Litchfield enquirer., 1871-10-12

ing much surprise, said, What! Rum in tea kettle?" ''Yes," replied old Father Mills, II knew I had got to boil out the water, and it would save me once empty ing" The bursts of laughter from the bystanders were at Battell's expense. But to proceed on my journey:
 CoLLINsvHLE
 As came in view of the famous AK man. ufactoring village of Collinsville, was d. most disposed 10 doubt the vision of mine own eyes, for fifty years ago it was scarcely noticeable, now it holds front rank among the many manufacturing villages of Connecticut. was told, there were em- ployed in the several shops 1,5OO men.
 The old time-honored tower at the sum. init of Talcott Mountain stands there still, and I was told, was still place of fashiona. ble resort from many parts of the Country.
 HARTFORD.
 passed through beautiful section of country from the mountain to the city of Hartford. I found that beautiful city full of life, animation, and splendor, present. ing different appearance in size and bus- mess. from the Hartford of half a century ago. And could barely recall this city as the place where the famous Hartford Con- vention held it's settings in the war of 1872. I well recollect while boy of sitting in the old meeting house at Goshen and witness. ing the bitterness, and the strife, that ex- isted between the two political parties "Federalists and Democrats in choosing delegates to that Unreasonable convention" as the Democrats called it. Gov. Griswold had refused to send drafted troops out of the State, and one of the great questions to be decided at this convention was. whether the Governor of a single State, had. or had not, this power
 LTTCHFIELD.
 On returning to Goshen, I passed through the hilly old town of Harwinton to Litchfield depot, then over the sand hills to Litchfe)d town. The first recollections l have of this old town are these: Nv mother sent me from Goshen (ten miles) on horse back, more than sixty years ago, with two dollars cash in my pocket to pur- cnaso patent Wheel heau aJ Demiuk.s store Tn Litchfiell, as one could be obtain ed nowhere else at that day. I think the store stood little north of the now splen- did Mansion House, and it was noted all through the county. Irecollect when the old jail stood east of the now beautiful park, and was taken down in 1872.
 l recollect the face of old Judge Reeves with his feeble voice; of Frederick Wolcott, with his knee buckles. white stockings. and sleek powdered hair; of the two Dr. Buels, Jabez W. Huntington, tue eloquent Rev. Dr. Beecher. and others The old north street with its stately elms and button woods, looks much as it did sixty years ago, but tue rest all changed.
 counted on that splendid monument in that beautiful park. the names of 49 Sol diers who yielded up their lives in defense of their country. A noble record for old Litchfeld. saw several Conn. Reets. on the battle field of Virginia in 1863, and was interested in them as soldiers of my old native State.
 NORFOLK.
 left ''old Litchield" with regrets, but with many good wishes for its welfare, and passed on to Goshen. I attended church at Norfolk the next Sabbath, where I had the honor of teaching school fifty years ago, but saw none of those old familiar faces I used to see there. viz: Rev. Ralph Emer- son, Maj. Stevens, Maj. Shepard, Michael F. Mills, Esq, the keen black eye of old Dr. Welch, Joseph Battell, Esq, the tall stepping figure Of Judge Pettibone, &c., &c. But had the pleasure of greeting two of my old surviving friends John A Shep- ard and Elizur Dowd, Esq.
 One of the first and most familiar objects that greeted my view as I reached Norfolk, was the old ''Battell Store" which stands just as it did at the earliest period of my but in a very dilapidated condition. The church and the old Acad. emy were familiar objects The park is a very pleasant one, in the centre of which is beautiful monument, on which are in- scribed the names of 34 Soldiers who yield ed their lives in putting down the accursed ''Slave Holders Rebellion
 Now. Mir. Editor, have nearly done; but having just read in your paper from your Goshen correspondent H. N. report of the railroad meeting lately held at Nor folk, let me say in all modesty, to two of the speakers on that occasion, viz: Hon. John R. Shepard and the Rev. Df. Eldridge, that they are probably to this day, unaware of the debt of gratitude they owe the hum. ble writer of this article, and let me here inform them that their better halves, Sarah Battell, ,and Sarah Mills, and also the lady of my old and choice friend Elizur Dowd, Esq received the first rudiments of their educa- ton from this writer. more than 45 years ago. But as I was speaking of the railroad meeting, let me say to all my old Norfolk friends. that if they have lots, tavern stands,