Litchfield enquirer., 1874-08-27
NEW PRESTON. August. 1874.

NEW PRESTON, August, 1874. Who can say that he lived in vain? All through the long summer days he had maintained his patient warfare with the grasshoppers and the crickets, silently stalking through the long grass, except when his dignity was disturbed by the pointing of an impertinent finger, when he spread his magnificent tail and gave forth a patient ''gobble, gobble. And now it was all over, and for what? Just because two of our young ladies must needs have their birthdays on the same day. And was it not Q fitting occasion for the sacrifice of this feathered dignita- ry, this bright day on which one was just entering her teens, and the other passing one of them? So the monarch of the farm yard laid down his life, and his work was over. He was beautiful in his death. and loving hands. loving in anticipation, wreathed clematis around him, and he was gently laid upon the table. Garlands of scarlet and white, mingled with delicate ferns, were woven around and behind and above him, and friends focked in to see him, and know of his excellence, and perhaps MT. A. c. Lemmon's hospitable table was never surrounded by a more ap- preciative company. Mir. Daniel J. Day. ofiNew York, by virtue of his office as carver, draws the attention of all eyes, as he skillfully performs his task. His man. ner is calm, but speaks of the responsibili- ty of the position, while longing, hungry eyes follow his every movement. At his left, with clear, critical eye, sits Mir. Da- Hollister of Bridgeport, whose legal knowledge and impartial judgment is oft en called into request in the weightY dis putes on the croquet ground. Near him are his wife and two daughters, with Miss Wilson, also of Bridgeport. Farther down. the table are the cheerful faces of Mir. Peter Sherwood and his wife, and son, of Brooklyn, and just in the most helpful place sits Mrs. Champion of New
 
 graduate of West Point in '49, who served in the old 8th regiment for twenty years, who was in active service during the whole war, and knew the horrors of Lib bey prison and of Southern jail as one the thirteen hostages. brings his stores of rich experience and travel to enrich our table-talk. His wife and daughter are with him. Rev. Henry Jones and his I wife, the youngest of all in feeling, have come from Bridgeport to enjoy the de- lights of MT. Lemmon's home, and our unecualled hill scenery Prof. Henry N. Day, and family, from New Haven, and MT. R. W. Day. of Yale '75, fill up the re- maining seats of our long table, except those which are occupied by the kind members of Mir. Lemmon's family, and the latest conner, Mir. Henry Lennon of Memphis, Tenn. Such are the partakers of the birthday dinner. Bouquets of scarlet and white are lying at each plate, and wit and wisdom fly across and down the table. The two whose birthdays are being celebrated will not soon forget the warm wishes, and kind feelings which were called forth.
 A walk to the Pinnacle to see the sum- set, is fitting close to any day of pleas ure. and those of us who watched the sun slowly sink behind the purpled Catskills, and saw at the same time. the white moon and Venus, and the lovely, warm light upon the Lake, and hills, and trees, have a rare vision of beauty stored up in our memories. There is still the pleasant evening. enlivened with music. We do not know what the poor Hibernian who was unwilling to work in family so degraded that two had to play on one piano, would have said if she could see our three Bridgeport young ladies seated at Mrs. Lemmon's piano, and giving us the com bined power and trained skill of their six hands, but this we know, that they had the joy of giving great pleasure to all the household. So passed tho birthdays, and so. with equal joy and benefit, each Au- gust day is flying. We sigh over the fast speeding summer, and when we separate, we shall carry with us warm remembran- ces of our summer in New Preston, and if the constant, unfailing kindness and thoughtfuhess of Mir. and Mrs. Lem- mon, and each one of their family.