The Newtown bee., 1897-02-12

fathers had good examples on either side to guide them. Note one other ad- vantage in the circumstances of these early settlers here, tending to give them energy and simplicity in their habits, favorable to morality. have conversed ; with the granddaughter of the first se: tier, on Mount Fair, enabling me to un- derstand better the incoming of first set tiers there, and in the other parts of the town. One, Thompson, had loaned Wa terbury $l000,to aid in building church. He received considerable tract of land on this hill, near our northeast boundary, to cancel the debt. After having no use of the land for 40 years, the father said to his son John, ,"Do you take your fam fly and go to that land, making the most you can out of it." John and his wife and two children, came on one horse, put up little hut, and began to build the middle house of the three now there. He had come from Stratford, through a will derness. Twenty five miles then was like going West now. He
 HAD TO PLAN AND PEG AWAY
 all alone for two long years. Then to their great joy, came Aaron Benedict from Danbury, with his young bride They were taken into the uncomfortable little cabin and helped MT Thompson to finish his better house already well un- der way. Benedict bought land ot Thompson, and, in time, had erected for himself the north house now standing there. The difficulties of the work were lately visible, 1t is said, in the old siding. perhaps still under the new.
 Those clapboards were made by split ting logs and shaving down the big pieces into boards. Mrs Chester Curtis, now s3 years old, is granddaughter to that first settler, Thompson. She has described to me the very simple habits within her own recollection, which would not extend quite 80 years back. From them we may more easily go back to the still plainer ways, of a hundred, or a hundred and twenty-five years ago. Her father had seven girls and one boy. But he generously added to this large group two more boys of his relatives needing home. The great back log would be reg ularly rolled to the corner, on a winters night, ready to put upon the big hearth, when needed. Around this huge roar ing fire all gathered cozily, at such 8 time, with 8 great screen of several leaves drawn out around their backs. The children would often beguile the long evening by sweeping up the coals and placing good row of apples to roast. As the huge clock struck 8, the younger ones must go promptly to bed, while the older could sit up till 9. At their long table, as blessing was asked, the family stood reverently. When Mrs Curtis was very youpg, two large dishes stood, one at each end of the table, hav- ing food upon them, well divided and each child had only fork, falling to, as hungry child would. But, little later, each had his separate plate. Then every family produced almost everything which it used. Then raised the flax which was pounded to loosen the flores, partly routed, hatchelled, spun, woven, till they had their pure white linen. Col ored, in part, 1t made pretty plaid dress es. So the woolen for the mems winter clothing and other purposes came from their own sheep and having been carded at the mill, was spun and woven at home. The
 FATHER CARRIED HIS HIDES TO THE TANNERS.
 Then, when the leather was returned, shoemaker came and worked, sometimes two or three weeks, to shoe all their feet. On Sabbath morning part of the girls started ahead for meeting three miles away. When the one we'll loaded wagon overlook them, those on foot took their places in 1t, while the others had their