Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-09-25
For the Delaware Gazette.
srocKBR1DGE AND ITS VICINITY.
By JOHN KNOX.

| " SEC uuElUS Tue Eeludiulog TWO.
Well, at the beginning of the hos weather
like prudent "pater lamilias," l began {,
look about me for a safe retreat for these
priceless jewels. AT the suggestion Of friend
| directed my steps to Massachusetts; and one
day found myself in one of those pretty
towns Of which there aFS-o many 10 the Ho.
matomic Valley. An old acquaintance, tenn.
porarily residing there, met me who was de.
lighted at the prospect of having us for sum
mer neighbOrs. The hunting Of a boarding
house now began in earnest.
The first house at which we applied was
that Of young lady, rapidly becoming an
old maid. She received us politely, and listen.
ed attenlively to the statement OF my businesr:
but when mentioned that we had an infant
"a young America of two years, another of
three and a hall, and one Of five years of age
paleness came to her cheek and dimpess IN
her eye, accompanied with other symptoms Of
sudden illress. Making a desperate effort.
however, she partially recovered herself and
exclaimed in a feeble voice, ave have con-
cluded not to take any boarders this SUMNER %
| At the next house the lady had made mora
progress toward the "sere and yellow leaf,D
and therefore had more command Of her coun.
tenance. The catalogue of children was again
rehearsed, producing less outward or apparent
effect, but the result was the same, for she
earnestly assured Us that cher rooms were far
too small 10 accommodate 80 many" At the
third house we were told that ''there was great
difficulty this season with servants" A few
more applications brought forth similar ex-
cuses, till was satisfied that there was no
place for little children in that town. won
der if these people have forgotten that they
were all children once themselves.
1t was beautiful afternoon in
June-one of the most delightful days Of a
delightful month-that stepped from the
Housatonic train-tliat quietest of railways -
at the rustic station of Stoekbridge, Berkshire
county, Massachusetts. A few minutes walk
brought me to the village, so hleepiy reposing
under the shadows of her glorious trees.
climbed the hill beyond to the residence of q
worthy clergymen to whom, though had nev.
er seen him before, was not entirely un-
known. After friendly chat on various sub
jects, stated my business. He gave me o
note of introduction to a ncighbor, about a
mile distant, whom be thought might be will
ing to accommodate us.
AS / approached the house with its glorious
elms, older by many years than the ''oldest in
habitant," standing as sentinels in front, and
saw the spacious and comfortable look of the
house itself and its pleasant little lawn before
the door, thought to myself il we can get in
here this will be the SPOT for us. The lady of
the house soon presented herself, and hand
ed her the note of introduction. Not wishing
to lose time and still less desirous Of prOduc-
ing any false impression, at once threw out
the bomb shell about the little children. To
her credit will say it fell harmless at her
feet She did not faint-she did not even
need her smelling salts. On the contrary she
stood her ground. The result Ofa little farther
conversation was that she agreed TO take us,
children and all. am sure lOe never regret
ed our coming and hope she has not. We
have one other family from the city with as,
who have treated US with all the kindness Of
old friends. though we never met till we met
here. To them we are indebted for many val
liable and important favors. Our household,
though not numerous, is very compact one,
representing the various ages from the gray
hairs of our excellent and intelligent host,
down to the infant in her mothers arms.
We are all of one opinion in politics. No
Copperhead, like snake in the grass, ever
writhes bis tortuous way into our house. On,
conditional loyalty is our motto and watch
word. The New York Daily News, or World
or Express, find no readers or admirers with
u.s. The mail reaches us in the afternoon, and
every evening when the lamps are lighted, we
discuss together the news of the day as they
are presented 10 us in the columns Of these
loyal sheets, the Times and the Tribune.
We all agree that "Hnnest Old Abe's"
letter to the Springfield Convention, iu which
he tells all the pro-slavery Copperheads "that
the promise (of freedom to the sIaVe) being
made must be kept" not only proves him an
honest man, but also a wise and jnst Vulers-
May the Lord bless Abraham Lincoln. He
certainly is the "right man in the right place."
Here our days pass TRANQUILITY and pleasant
ly, and must add rapidly away. The air is
most invigoraling, and we are not afraid to
take plenty of it. The little children, from
constant exposure to it, might easily be mis-
taken for "eontrabands," were they some de-
grees farther south. The drives in this vicin-
ity are not surpassed by any have ever seen.
The one TO Great Darlington for instance,
ten miles distant, along the windings Of the
lovely Housatonic, beneath the shadow OF
Monument Mountain" and over beautiful
country, is one that must long be fresh in my
recollection. The ride 10 the other direction
to Lenox, past that picturesque sheet OF water,
"The Stockbridge BoWe," is very attractive
one, and when extended farther, to the pretty
town of Pitts6eld, it becomes fner still. These
noble ridges which cut up the land into so
many smiling valleys, at this season so richly
laden with the ripening corn, are spurs Of the
Green Mountain. Our position is a very ele-
vated one. Springfield, for instance, may be
said to be high, and yet Pitts6eld is one thous-
and feet higher.
As might have been expected, scenery so
beautiful has attracted hitber men and wo-
men of genius. Here for a time was the
summer residence of Henry Ward Beecher.
Here dwelt q. P. R. james, the prolific nov
eist, and Fanny Kem6ell, the accomplished
reader. This was the birth place, rs il is still
the residence, of Miss Sedgewick, one Of the
earliest and most gifted Of American novelists.
But greater than any Of these once dwelt In
this lovely spot. Jonathan Edwards, the
prince Of American thinkers, wrote his ablest
work, "a Treatise on the Will" 10 one Of the
rooms of yon modest though antiquated
dwelling. Surely if anything would render .
house famous, it would be fact like this
While there is a possibility Of preserving q
fragment of it 1 trust it will never be torn
down or allowed to decay.
This town was an early Mission station
among the Indians. The farm Of Mr.. Wells,
the present Superintendent Of the Sabbath
School here. was the place on which Il stood
That pretty knoll yonder, on which his dwell
;,r. ;s ,,,,v so pleasantly located, was once the