Litchfield enquirer., 1871-10-12

used to be good land-nqw nearly worth less The drouth commenced somewhat about twenty miles east of Hudson and in- creased all the way to Goshen. There, and in the adjoining towns, it was severe, the grasshoppers plenty. the hay crop ex. ceedingly light, and the pastures yielding but little feed. The cattle, like the pas- lures. looked dry and hungry, and should judge little disposed to break into crops, for in one herd of some twelve or fifteen head I counted five tied head and foot, and two more wearing pokes.
 GOSHEN CHURCH.
 l went to church in Goshen on the Sab- bath, but not to the old church of sixty years ago, when David Beecher rang the bell, but to new one near the old site. AS sat in that audience, solemn refec- tions crossed my mind. I asked myself, "Where are all those men that filled those pews in the old church, forty. fifty. and sixty years gone by? viz: the Lymans, Griswolds. Nortons, Hales, Thompsons, :" &c.. &c. I recognized but two faces in the audience-that of Deacon Brooks, now 92, and my old friend Willard Gaylord, Esq. Let me here relate. briefly, a little anecdote of old Gen. Thompson, of Goshen. The General was large, portly man and withal little careless in his manner, but jovial. He used to buy sheep. One Sat- urday afternoon he was driving 8 drove through Goshen East Street, and at the burying ground they gave him much trou- ble. The Rev. Francis Robbins, son of the venerable and Rev. Ammi R, Robbins. of Norfolk, just graduated from college, and very small man, at this moment rode up on his way to Goshen. to preach for Dr.. Harvey. The General hailed him and said, "Boy,. will you help me drive these sheep?' "Oh yes, said the "hoy," and at once leaped from his horse After much ado the sheep were righted; the General handed the 'boy" three cents, and asked him if that was enough. Plenty" said the "boy," and passed on. Sabbath morn- ing the General (as usual was . little late to meeting. entered the Church, and saw si'S --i eJ n Dr. u~--A1,a ,a aesh, pIoa achinpi
 POND.
 l spent one day with some old friends fishing in the old North Pond, and stood on famous old rock thatssse boys stood upon and fished. sixty years ago. The waters of this famous old pond, which were used sixty years ago to carry grist mill, owned by Julius Beach. Esq, are now owned and carried, by some enterprising of Wolcottville ten miles, and drive large amount of machinery.
 THE WINCHESTER CENTENNIAL.
 I attended the Centennial at Winchester and Winsted, on the I6th and I7th of August, and they were to me occasions of much interest. The historical addresses, the poems, and the miscellaneous speak ing, were all of the first order, and not least on the catalogue of speakers at Win sted was Gov. Jewell, the first Governor from my old native State whose face ever saw. and I think him highly polished Jeo- sA The collations did great credit to the several communities and more especially to the ladies of Winchester and Winsted, for their superior cookery and their untir. ing labours in feeding that vast multitude with all the dainties of the land: peaches, and lemonade not excepted. The only face I recognized on the stage at Winchester was that of the Reverend Fred erick Marsh. who preached my mothers funeral sermon in Goshen. fifty-eight years ago, and who stepped to the front of the stage and pronounced the benediction, with all the solemnity and distinctness of his younger years-his age is 92. The old rocks by the wayside and the massive stone walls which I saw Lemuel Hurlbutt, Esq. laying more than fifty years ago, are yet relies of old Winchester. The hard hack is of later birth, but I noticed was fast creeping into the farms.
 TWISTED.
 As I passed on to Winsted, and saw the vast amount of machinery in operation, their splendid churches, their brisk and we'll filled stores, their splendid shaded T could but contrast the Winsted of today with that of sixty years ago, when. to my best recollection, it consisted of one scythe manufactory and few rustic, scat. tered dwellings. Here, for the first time. heard the whistle of the Connecticut Western railroad re .echoing over the hills and through the valleys of the Naugatuck.
 ToRRINaFoRD.
 As passed on towards Hartford. .thronoh the rugged old town of Torringford little of olden time occurred to my mind which will here relate. Old Priest Mills of Torringford was known far and wide at that day. He was shrewd and sar. castle in his manner. MT. Battell. a mer. chant of the village land think brother of Joseph Battell of Norfolk, long since deeeased) and old Priest Mills (beine every day friends) had long been in the habit of cracking jokes at each other. One morn