Connecticut western news., 1875-04-30
Sheffield Nc. 2.


 of what may be called news, trans- piring in Sheffield at the present time, people seem to be waiting anxiously for the opening of spring. The town schools resumed their sessions last Monday. Our new school committee, Mir. Gleason, manifests considerable in- terest in the sta4e of our school houses and their surroundings. He is a man of taste and refinement, and it is hoped that in this respect, under his super vision there will be great improve ment.. 1.-The funeral of Mrs. Pratt, a lady highly esteemed, was largely at tended at the Congregational church last sunday.."..Mr. Briggs is moving into the handsome residence built by Sheriff Root and now owned by Mrs Porter......In your last number there was an fem concerning poor woman who had struck her daughter so that she was confined to her bed. Now in all such caces, there are often mitigA- ting circumstances. The girl might have combatted her mother taken to bed from other causes. The good quail ities of persons, especially if poor, scarcely ever obtaln publicity, but their misfortunes and vices are known at once. For many years this woman, made lame by the abuse of her hus- band, as have understood, has sup ported him and large family of chil- dren by Ter labor. Through heat and cold; the stormiest weather, she has walked three miles from her home, and back, carrying provisions, /; display ing courage and perseverance, and should think, an affection for her fam fly that amounts to heroism; with all her faults, scorning to live a. public expense.....I would like to say few words upon the all-prevailing topic of conversation; the Beecher trial. heartily endorse your sentimens. They were we'll and nobly expressed, and if appears to me that no intelligent per son, from the reading of the testimony thus far, can have any doubt of the verdict, "Not Guilty" but throughout the country, prevailing all classes, there has existed an intense envy of MT. Beecher's literary fame and means of ac- cruing wealth, that mostly remained latent till this trial called it to the surface, and gave it expression, and this feeling has ex tended to the Plymouth Church, which II reality contains the most devoted, liberal and best reputed men in New York and Brooklyn. No church has given so much for the carse of Christ. Humane and missionary societies have thrived from it' benefactiOns, and 1 have often seen tugl tives from slavery, trembling within the alter, while thousand to twelve hundrc dollars were raised to purchase their free dom, but all this goes for nothing witt minds preprejudiced by jealousy. or accus toned to move in narrow channels. No not even long stainless life of unequalec christian labors has any weight, Is it no wonderful what vast amount of shocked delicacy and rigid virtue, this trial has de veloped? One would think that no per son, male or female, had ever cherished , doubtful idea or immoral thought, but thi great man at sixty years of age. And yet should nine tenths of the priests and lay men in this pure country be dragged through the fiery ordeals of such & trlal their acts, intimacies and private letter made pubic, their sorrOwtul and jubltan moments exaggerated, picked and garbled their garments would not have remained a: unspotted as those of MT. Beecher have | tiH the present time. The ignorant and vi cious judge from their own moral standard consequently their opinions arc worthless