Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-12
SUMMER RAMBLES.

by a New Haven Merchant of Scenes
 and Sights Enjoyed During a Vaca-
 tton.
 It is about comfortable half hours ride from Litchfeld village center to Horatio Benton's farm, known as ''Maple- wood." The estate comprises 400 acres of rolling farm and fruit land, fringed on three sides by the tall pine, elm and maple trees. The summer boarders who are fortunate enough to secure quarters at
 this old homestead, have cause to con-
 gratulate themselves upon their selection,
 combining as it does, the beauties of na-
 ture, with the comforts of home.
 The farmhouse itself, which has stood
 for nearly a century, is somewhat weather
 beaten, and shows the wear of time, but
 greatly increased it's size, and it is capable
 of comfortably housing fifty guests. Back
 of the home are peach and apple orchards
 which this season are very heavily bur dened with ripening fruit. A dozen of fat sleek COWS amply furnish the table with rich cream, milk and butter, while the large garden supplies constant vari- ety of fresh vegetables. The moss s-covered stone fences which separate the fields are the popular hiding places of chipmunks which, when the coast is clear and no enemy in sight, gayly leap along the stones and exchange visits with their neighbors. Every tree has its deftly hidden birds nest, containing from two to five futtering balls of feathers, over which hovers in anxious care the ma tronly mother-bird, while fond "hubby' is seeking for worms and other delicacies for the mid-air dinner.
 Near the corn crib numbers of turkeys proudly strut, blissfully unconscious of the coming Thanksgiving which will ruth
 lessly terminate their earthly career, if so be that they chance to venture forth on 1 that fatal day to all "gobblers."
 Motherly hens gather their fluffy brood
 beneath their wings at the sound of ap- preaching footsteps and bravely resent in | trusion upon their favorite scratching grounds.
 The red-breasted robins rest for mo- ] ment upon the telegraph wires along the
 road, doubtless waiting for the messages which they are supposed to convey on cer- l tain occasions to those who are so fortu- ! nate as to secure and deserve their conf
 dence.
 Between the leaves of the maple trees
 rainbow-hued butterflies while away their 1 short but happy hours, and the busy, art
 
 unwary fly.
 The green fields are dotted with pretty l wild flowers, with an occasional belated daisy which has outlived it's mates; while above all hangs the pale blue sky, fecked with restless, feecy clouds, like huge snow banks in the air.
 The mild day air of Litchfeld hills, the grain fields and trees and the beauty of country landscapes easily wins the hearts and restores the health of the city dwell CTS, who for perhaps eleven months of the nature between the brick and stone build ing which hem them in.
 About mile west of "Maplewood" farm is Lake Bantam, a sheet of water five miles in length and with varying width of from three-quarters of a mile to mile and half. This lake is well known as @ favorite resort for anglers and contains plenty of perch, pickerel and bass besides variety of other fish.
 The orthodox angle-worm, when attached to hook with both ends Hopping, is a very seductive bait for the beautifully | striped perch, many of which weighing | in the lake. Trolling with a spoon for | pickerel is a very fascinating sport, and it requires some considerable skill to success | fully Gland" these willy fish. It is re- markable fact that while pickerel when | caught and landed may weigh, say one pound, the same identical fish, if "hooked" | and afterwards lost, always weighs linear | ly three pounds"-such is the facile imag- 1 ination of the average ''Waltonian." 1 The banks of the lake are quite pictur- esque, with white cottages sandwiched in here and there between the trees. Snipes l in limited numbers are found along the \ shore, but are smaller than the variety | usually brought to market, and are ex- l ceedingly shy and timid. The days at ! "Maplewood" are much. alike. In the l morning, fish or row on the lake; after dinner, a rest in the hammock or ride l two at lawn tennis, or favoite book un- | der the naples; then when the sun sinks 1 across the felds all gather upon the wide piazza and discuss the present, or plan | for the morrow. When the moon rises a straw ride or game of whist rounds off the days recreation, ,and at an early hour all have retired to sound nights sleep, un- rufaed by the echo of ringing footsteps or | the rumble of the vehicles of the city. Any description of the charms of "Maplewood" would be incomplete with out at least passing notice of it's genial Iowner; MT. Horatio Benton, who is a lfhost'i in all that the term implies, al- | though more than three quarters of a century have tried in vain to dim his powers. He is rare entertainer and the | possessor of an inexhaustible fund of humorous anecdotes and stories, which he knows well how best to relate, much
 to the delight of his appreciative guests. l table, despite the remarkable facility with ' Arry1, ,io1,1 1o 6a1d apa arYninat @Sf11Il