Litchfield enquirer., 1879-01-30
ONoRo, FLORIDA. Jan. 1j, 1879.

Aau uSI Uccn Tedu, tue NeW lofk ualiy lOOket 7 through for news of the worlds wide interest
 and turned to the Waterbury American, ad dressed by friendly hand, to find the startling heading, Tragedy in Goshen" and read witl painful emotion, for familiar names and local } flies intensity the sympathy naturally felt fol those who suffer. Many hearts mourn thi death which seems so untimely, yet my thoughts go most to the desolated home, where his footsteps will come no more and to the parents who looked to him as the staff of thei age. He left them in health and manly vigor full of expectation How different the return through the winter evening sound of heavy l footsteps coming with burdened arms, and q story of sin and woe, too bitter to believe. toe ghastly and real for doubt. Those who watch by sick-beds and feel the pulse grow feebler, as the dear life fades away, have consolation in caring for the loved ones But when death comes by violence and suddenly, striking the light out from home and almsst extinguishine hope, how do the poor wounded hearts suffer and grope for hand of Him who ''Doth not willingly aftiict nor grieve the children of men,"
 Many miles removed from the rugged New England home, ever conscious of the indispu- table differences of climate and social organi- zatlon, one week ago sat before a blazing evening fire and listened to personal experien- ces ot frontiersmen-ta of Indian rapine and murder, of lawless white men matching the savage in their greed and passion-all of too recent date to have lost their horror in the mellOwing light of old romance, and an unut- tered :'Thank God for my birthplace!" filled my heart aud parted my lips. Today, with yearning tenderness,a a love that no other home inspires, sad and questioning thoughts go northward to the hill country. Over and over again seem passing along the well remember ed road whence the murderer fled, hiding where, with other happy children, I have spent hours hunting the fields and woods and bright water for their many treasures. My sorrow is not for individuals only. A scar is on the face of Nature cloud is over the dear 1 old town, a skulking shadow ieeiug from jus tice haunts the lake shore, and through the bare trees the winter wind whispers the dread full story and drifts the snow about new made grave-a grave of many hopes and prom ses-and again comes the great unanswerable question, "Why?"
 Painful as these thoughts are there comes with them gleam of light and thankfulness to my~townsman who had strength and cour- age to compel surrender and protect his own p1 for f E;c I olo hope that just punishment will follow and, to the the wretched criminal soul, may God show mercy.
 Our usually uneventful life has now and then variation. On Sunday night Jan. 18th, at nearly midnight we were reused from sleep by loud jarrings of windows and doors, and trembling Of the entire house. A quick ex- clamation ''an earthquake" and throwing open the windows we saw the trees standing motionless in the clear moonlight while we felt the vibrations intensity at the second shock, and, sometime after, the third passed, fine reverberations continued. The impression was exceeding solemn. AS yet we have no definite news of it's extent.
 Last evening few friends met by invitation in humble cabin to witness the marriage of two colored lovers-the climax of the old, old story Little warning of the event was grant ed us, but cake was prepared, and each white guest took some little remembrance, and We sat dswn in ''the pole house" to await the bri- 'dal party. Above our heads, the rafters and riven cypress shingles around the room, up right, unplaned, whitewashed siding, decorat- ed with illustrated papers; little rude furni- ture, yet it was all more comfortable than half the homes of the 'poor white trash" gen. erous fireplace shed heat and light from the flight wood legs rolled in as occasion de- handed Our eyes turned to the liquid flame and glowing coals, and reverie seemed master of ceremonies-save for new and then few sentences. watched the faces as the fire light played upon them-6ve human hearts with their own locked secrets to which now and then the eyes possibly gave some clue one 80 bright and young you might question if grief had ever saddened the beautiful eyes that knoac have shed hot tears.
 No more gracious host greets his guests in a New York drawing room u an our ebony faced Antony whose courteous good evening, sir; be seated madam" stirs ones gentlest breed ing. At length the dark faced guests began to arrive. All shades and full of cheer, with sly mods and winks saluting each other. The bridal pair delayed long and there were whis- pered comments, ''She ant in no hurry to get ;ol Acri ho ic in fO rto har mean?" Then the usher, with silk hat doffed, the intense black of his face only broken by the white of the eye and the row of geaming ivory opened the door, and bowed in the i'm portant pair They stood in the center of the room before the white-robed priest after which they repeated the sacred service, and he pro. nounced the benediction and gave them greet ine. Then sampo ducked his head and dis appeared through the door, but our host sent l after him, and gave perempto:y word at his l reappearing. We would no longer restrain their freedom by our presence, and bade them good evening.
 Among the guests one good faced matronly | woman has won sincere regard. Her quaint and homely sense and great hearted womanli- ness rank her worthily amony our friends. If to forgive as we hope to be forgiven is Christ like, she is near her Master, and if faithful ness and endurance bring reward, hers is sure. To one who recently complained that the lonesome cry of the owls often heard about the place at night made her nervous, she said with gentle voice and beaming face:
 
 you, don't you know that ecery bird has his | tune and he must sing it "
 l Sincerely yours, NJ. L. P. Goshen No. 373. 1 CoLD SUNDAY.-Only 57 attended the meet | ing at the Center last Sunday.