Connecticut western news., 1897-07-22
A SHEFFIELD LETTER.

After an absence of some years, we find ourselves once again on our native soil in the valley of the Housatonic We look to the westward and the grand old peaks of Taghanic welcome us with the old time greeting of sunshine and shadow. How beautiful they are ip sheir perfect outlines! We look towards the east and the more mudest hills stand out like old friends unchanged and true. To one accustomed to the unvaryine hatness of western country, the seen cry of the whole valley from South Nor walk to Berkshire is most charming All nature seems robed in eternal fresh ness and beauty. We had travelled through the far famed scenery of the Baltimore and Ohio road, and had ad- mired the glimpses of beauty through West Virginia and Mary land yet IS we entered the "Land of Steady Habits" we exclaimed "Grand old New England with her rocks and hills surpasses them all"
 Entering the beautiful town of Shelf field as the sun went down behind the Dome, it seemed as if benediction blessing rested upon the ending of a long journey. In the days that have followed, "old Sol" seems to have risen in wrath upon the quiet summer resort and poured volume of heat upon us more befitting the vales of Old Mexico. But the rains fall and our courage re- wives. We look about us for the changes which time has made in the home of our youth. Following the broad avenue from the Kespob bridge to the Old Elm mile southward, we note the traces of Village Improvement which has removed fences, sbaven the laws, and planted trees. The houses have not taken on the fashionable ek teriors seen in many other places, but they ''hold their own" in neatness and speak of home life comfort and New England hospitality.
 The Old Elm was our friend in child hoods hour and we turn with eager glances to it's sheltering arms. It stands monarch still, yet it's dead and broken limbs tell of old age creeping on when the pruning knife is needed. Coming up the street we note that the broad highway has been disturbed :; to our curious enquiry we learn that water pipes are buried there and that Sheffield is really to have an abundant supply of water from the hills to the eastward. The Psalmist said 1T will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help" Surely the people of Sheffield can echo their psalm of rejoicing, for the help that Sheffield has long needed has been good supply of water. The prayer is answered and behold 1t cometh from the hills. I'm provement is slowly but surely march ing on.
 We know of no other village more beautiful than this; no other town has more lovely natural scenery; there are hundreds of fine locations here for the building of summer homes, to be had merely for the asking! Oh ye Sheffield people, why do you not "blow your own horn" and boom your town? Let the monied men of the cities know the at- fractions you have to offer. The New Englanders know too little of what the | westerners call blooming" Sheffield needs more push, and great deal of booming.
 Had we some fairy's wand, how glad | ly we would touch first your school houses over by the park and we would say "consolidate" and behold the three poor buildings would disappear and a substantial brick building would take the place with eight good rooms con- l venient for all. over which one good ! principal should reigu supreme. Then | would your schools bo so attractive that | all the neighboring wards would soon wish to join. Then our wand would | form it into commodious Inn with S temperance landlord fitted to please bis guests. Our magic spell shonld pass to | the liquor place across the way and we | would seal it's doors forever and thus re- move the blackest stain from this beau I tiful spot
 Passing to Sheffield Plain we look in dismay upon that ill kept graveyard whose stones can just be seer through the ragged briefs and weeds. Again we use our wand aud the fence disappears, the wall is made strong, the weeds are pulled out and the st nes cleaned ard straightened. Thon what do we see? "Here lies" two ministers of the gosrel who gave the "'word of Life" f., m the Congregational pulpit in days al- most Colonial. "Here lies" the dust of grandfathers and grand dmothers of some of our fret families. They, in the great resurre ction morn, will never know their native places if they must rise | from the weeds which now shelter them. Let the Village Improvement Society send it's influence to the Plain, for there is help needed in the old, old cemetery. The new cemetery west of the M. E. church has become brigh. spot in the village. We note how fast it is filling | and how soon an extension to the east
 ward will be needed. The memorial to
 Pres Barnard stands as an appropriate | guard to this beautiful cemetery. In
 the past twelve years how many ot our old friends have passed to the Eternal
 Home We call the roll of memory and only an occasional voice responds, while
 rom so many headstones familiar names 1 stand out and we think how many are