Litchfield enquirer., 1869-08-26
feorrsspondsnce of the Journal and goafser.T UP THE HOUsATONTC VALLEY.


 UP THE HoUsATONTC VALLEY.
 On the Housatonic river lies New Mil. ford. This beautiful and fourishing vii. lage, tucked away among the hills, like a gem in emerald setting, is, at the present season, lovely beyond description Not till you leave the dusty cars, aud wind your way through the principal avenue, enscon- cing yourself at some elevated point of oh. z servation, ,ddes its beauty burst upon sfhe view. Here, where the shadows fall soft and rich. a messy seat inyltesyou to rest Have you friends along, let them tarry with you and inhale the spicy fragrance of ,s the woods, mingled with the odor of the delicate blossoms which you crush beneath your feet Your senses are charmed with the witchery around you. Nature is lavish with her fascinations, and you yield your self to her Influence, while you take in the beauty of scenery so varied and extensive. Hills, valley, river, fields, aud orchards make up the picture. Let us, wiio have studied the view, sketchlng it on memory s tablet, analyze it for you.
 We shall take first the .noble Housatonic. which winds 1t way for many a mlle, now smooth as glass, refecting the beauteous clouds and the lofty Branches which line its banks, aud now breaking and foaming and sparkling till the current carries it past the gap, known as the lorer's eap? Here We must digress for moments ex- tsplaDat.on. There Is connected with thls spot legend of an Indian brave, who ter minated his existence by plunging from the rock (cleft in twain by .some mighty power) into the river beneath. His manly ? spirit, which could meet opposition in otI- CT forms, was crushed and broken with dis. appoin ntment--an ofosre de cgw-and he sought a watery grave. A boat might car- Y us down the stream, passing now and then an island clothed in verdure bright: but we must needs encounter the rapids, so we had better keep on shore. Then again, the rivers surface becomes smooth and dreamy, and we speculate on the prob ability of good luck in shad catching, for . they tell us that here ''ifish do congre- gate" but we. for a very good reason, con ciude to leave that occupation to our naas- culine friends, while We take an excursion ? to the grand old hills. Take the ascent on Horseback, if you please. We tried that mode of conveyance, and liked it exceed-a ingly. To lover of mountain scenery. a jaunt of this kind is full of interest, and if lacking in the wildness and grandeur of the White Mountains, it possesses features both attractive and picturesque As wei wind our way up the rugged slopes, wis., ions of rural beauty enchant us. At some elevated niche. we paused to view n nature's handiwork. Forests of luxuriant green. meadows brilliant in golden sunlight; fields indicating rich farming country, and the graceful curve of the noble river; all com bine to form panorama charming indeed. As We descended the mountain called New Jerusalem, we fell to musing on the future home of the redeemed, which the name suggests, and of which this. earth, as the Creator made it, IS a symbol. Surely, if1 this world presents so much to. delight us, what can be our realization of the real New Jerusalem, when we are "lost in wonder, love and praise!" A few miles more, and we catch glimpes of the village, with it's church-spires, and unique dwell hngs, with lawns and gardens artistically arranged. ts fE
 On an eminence half mile south of the village, stands the residence of A. s. Ro. gers, A. M., principal of a family school for boys. This locality is peculiarly adapt- ed for the educating of youth, fitting them for mercantile business, or meeting the aspirations of the classical mind, This enclosure is beautified bya grove of fine naples. fruitful trees, Towering shrubs, and climbing vines, which conspire to form an element of elegance and order, while furnishing resources of recreation condu- cive to health and physical growth; at the same time the view from this residence is strikingly lovely and picturesque-une- qualled, perhaps, in the HousatOnic Val ley. In fact, the village itself is one of no inferior order, as the wealth, refinement and culture of it's inhabitants will testify.
 We leave it with genuine regret. not without the hope, however, of revisiting it at some future day. O. s. T.