Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-07-28
BRATTLEBORO.
As Pictured by REV. Dr. CInPP In the
COngregatiOnalist.

As Pictured by IIev. Dr. CInPP In the
COngregatiOnaIist.
When seaside recreation has SO toned up the
system that living becomes pleasure, longing
for the restful days and quiet nights, the
odorous air and pure water Of the inland bill
country will be sure to revive. II just then
comes pressing invitation TO Wis and talk
home missions to the parish Of ones earliest
love, let him heed it as a call Of Providence to
partako of richest refreshment for body, mind
and spirit. Blessed is the man--only two
live TO whom it is possble-whom such
summons calls to tho Centre Church of Brat.
tleboro-no need to say Vermont, for there is
but one Brattloboro, aud that one should
have a namo signifying "most beautiful for
situatiOn." This il no extravagant claim of
partial affection, but the common verdict of
observing travellers in all climes Many, who
have more than once made the tour Of the
world, have declared in plain truth and sober
ness, that Brattleboro combines more than
they had seen elsewhere of elements that
make the charm Of O village home. 1t is
built upon a number of terraces, irregular in
shape height, and direction of outline. These
terraces lie upon high bluff, with higher
bluffs behind it, rising steeply from the west
bank of the Connecticut, into which flows, at
the northern boundary Of the village, West
River q considerable stream Near the south
part winds through shady groves, and plunges
over q rocky fall, a clear, singing brook, that
deserves more romantic name than Whet-
stone. From the eastern New Hampshire)
bank of the Connecticut rises sheer and close.
ly wooded, TO the height of 500 or 1000 feot,
Chesterfield Hill, q dense mass of verduro
now, in its autumnal glory Of gem-like hues,
one of those 'hills of God" which once seen
can never be forgotten.
Two miles westward from the river, and
reached by a shady row lined with attractive
homes, is West Brattleboro, mainly farming
community, with it's well known school and
ancient Congregational church ministered to
through q whole generation by Rev. Joseph
Chandler, now of Minnesota, which new state
has furnished his successor in the person Of
Rev G. II. Merrill.
On the return trip, crossing the Milestone
and veering to the right, the visitor passes by
n charming road through the south section,
and, rising to the highest south ern terrace,
| has before him at one view the entire village ;
its chief business street full of life, its cheer
| full, well -cared-for homes flooded with sun
| light, every intervening space yerdant with
trees and shrubs, populous with singing birds
and bright with flowers for the culture OF
which no family seems to be too poor or too
Indifferent. Across the river towers the
mountain, to the north are the nesting hills,
!
beauty, the surface so broken as to give scope
for the most evanescent effects of ever chang
| ing light and shade, as the summer clouds fit
| across the sky, and the suns hourly progress
brightens or leaves in shadow the lovely fea-
lures of the picture.
North of the village, across West River,
clusters a nest of hills fertile to the top, the
abode of prosperous farmers whose white
houses are a conspicuous feature in the view
from the village. The approach to these, by
a romantic road amply shaded ard following
the course of cool rocky trout stream, ever
babbling, yet never telling the half of all it
knows, is one of the popular drives of which
| Bratteboro has so many, and this has few
| equals anywhere. The careworn, the depress-
ed, the invalid who fails 10 be prohted by the
ascent, the fragrant air, the bird songs,
draughts from the frequent springs, and de-
lightful views from the hill-tops, has some
fair excuse for Encouragement
Heaven has rewarded the people for spar
ing ths trees, by filling them with song birds
innumerable. 1t must be the very paradise
of robins. Every home tree seems to shelter
its family. At four O'Clock the leader of each
neighborhood choir, awakening his cOmpan.
ions, opens the morning anthem OF praise and
prayer, which presently fills the air with mel
ody. And they "sing the whole Of it, keep
ing it up as long as they please, bringing tc
mind Professor Stoves witty and Just apology
for the long prayers of our Pilgrim Fathers
"What one loves to do, he generally takes the
needful time for"
On that highest southern terrace is the vii
lage cemetery, its white monuments clearly
visible from many of the homes once occupied
by those whose place of burial they mark
Not q few of the monuments and decoration,
are beautiful. Tho elaborate Italian sculptures
by Larkin G. Mead, the Brattleboro artist
over tae grave of the late James Fisk, Jr, are
visited and admired by hundreds. But many
an humber stone, bearing q name that few
ever heard has q tonderer interest for on,
who years ago knew and loved those wht
were thus commemorated, and wept with th
monrners as they laid them in this last rest
ing place. To read their names recalled
III, mories of friendships that can never die
aud peopled again the homes of which the!
were the life and light No other lives cai
ever feel or know the emotions awakened b,
these lines over grave closed thirty thre
years ago.
l cannot tell
But.though the lowly grave be now her dwelling,
Aud though my chasenod heart with grief is swell
ing,
know lis well.
So much may be allowed as hints of the OK
ternals OF a brief but memorable summe