near ninety, modcstIy told us that his mind [ 'SSiA had more sprightlincsS and wit after all lis loss, than most men have to commence with
 He was peculiarly thankful that while he Was too old to do much, God had been pleased to give him a young wife. She was only seventy
 i've, he informed Us.
 A man past eighty, going through the straat to visit ali the fathers and mothers ill Israel, that had been young in his ministry there, Was 1 q ip nnn trio o,.ol, in his ninety y-ninth year, when his former pas tor came into the room, spoke not q word but rose up, and putting his trembling arms about his neck, burst into tears DId he see, as by the opening of a door, all thc way he had walked till that hour, and all the companions who had walked with him and did he feel, standing jy the venerable pastor, two old men low few there Were that yet kept step with him upon the bleak way of life
 l Passing his own former home, my father brake out, with swing of his arm, "Oh how many associations hang about that place They fill the air like swarms of bees, and vat cannot speak one of tlen !"
 The partlcu lar errand which brought us hi h. CT was Lecture. A new organ was to le i bought. All Ltchfeld boys were permttc, i to help. Our contribution was asked in the shape of lecture. My part was soon done. Then the aged pastor came forward. A cro"i ot old and young gathered at the pulpit steI to grasp the hand that had baptized them, or broken to them the bread of life. It was A scene of few words. One woman gave Ter | name, but was not recognized in her marrrl name. She then mentioned her maiden nam,. That touched a secret spring. Both bur l ilto teaIs but spake 10 words The history 1 came uD instantly before both bnt S;irrtN SIX Sermons on lntempegance." That vo.- ulne IS Ill every land on earth, and iu many