Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-31
Sketches of Vermont, Past and
Present.
WATERBURY. Aug. %, 1871.

tes. BENJAMIN Franklin, or Horace Greeley
have enjoyed greater note in their respec-
tive spheres than did she in hers.
In the early life and the early dawn
of civilization in Vermont, she invaded
the forests of Bolton, felled the trees,
cleared the land, and with her better (but
lesser half gained competence for life
and raised large family. He was a
preacher as we'll, and while far and near
he broke the bread of life to the meager
community. She often donned his cow.
hide boots in the cultivation of the more
material bread that perisheth. He fell at
a ripe age, but she lived on, and on until
the evil days came when the almond tree
blossomed and the grasshopper became a
burden. No longer able to ''the same old
beaten path pursue" she yielded to the
solicitations of friends, and leaving the
old homestead, took up her abode with g
daughter just across the lake from Burl
ington. There were loving hearts and
creature comforts which the old lady
could not find in Vermont, there was
everything but home. That one great
essential was wanting. Three months
passed, when one morning the old lady
with her personal effects in band-boz
and work-bag landed from the steamboat
upon Burlington wharf. Facing the
Winooski valley where lay her old home
she stood for a moment shutting the
breeze like roe, then broke forth in g
high falsetto "sartin as I live the air does
smell sweeter over here" Meyer again
could she be induced to leave the spot
where the active part of her simple, hon.
est, and eccentric life had been spent
but neighborhood care she lived on
lived, lived until life was weary bur.
den to herself, and surrounded by plenty
of her own, died in want.
Thus endeth the tale, but not without
its moral, and this moral is but the I'M
written experience of all way-worn Yer.
monters on returning to their "native
heath" Long has it been treated as a
myth, and Granny Webster" laughed at
for her sold woman's whim," but she
could we'll afford to indulge the commu-
nifty in little merriment at her expense
so long as she had truth upon her side,
and it is now conceded fact that up
here among these mountains "Theair does
smell sweeter."
Pleasure seekers have discovered this
and year after year we find them in the
same resort. The artist ia transported
by the scenery of our high mountains OF
almost Alpine grandeur, interspersed
with deep and fertile valleys; followers
of IsaGk Walton are too be seen diligently
practicing the pisoatorial science
along the laughing mountain brooks,
bringing in much tackle and little fish.
Lovers of equestrianism without num-
Der but whoever enters here should
leave all hope behind, or else bring their
horses and saddles with them, for the of
fer of kingdom would fail to produce
Mountain regions are rarely celebrated
for those delicacies which tickle the palate
of the epicure at Delmonico's or Harvey's;
still he is here, and stays as if in love with
plain substantial fare. We have often
wondered why so many seek these regions
which seem go poorly calculated to minis
ter to the leading tastes, but often becom-
ing Injured to other chimes. We return
to our native hills and find the solution
of the question in the theory of old Gran
ny Webster who, like other discoveries
lived and died rejected of men,
Atmospheric purity, natures tonic, is
not the only thing to be enjoyed here at
this season. 1t is such exquisite enjoy
ment to be obliged to wear a heavy coat
at the approach of evening; to sleep meath
two blankets and still feel chilly; to play
croquet with gloves on to drive the frisky
Vermont horses, enjoying the drive all the
more because the horses seem to enjoy
going, and then write back the tale of
ones sufferiugs z? and brag over friends
far away where tho thermometer on a
perpetual spree gets high as 80 day and
night. For awhile we kept our Southern
friends, where onr reputation fer veracity
happened 10 be good, posted upon cur
strange experiences, tut it was too much
for them to believe that We had actnally
ordered a fire built in our room in Au.
gust. An extract from "Addison's Essays
upon Prevaricatiop,' sent us by faoetious
friend, suggested to US that even the
truth should not always be spoken. Stat =
ments of literal facts were accepted as
fgurative expressions, and could they
have seen US toasting ourselves by hot
stove it mi ght have been difficult for them
to have believed, even then.
There is doubtless no place in Vermont,
if there be in New England. that can
boast such variety of noted resorts as
this. From here we take a buggy and
drive to the top of Mount Mansfield
twenty Understanding home in season
for tea. Camers Hump, eight miles
away, ia too easy of access to enjoy much
of local reputation. BAlston Falls,
where the feeble river has cut its way
through the Greena Mountai range and
nature has spanned the Winooski with
natural bridge, is only four miles, while
Stowe with it's tar-famed ''moss elm" is
only ten miles away. Then there are a
panoramic views, ever
varying, ever changing, as you walk or
drive along, and hundreds of choice re-
treats where the true worshiper meets ma
ture in her virgin purity--retreats not
lar famed and noted, no tourist with guide
book in hand has ever subjected them to
1is mechanical notice for their being a
big thing" as be would look at the Presi-
lent of the United States, the Great East.
I'm or the "Big OK" and the child of ma
lure all the more enjoys the monopoly of
Ter special favor while the travelling
crowds rash on through dusty thorough
ia re q In nparotoolyoJ