The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-01-10

| Nhkts
Tho bushes were full NJ late n.wers, the fruit
trees dfo, ped under their weilth Of riponing,
and every thing a'out was radiant with tho
charm Of carly autumn.
Al the sound Of tn, stage stopping before tho
house, old Mrs. Moulton came out upon
the steps look ing eagerly at the stage Tho driver
drew up his horsos--giving his vehicle tremsn
dous swing opened tho door and Licy sprang
into her grandmother arms crying with Joy
and laughing because she cried when 40 per
fcc,ly happy.
81 am SO, 30 glad 20 sec you, child, the old
lady said, her wrinklod face all a.los with emo
tion and returning hor darng's caresses with
"A much warmth ss they were given chow tall
you have grown aud lovely to'--,h am 10
glad to hayo you 10th back gain Ny d.rltngs "
And We arc hspry TO got her safely back, -"
Sophia said shaking the hand which tho old
lady extended to hor; "goitiDg home is tho Dos,
part Of school days. Now for home"
upliness very often is lot people think what
they please about IL.
Sophia BrainRrd and Lucy Moulton had been
friends from childhood, perhaps tho very dissim.
''Not yet, come in and got a cup Of toa'
''Not for tho world Good bye, IN be- horo
ee'ly in tho morning.
The staRe driver cracked his whip impatient
ly, by way Of warning that ho could moi bo do
tanned longer. Sophia sprang b,.k TO lor scat,
another dip and long swinging ho,,o and tLo
cumbcrsomo old nlao 5ino dashed on towards tho
homestead.
Ths old lldy watched it With benign ewes a
moment, gave her grandchild another embIaso
and called ALOUD for "Bon 10 como and carry
IN the young lady'' trunk
"lIere am, answered an ungtirly youth,
making his ape rance upon tho blck q tho
hsusc How DO You do, young Ms.-iroad-
lul glad 10 500 Jou again, and no twisted his
urly face into an cNpoession Of deli ut that
made il ton timos more bid Gus, If Tia. thing
had been poe,ible, than nature hal intended it
10 bc.
Ron nd been hoy e al work ia Mrs. Moul-
ton's house ever sircc Lucy wsz little girl, and
conridorod him clf pcr.on Of vast Importance
In the family, ~ indeo ho Wa,
10 was perfect Miracle Of "a liae's, in form
AID feature, but 80 indus' iou. aHl COOL hearted
and his face beamcd with so much homes, kind
L,ts that it was almost boltsr lim beauty; a.
ilari'y q their characters and dispositions served
e. .trebgthon tho loyo between Thorn. 10 not
wish them accused Of scntimcdt,ism or ro-
msncOs. | shall 80 back 10 give some account Of
their childhood and give tho history Cf the oyont
which changed thsir early friendship into a
folding 20 strong and unaltorabls that neither
| ysars roI circams tanue3 would have any tfoct
upon it.
must please myself ~ recalling 'ho pretty
village whore they liyed-a spot that once
| know ~ well that oNery crook aud turn wa,
asfsmiliM To me q, the duh city room whore
write.
Years hoY, pt-sci sire my feet trod the old
I paths, years or toil and sorrow such as como to
every human bling. Tut even In tho darkest
! hour that thcy brou IN the recollection Of thM
New Fnglard village was like spot Of sun
i,,ht ami tho gloom. had only to close my
| eyes an it wgrs befo;o mo az it appeared
whom last stood upon the hill edo and no
other scene, however famed for its loyolinoss,
could to my heart evor equal the tranquil
lNauty Of that valley.
Say what you like about tho White Hills and
green mountains have no disposition to OPP
puso your liking for tho grand or stupendout-
but II you have taste for bits Of picturesque
scenery, shady little rocks and towns which
remind you o. quiet corner Of paradise, 80
into o'd Cgnecticu. search along tho banks
Of the Naugatuck anil llousatonic and II you are
disappointed don't wish to impugn any
uody 5 taste, but old Connecticut for mo and Is
p,cially that part which was once the Wood
bury district above all othcrs. II, OF no use
saving all that sor, Of thing about hearts blind
ing eyes. persist in il, thorc is village of
white, red snd brown houses lying bot two
n1hlo hills within twenty miouJes drive Of tho
llousoton'c-somo fifteen miles from its source
that is not TO be surpassed in all New England
| -Tierc
This village lies in the heart Of luxu, amt
vullcv, htdgod In ard almost ovcrshadOwed 10y
arrange u grasty and broken hills, piled up
against the eastern and western horizon. These
| b0ui daTes, cut up ~ they were into rocks, "a
VINES ard forest trees, seemed bot II COUNTERPART
EACH of the o her, IA ii one beautiful mountain
hal been cleft in twain and {. reed JUS far enou
apart to admit some tlopng ILLS au'
wood meadow Hats to form an eden in which
cluster of houses, with white church Will
its tapering spire in the contor gave glimpse
Of worldly life.
At one end Of the valley river came gliding
drowsily round the shoulder Of tho eastern hill
and ran up 10 the village. There it took
graceful curve, embracing maple grove, som,
thIee hundred acres OF wheat land, three apple
orchards and half dozen green meadows, all
OF which lay mass OF thrifty verluro in the
BEND Of the beautiful stream which ran slowly
"a il to caress them After this IL swept gcntl,
round, retraced its course by the base Of ,hS
western hill and glided of through the mouth
# the valley into the Housotonic having visitoC
the village as II were ~ 1T of caprice, ant
only to refresh and beautify spot 30 quie
and lovely.
At the opening Of the valley, just whore In,
stream began to course around the hill, a stag,
road crossed It by wooden bridge. Nothing
could be more delightful than view from th
arched bridge. Tho river rolled silently on
half in shadow and sparkling like wavcots o
silver when the sunthine fell upon its waters
Hedges of wild honey sucklc sweet brer, bo'
wood and blackberry bushes, now and ther
oroken by clump OF elms or line Of slender
poplars fringed its banks.
~Clofo by tho end OF the bridge a family o
magnificent willows bent over tho bank Whor,
the waters caught their fragile branches anJ
plrd play fully among their delicate leaves