The sun., 1862-01-04
IlfArrEK 1.

A good many years ago, the village Of Hotch.
kistown WAS only still hamlet of white cot
tagcs and old fashioned sloping roofod houses,
such as gives old homosteais au air OF antiquity TO
this day. The ast prccipicc of the Green Noun
tains Hung dcnser shadow over this pretty
group Of houses, than II can give to the pros.
ent moro protentious town, for the bold front Of
rocks was crowned with magnificent old iorost
trees and rich growth Of mountain shrubs
crowded its grcenncsi down tho mo inta'u sides.
lnt,ct, half ol the in.uniccntly cultivated plain
which lies between New Iayon and the East and
West Rock, was thcn noble forest, in which
great hemlocks and pincs worthy Of the name,
raped their delicious shadows in the sum ner
,irc, aud turned wintry winds into weird mu-
. @ when the snow lay thick beneath them.
In the centre Of this hamlet, which is now
uo,cl h.s'own, If the Lcg,hturc of Connect
cut has not in thcio latter years been at ils old
tricka and changed the gooi I'D fashioned names
into mething cl,e, with a political rebaptism,
stood an old fashioned stone tavern, with Il
square sioop in front, heavy stone chimney on
the roof and an orchard Of patriarchd apple trees
In the rear. Of course, this house stood directly
on the highway, which was 30 narrow that a
hugo old willow that grew ON tho opposite side,
flung its pendant branches over the stoop and
whipped the roof numerically whom the sci
sico storms began to toss and torture its invit-
ing boughs. On ono Of ths Oldest of these
branches sung pondorous sign, on which a
rampant lion had almost rlyod itself ou' Of
joint, and by tho huge trunk wooden horse
trough, separated into departments, gave tho
crowning proof that men and horses were alike
welcome at tho stone tavern.
Plenty Of custom the old tavern had in those
good old day.. whom railroads woro unknown
anil men oi all degrees travelled with their own
horses and put W at nigh, like Christians, say
ing their prayers before they went to bod, and
asking grace doaorously at breakfast before
they started on momentous days journey Of
forty miles or 40.
There was no rushing through life by steam
in these times, no lightning news, no iron teams
and furious machinery to trighten people out Of
their seven senses along the road. Your country
tavern was an institution, and its landlord, in
most cases, character.
n
great rogue in all ages especially when youth
fires it into mischief; there were timoswhen tho
old tavern was thrown cut Of its decorOus s-
lencc. Whom thriving fathers broke loose from
the classic halls of Yale College, and the young
students camo rushing toward llotchkisstown
amid storm Of sleigh bells cracking whips and
wild shouts Of laughter, which grew loud and
tla Naiu nod ha Tar
| from the open country. Then there would be a
tumult Of bells AID horses under that vast will
| low. The old tavern would blaze out in all its
windows, and tho sweet sounds d a violin
would send Joyous gush of music through the
stamping feet and clamorous galty that warmed
the old building with joyih mirth.
Watcher the tavern is yet standing do no
know If it be, let US hope that the young men
of the present generation have improved upon
the wisdom Of those who held such rare revols
in the old building at that period, and only pass
II in their sober, scholastic walks, with proper
decorum pointing ii out to all new comers as a
place to I've avoided from the jolly reputation II
enjoyed whom the old folks were students.
Az the era of which | write, it WIS in tho
NoIl uuell VI 10 l"pAlallNJ hNdIColy an oNo'
ming passed that its walls dii not ring to tho
merfiment Of q score Of reckless voices, ani tho
host must have acquired habit of taking sleep
for granted, as he seldom had an opportunity of
getting an entire nights quiet. But he was
fat, coed natured specimen Of Boniflco as
could have boon found he liked to see the
young fellows enjoy themselyos, they paid him
well, and taking both matters into considerr-
ton, he bothered his round head very little abo
the condemnation bestowed upon him by tho
College Faculty or tbs 'taid, order loving to Ens.
peorle. The students did not always oonfuo
their visits to the stone tavern 10 sloghing
timo.
One pleasant evening in tho late spring,
small party composed Of the most rebelli9uI
spirits that ever college laws had to deal wi h,
sat in one Of tho upper rooms Of this old Ia, orn.
Supper was over, and great bowl OF punch
wh ch had been moro than oncs replsnished, set
upt the table, about which one or two young
men were still gathered and Others had flung
themselves about the room in all sorts Of con-
Entered According b. the At Of Congress- In tho
Clerks Office Of the District Court of the Southern
niatrict pfN New York. In the year thOu4Anl