Litchfield enquirer., 1871-12-21

I0f U&f D6&UtY I WIS 80EA, KY Poets could not praise too much
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 Her supremsat reQuisEn sing.
 Many touching stories have been told of broken hearts and disappointed hopes, but of all the stories of this kind I have ever read, or heard repeated. none have more affected me than the one will now attempt to relate. It has never before been a0ritten, or indeed kaovH, outside of our family. It was told to me by an old lady-an octogenarian-the last of her race-who has slumbered for many years beneath the pines of our West Burial Ground.
 In the latter part of the Spring of 172a, . family, consisting of husband, wife, and two children-a son and daughter moved from Lebanon to Litchfeld, with the hope of bettering their fortunes.
 Litchfeld, at this early date, was a new settlement. comprising but few inhab- itants. set down in the midst of an un- broken wilderness, and displaying but faint outlines of what it was to become in later times. It was frontier settlement. and for long time had it's pallisadoed houses for tho protection of the inhab- itants against the Indians.
 Jonathan Churchill-I give fictitious name-settled on little farm of about fifteen acres, which lay not far from the present Court House; and, without delay. he assiduously commenced the duties of pioneer settler. His farm was one un- interrupted sweep of tangled forest; the luxurious growth of centuries, scarce broken by path; and his first toil was di- rected toward clearing away certain por- tions of this, together with the erection of shelter for his loved ones.
 The Summer had not advanced far, be- fore the result of we'll prosecuted labor was manifest in 8 comfortable house, g we'll, ploughed field of considerable ex- tent. besides many advantageous changes from that scene of sweeping woodland and untamed nature which had hitherto existed there
 It is not my object to confine myself for any length of time to minute descrip- tion of the slow acquisition of rude com forts, such as are possessed by settlers in new countries. Therefore. I hasten over these introductory scenes. The advance of time brought with it the usual reward of earnest toil; and our farmer gradually found himself in possession of all that his heart most desired, viz, domestic quiet attended with plenty. As for his hard- ships, which he shared in common with his pioneer brethren, he esteemed them as nothing when compared with the joy he found in his tranquil home. m
 His daughter, girl of eighteen, was the admiration of every one who behed her. She was graceful as . swan, and so beautiful that she seemed intended by nature to grace the palace of some lord, where the refnements of civilization would surround her, and where her beauty could meet with it's just appreciation, instead of being born to perform the tiresonne du- ties of her frontier home, in the wilds of savage country. a
 It happened that at this time there was, among the soldiers stationed at the set clement, young man whom I will call Edwin. He was the son of a wealthy gen. tleman who lived not far from London. He had been reared in the midst of all the luxuries that taste and wealth suggest; his education had been conducted with care, while his natural endowments fully justified all the pains bestowed upon them. Still, it must be allowed that Ed mund had at least one great fault an in ordinate pride-which had already in yolved him in serious difficulties.
 Upon some provocation of inconsider- able importance, he had taken offence at his father and fled to India. But his youth and inexperience, together with an ardent love of home, soon brought him back. He was forgiven and indulged more than ever. Soon another difficulty occasioned another flight, followed as be- fore by an early return and further exten- sionof indulgence and favor. Indeed, every means that love could suggest, was tried to render Edwin contented, and to prevent another escape; but nothing was of avail; for six months had not elapsed before he was on his way to the coloniesi in America, driven from home by his inexorable pride, which transformed his best friends into his worst enemies. ssa
 He arrived at Boston after boisterous passage. A succession of adventures re- suited in placing him as soldier in the stockade at tLitchfeld; unknown to any, and. for.this reason, almost happy; for his good sense had at length condemned his haste in leaving q kind parent, and re- morse had taken the place of pride. # 2. Upon some occasion Edwin, chanced to see Gertrude. From that time his thoughts revolved about her asa central sun. His ardent love, originating in a moment, grew into passion which over-rnled even that pride which had hitherto controlled his life. az .'With love there is always a-wayl'' It was not long before Edwin found means of improving an acquaintance begun by by chance, when he found her just as in his fondest moments he had pictured her, gentle and kind. sweet and modest; born to be loved and won by brave man. His visits were frequent, and many were