Connecticut western news., 1874-10-16
FIFTY YEARS AGO.

"Oh yes, we had an excellent time," said Miss Genevra Wilber as she set tied her ruff1es and puffs. "We se- cured a private room in 8 palace car, and were just as retired and as much at ease as though we had been travelling in our own drawing-room. It was fur nished magnifcently, all in scarlet and gold, with panels of polished rosewood and mahogany, and 8 lovely Wilton carpet. The windows were of French plate-glass, with curtains and lambre- quins all complete. Then there were luxurious easy-chairs and sofas, great mirrors, an upright piano, and lunch tables and card-tables and eV-e1y thing one could devise for comfort. And it all seemed so much like an Arabian Nights tale that fancied had only to rub one of the silver-plated lamps which hung from the ceiling to make 8 genie appear who would execute my bidding. An, it was superb p
 "Seems to me times have changed a little since was young," said old Uncle Ezekiel, taking advantage of the mo- mentary pause Miss Genevra made. Then people couldn't go scooting about the country in a parlor; they had to put up with good many incon- venlences, not to say privations, if they wanted to travel but then I guess they took just as smuch comfort, on the whole, as they do nowadays. At any rate they looked enough sight more healthy and wholesome than the young folks of this generation do with their airs and their graces, their folderols and their pinched-looking forms and faces. Now, when was rising one- and-twenty l took notion that should like to see little of the world. You see, l had always stuck close at home, only now and then going to the nearest village to muster, or to trade off some apples or butter. So spoke to father about it, and he said that after having and harvesting I might take the three year-old colt broke in the spring and go up and visit my relations in Yer .mont. It was called the New State then, and before they let it. into the Union they called it the Future State. Well, this idea suited me nightly, and I'll warrant I set more store by it than boys nowadays would by trip to California. There didn't much grass grow under my feet for the next few weeks, can tell you, and we got our last load of grain in uncommon early, so that one morning in September was all ready to start. I got up early and fed my pony, and mother baked a shortcake before the fire and made a good cup of tea for my breakfast then while was eating she put generous allowance of doughnuts and cheese in my bag, and showed me the new cravat and socks she had got ready for me. Mother was always thoughtful for us, and, besides, she wanted me to make a handsome appearance up country so she had had tailoress in the house for week, making me suit of the pep per-and-salt homespun which she had just taken from the loom. The sun was rising over the barn when sprang onto. my pony and waved a goodbye to my mother, and to the little sister who had crept down in her nightgown to see me start and stood in the door way by her side. As passed through the village l saw quite a number of the young men of my own age stepping to. wards their barns with their milk-pails upon their arms, and they stopped and stared we'll to see me setting off so early in my new clothes but I enjoyed thei1 surprise too much to stop and give them any information on the subject
 The air was fresh and bracing, and was so carried away with the idea of g holiday that wanted to whistle and shout and sing to work off my extra spirits. Brutus seemed to feel as keen as I did, and he cantered along pretty briskly for the first few miles
 Then he began to take it @ little slower
 for the road was getting tolerably hilly
 and by the time we reached Gainesbor
 ouGh he was considerably tuckered out
 l knew by the looks of the sun that il was nigh onto noon, so drew up to the nearest tavern and asked them to bail
 him. As for myself, I sat down under a big elm tree that grew in the yard
 and took out my doughnuts and cheese
 The long ride had sharpened my appe
 tite as well as Brutus's, and never rel
 ished anything better than I did those cakes. Mother always did have tht name of being an excellent cook, but thought she had fairly outdone hersel
 that time. -a..
 "After I had eaten all cared for, went to the we'll and drank some clear cold water, right from the bucket. ( have always thought should like to g