Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-04
TEoUT RIVER, June 1879.

Trout RIVER, June 1879.
To the EiiIoT OF tho Free Press and Times:
You will not find the name of this place in
any railway or postal guide Trout River,
so-called from the abundance and superiority
OF the trout found in its waters three gen
erations ago, rises in Belyidere and flowing
northwest through the town of Montgomery.
a corner OF Enosburgh and Just entering
Berkshire, empties into the Missisco oppos-
lite the Governor Royce farm in East Berk-
shire Its entire length is perhaps not more
than fifteen miles, but being plentifully fed
by the brooks which come down from the
mountains on either side. it gathers the
magnitude of quite river by the time it
reaches the Missisco. Its course leads
through meadows as warm and fertile as any
that lay in the lap of Vermont. Just where
The stream passes through Il corner of Enos-
burg IS school district, the people of which
are entirely shut away from their own town,
excepting Tor municipal duties and privileges.
For the church, the postotiice and for trade
they all go to East Berkshire or Montgomery.
1t Is this little territory, a single street per
haps mile in length, that is called
Trout River, and here Just at pres
ent am domiciled. attracted hither
by the family meeting Of the Hopkinses,
which came oil on the 10Th inst The meet
ing was gathering of the sons and daueh-
tiers of Henry Hopkins, deceased in 1862,
and his wife Lois, who still lives. The child
rem in the order of their ages are Mrs. Geo.
c. Gates of Montgomery. II. d. of Mont
pelier Silas of Trout River, andliving in one
part of the homestead, Daniel Of Waterbury
Centre, Henry, also on the homestead, B. D.,
of st. Adams, Mrs. Chauncy Lyon of Water
bury Centre, and $. ID. of your city eight
in all. Though the children all live so near
home they had not been together before in
tWenty-seven years. Owing to sickness H.
ID. had not been home in nearly two years
a longer absence than ever occurred before,
except in single instance His brothers
and sisters kindly sought to signaliZe the
event OF his returning ability TO visit the
homestead once more, after his severe sick
ness. by having the family visit, which was
for years in contemplation.
As may naturally be inferred it was jol-
ly, joyous occasion. No detail of all that
was done, of the things said, or the jokes per-
petrated, is attempted but the boys
and girls with their companions
were all present, with the exception
of Mr.. Lyon of Waterbury Centre. The boys
rambled over the pastures and through the
meadows, or loitered on the sandbars and
gathered curiously formed stones as they
used to when children They drank from
the favorite spring ut the foot of the hilr'
and sought seclusion in the forests edge as
in the days gone by. Stories were told on
each other and old memories revived which
in turn recalled other memories; and so the
events long agone were made TO pass in rapid
review once more The family have a wide
,t,t,A IL, .I...,
four of the sons doing duty, as choristers, at
the present time, in the churches where they
of course the pleasures of song
came in for Il due share of attention. The
music of three generations was sung, begin
ming with Mortified and China" TO
which the mother, now eighty-one years of
age, contributed her counter, with information
as resonant and perfect as forty years ago,
and ending with some of the gospel songs of
to-day, even including, begging Prof.
Higleys pardon, "Oh, to be Nothing"
rhirty-one children and grandchildren took
dinner in the old homestead sitting in
he same room where they used to eat
while the beloved father was yet alive and
before the children began to leave home. As
by one of the sons, the boys
were all seated on one side of the table,
oldest by oldest" with the ageda and reverend
mother at their head. 1t may be fancied that
/ was with mingled emotions that she looked |
Upon the sturdy fellows together for the first
line in so many years and perhaps for the
asst time. The bread and pics used on the |
occasion were prepared by the beloved mo- |
hers hand and were eaten with the relish |
hey used to experience when great, hearty, |
hungry, growing boys. Grace was said and |
he viands tested and approved, the doxology |
vas sung, the company still sitting, and the
mother doing good service again on the |
counter"
Mrs. Hopkins's daughters are well and |
pleasantly married. and are doing their |
hare in an acceptable manner to keep along /
hurch and society Her sons are some Of |
hem quite wel-known throughout the State
They are men of untinchirg integrity They
re remarkable specimens of sound health.
he youngest of them is in his fortieth year,
nd with the exception of III. D. there has
ever been any serious sickness among them.
The families originally settling on Trout
River have all disappeared with their de-
endants, except the Hopkinses. They must
ave been noble set of men. One year
pwards of sixty years ago, two neighbors
wing on adjoining farms, one in Mont
emery and the other in Enosburgh, were in
ne Legislature together. One farm in
Iongomery and within sight of the Hop
ms homestead has furnished two preach
rs of the gospel, three town representatives,
nd two county Senators. The Trout River
chool district has furnished four town rep
and county judge.
II. ID. II.