Year: 1874

Not long since person while making the tour of Southern Berkshire chanced to spend little time in this town, and from appearances thought "moss grown Shef- field' very appropriate name for it, and as it regards some things the name is quite suitable. It cannot be said to be wholly unchanged in everything, for we who have lived here great many years can see some great Improvements, while in many things the place IS far behiud what it was 40 years ago. Then it had two to four practicing physicians, while row 1t has none; however there are two sick ones. and two who have given up practice, and now however urgent the case, time has got to be taken 10 go 10 some adjoining town for advice. An am bilious, skillful physician, would generally find all the patients he could attend to. There is not even dentist in the place, nor a lawyer, while formerly there were two or more who seemed to have plenty of bus- ness Many other kinds of business were formerly carried on here which are now entirely done away with. But among the Improvements. are three good churches, while for many years there was only one Two small hotels have given place to one large, handsome one, which for order and ncainess, and wcll-filled table cannot be surpassed. That, the POO or more who were present at the Farmers Festival, last Thurs day night, can testify to. Every luxury that could be obtained was prepared for the crowd without regard to the cost and every thing went off nicely with one exception. The landlord was taken sick, and finally had to give up and go to bed before we were half through with the supper, but the last time we heard from hin he IS much better. l commenced about improvements but have run off the track, so 1 cave it for any one who has any curiosity about it to come and see for themselves.

 Extensive preparations for Christmas are the rage here just now, as in all other places. Mrs. Cook has invited the Con gregational Sunday School scholars and teachers to meet at her house on Christmas Eve, while she will do everything in her power to mak e the evening pass pleasantly to all. The Episcopal church is being trimmed with evergreens III readiness fol the Christmas day services, and the tree in the evening, which always has drawn and l always will, as long as they keep it up, draw a crowd until the little church is filled to oyerilowing. Directly after Christmas, Dr. Parker will leave for his vacation of enc month, and 1 am sure will be very much missed by all who have been accus toned to hearing his eloquent, interesting and instructive sermons. The Methodist church is nearly completed, and next week they hope to be able to see their beloved preacher, the Rev. MT. Hoyt, in his OWL pulpit, and listen 10 his teachings in theil own church, which will be much more agreeable than to be dependent on other So cieties, as they have been for some tim. past, although the congregation were kind ly received wherever they chose to go.

 The Friendly Union continues to draw crowded house, and some person remarked u short time since, that 1t was like PIym outh church, the building would need to bt enlarged or a new one built.

 The stragglers hotel is well patronizcd having had as many as 6 strang, rs in on' night They, after taking the provisions al lowed them in the morning, started ou through the village asking from door t' door tor provisions of different kinds, tea coffee, &c not being satisfied with th fare the town allowed, crackers, cheese an' cold water.

 SpRsT1TUTE,