Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-10-02

Ihe HouSatonlc v alley IS one OF great 10
illness. 1t is shut in By noble hills, which a
generally covered to their SUBMITS with fo
est trees; while down the middle flows q
Housatonie river, small stream Of no orc
nary beauty. It's beauty, however, is not
only or perhaps its principal feature, for i
busy waters drive an almost endless series
mills, giving employment 10 thousands, ar
sending forth to the world immense quantiti'
of things useful and ornamental.
As you advance up the valley its beaut
increases, and apprebend there are fer
places on this continent where, in the sam
space, so much is TO be seen that is lovely a
in passing through this valley from Sheffield
TO Pitls6eld
Our house, which stands on an elevate
ridge, is comfortable and commodious one
and instead of a by 9 room-nOt uncommo
IN country houses, aud still less so at places G
great resort-we have large and airy apart
meDis, as well as good food and plenty of it
Our house is not so denseiy shaded as some
where the great object seems TO be to ex
| elude the heallh-giviDg rays of the sun, bu
sun aud Wild have free access. aud are alik,
welcome at the proper time. A pleasan
lawn before the door. where the children play
is well shaded, so that those who cOyet shad,
have not far TO go.
As | sit here 10 this old fashioned, comfort
able poItico, large enough to accommodate
the whole household a very pleasant panO-
rama is spread ont before me. Four most
beautiful eIms, one hundred and thirty years
old, spread their gigantic arms to heaven in
our Triangular lawn. The hand that planted
these trees has long since mouldered ia the
dust. Generation after generation has passed
away, and yet these noble elms flourish with
immortal vigoF. and year after year send forth
their leaves with increasing beauty.
One evening, little while since, man ex-
tensively engaged in the manufacture of wag-
ons. called on our host After some informal
talk about the weather and other topics, the
object of his visit was seriously announced as
follows: Il am purchasing elm wood for axels
and | called 10 ask what you would take for
these four trees, (pointiDg to the venerable
lIees as he spOke). They are well adapted to
this purpose" Our host assured him that he
had not wealth enough to purchase them. So
with look of considerable disappointment
the visitor took his leave.
We have all the elements of beauty close
beside us-beautilul forests beautiful fields,
with their golden grain beautiful bills, COW
cred with foliage-aEd beautiful lakes and
rivers. Nor has art neglected region so full
Of beauty. Fiue houses, orchards, lawns and
gardens abound on every hand.
The high ridge on which our house stands
commands view of the village of Stock
bridge, two miles distant, almost hidden among
the trees, and of the beautiful Housatonic,
winding its serPeniine way through greer
fields, rich meadows and waving acres OF rip
ening grain. In one place it describes com
plele ox-bow, as though it was unwilling to
leave these rustic scenes of quiet for those of
the wooden mill and the work shop
Oar hest has a splendid farm of 400 acres
.one-fourih OF which is meadow. This en-
plOys he moving machine and horse rake from
'fearly morn till dewy eve." They are careful
here on every fine day 10 make hay while the
sun shines, in its literal sense. Nothing de-
lights our children SO much as TO ride into the
barn from the distant hay fields on the mon
ster loads OF hay, and to ride back again on
the empty rigging.
In previous article have alluded to some
others from the city NtaFryings in the same
house with US. Perhapsa word aoout some
OF those may not be out OF place here.
Miss Mary-a young lady of Is, without
any airs, free, genuine, open hearted girl,
who can go a blackberrying, ride on horse
back or play on the piano, with the same
hearliness and grace-is an especial favorite
of mine. She is the foremost in all schemes
for riding on the hay, and has got so CON-
pleiely on the right side of the farmers that
they cannot say nay to her and the troop Of
children that always accompany her. D. that
this simplicity of character may accompany
her through all her subsequent years, and that
the Lard in His own good time may add to
her attractions of person and manners the
lone thing needful," which Mary of Bethany
chOse-thea ahe temptations and even cor
ruptioDs of an evil world will do little to mar
the Fair character now so auspiciousIy form
ing.isi7 Ia. e-5z-
Fraser, her little brother. is fond of reading
and study and the e@qHieter sports of the house;
while his brother Willie is different in almost
every particular. Willie is fond of fishing
and hunting, OF bsihing and driving the pony.
He has traps set in all the wood chuck holes,
aud has already captured several, while his
gun is death to hen-hawks and other obnoxious
With these diversified employments
and many Others, the summer days seem bard |
y long enough to accomplish ali he has to do,
and no hborer 10 the harvest field retires to
bed at night more weary than he
There are two lakes in our immediate vicin-
ity, the "MOuntain Mirror" and the "Stock-
bridge Bowl, 3" both beautiful sheets of water, |
which afford excellent facilities for swimming,
boating and fishing.
With my young friends, Miss Mary an6
Master Willie, set off the other morning in
the pony wagon, well provided with rods, lines |
and bait, 10 try our hand at the ministerial
of angling. The Mountain Mir.
ror was our first destination. Here we piled |
our art with moderate success for a time From |
thence we drove to Stockbridge Bowl, where |
we were decidedly more successful. The re-
suit OF our expedition was pleasant morning, |
. basket full Of tish and good appetite for
dinner.
esterday morning a visit TO Monument
Mountain" "a high rocky eminence few miles |
Tpln our hOuse-was proposed. Immediately |
alter breakfast the conveyances were at the !
d9or-the pony wagon for the three young
folks and more preIentious vehicle for the
Two ladies and myself. As we rode along the |
base OF the mountain the sun came out with /
great heat, u iore-tasie Of what might be ex-
pecIed on tie top. Before commencing the |
ascent we were refreshed by a waysde f0un- |
ain, clear and cool, that gives forth its sweet |
waters in great abundance. We soon left the |
,.i,, -c.,,l a,,5 etrncly into Tho 1yool ,,,-,,