Litchfield enquirer., 1877-05-17

Vuo SuuS0 moSU JOyOuSlys UepIOEAuS Gn0 lapse of time since their last interview and exclaiming. 70 Judge I want you should be put in Chief Justice Moses place P The quick response was---''Ex Excuse me, Madam. don't sotsh his place, he is six feet under ground !" Lady Washing ton appreciated the joke, and clearly stated the place she did desire our host tofll, begging him to send her newspapers that she ''might know what was going on.. An extended drive about the city and then to the ''Sand Hllls," lunching upon strawberries and cream and enjoy ing true hearted hospitality in this pleas ant home, cannot omit mention of the unusually fine horses that bore .us so graceful. Lithe limbed, thoroughbred chestnut and bay, scarcely need the photograph which was given me to keep you in remembrance The perfect day closed with the friendly .'Good bye, . and through the evening the streets resound- ed with music and rejoicing over the quiet organization of the Legislature. We left at midnight, and by moonlight; breakfasted and dined by the way, en- countering Canadian friends upon the cars.
 At Lynchburgh little sightseeing, and the wonderful steepness of the hills upon which the town is founded merit atten- kioD Thav kha ovoolianno oR kbo Lo,1..,o, ton House for hungry and weary travel lers was fully appreciated. The follow ing day, April 26th, the three companions left us among the beautiful hills of Vir. ginia. And, for New England friends who recall the battle of Winchester as the cause of their own homes desolation, ] may particularlze. Our friend Mir. w., 0 loyal citizen, gave me many incidents of intense interest throughout the war; Chief among these were those of Sept 18th, 1864, when the wounded and dying upon his premises numbered fifteen h,n- dred. His house was thronged and the sufferers ministered to most kindly. From one New Hampshire Regiment thirty-eight men fell instantly in a mass, earth was heaped above the dead, and a rude fence built around the mound. Aft erward the state sent and had the bodies removed to the cemetery and suitable monument erected. I said, ."We had dead upon that battle field and their bodies now lie in the little Goshen Ceme- tery.' And in the peace and promise of this spring day, all the pain and heart- ache of that dreadful chapter in our na- tional history came back over my soul, deepening the sacredness of the memory of those who could and aid die for Free dom. And, when again the wreaths and flowers are placed above the soldiers graves. emember-there are many burial lots where the Federal and Confederate lie ~;-1 l-- -nida -i- +hAi- lasi d-Annnlnaa sloon and the noble hands that scatter flowers there, make no distinctions.
 ''So with an equal splendor
 The morning sun rays fall
 With a touch impartially tender,
 On the blossoms blooming for all
 
 No more shall the war cry sever,
 Or the winding river be red.
 They banish our anger forever,
 When they laurel the graves of our dead,
 Under the.sod and the dew,
 Waiting the Judgment day,
 Love and tears for the Blue,
 Tears and love for the Gray."
 Upon the banks of the James river we left our Virginia friend and the parting was silent one.. That night in mist and clouds we entered Washington and pursu- ed the journey to New York and then to Connecticut, grateful for the safe comple- tion of the series of events that marked the winter.
 The welcome home is kind, the old faces good to look upon, but we are sad to miss some from their familiar places. Goshen gives us boisterous greeting, and I look back over the journey, recalling the little ponds full of white lillies in Florida; the luxuriant and fragrant azalias, or pink honey-suckle, dog wood and buckthorn through the Georgia woods; apple blos- soms, roses and Visteria near the towns and country homes. The rolling lands of the Carolinas. the hills and finally the mountains of Virginia are all bright with the gladness of spring, and know that Tn due time my own hills will clothe them selves and rejoice my heart as no other land can ever do.
 With thanks for your patient listening, and good bye. M. l.. w.