Connecticut western news., 1877-07-20
The Stone by the Roadside.

:. WI ueTO Luc tOWu VI ISlHuOlpH HOW carries on its bnsy traffic, Egbert Ba- cons farm was once located. Egbert Bacon was my grandfather. His farm covered more than 700 good acres, and he considered himself wealthy, as he undoubtedly was. He started in life a poor boy, and his honest accumulation was the result of his toll.
 Grandfather was very peculiar man. Many persons considered him penurious, but he was really liberal ; and from the fact that his charities were given with secrecy, people SUD- posed that he never contributed to good works. It was in his old age (and he lived to great period) that a company of speculators bought his land, because of the fine water power that ran through it, and as soon as they erected the mills the place began to go forward until Ba- cons farm was thing of the past. I recollect when the first mill was built, and we'll remember my boyish curi- osity in watching the mechanics who worked upon it. 'a-i E My grandmother was about the same age as her husband. She did not long survive his death, and I missed a good friend and counselor when she left me. Grandfather expected me to be a farmer, but as never had any taste for hard work, my thoughts and inclinations went another way. Of course he was not at all pleased with my stubbornness, but my grandmother always stepped be- tween me and his wrath, and shielded me much from his displeasure.
 The old gentleman was sturdy man at 70 years. He invariably dressed in brown clothes, and wore so broad a brim to his low-crowned hat that he might easily have been taken for a Quaker. But get him angry once (for his irritability was easily aroused) and he would let fly such sharp and vehe- ment sentences that it was sometimes difficult to imagine they were not pro- fane. sl -an
 was 19 years old, and was deep in love with Sallie Miller, the young lady who played the organ at the Cross Roads Church, and was the finest dan cer among all the girls in the country. Grandfather had conceived a dislike for Sallie because she was musician. He had no ear for music, and was not ''moved by discord of sweet sounds, ,'' and nothing so quickly excited his ire as to scrape violin within his hearing, or strike chord upon piano.
 Much against my grandfather's incli- nation, he permitted me to enter the law office of Mir. Smart, as student. Had it not been for the good offices of my grandmother, should not have had the wish ofmy heart gratifled. But she smoothed the way for my grandfather's consent. But he never ceased to ridi- cule me for my pretensions, and posi- lively refused to give me his consent to marry Sallie Miller. It would not have ! been wise thing in me to cross the old gentleman's whims, for I was his heir and he could have found another with out much difficulty, so IJnever urged my case, but humored him in every way could think of. Ii ss...Ft. ..art "What are you thinking about, father?" she inquired. She always called him by that name.
 'I was thinking" he slowly replied, : taking the pipe from between his lips and dropping both hands upon his knees, "that a few years hence, and one won't see good old hickory logs burn ing upon andirons. Stoves and grates, and that internal coal that makes enough gas to suffoeate a household will supply the place of our old . fashioned fires.''
 ought to have held my tongue, for ]. he was not speaking to me, but wanted to show off some of my smart ness, and so replied: -.... .-...-. sltsOhi my dear sir, there is really nc occasion for having stove which per- mits the gas to escape. We have now gas-consuming stoves, and one is not ronbled in the way you suppose"
 'sPray, MT. Smartnoss, permit me to inquire how long you have been pos sessed of this valuable information have known it for some years, or rather have heard it said, that these stoves were gas-burners, but it's all lie; there's not word of truth in it.. I've known them to send out as much gas as would kill an OK, if he were confined in the atmosphere. Now, sir, don't you feel like a fool l?''
 "Come now, father," replied my grandmother, stslon't be 80 severe on the boy" "(she called me boy to the day