354 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[September, 
Beecher’s Clearing. 
BT DAVID IV. JUDD. 
Our mountain Backboard shot down a sadden 
pitch in the wood road, and with a bound rest¬ 
ed on the bridge at the foot 
of the miniature lakh. It 
was a bright morning in last 
July’s closing days. 
We had driven over from 
Quaker Clearing—to which 
spot John Burroughs so pleas¬ 
antly leads the 
reader through 
“Locusts and 
- Wild Honey” 
—to view the hermit 
preacher’s paradise. 
And as Buckley halted the horses there on the rustic 
bridge, our eyes reasted upon a scene of surpassing 
loveliness and beaaty. Mountain ranges, almost 
mingling with the clouds, lay about in a semi¬ 
circle. Oval-shaped and covering perhaps forty 
acres of territory, the lake shone like a rich diamond 
in its rough and rugged setting. Trees of every 
variety, and foliage of every hue, fringed its borders, 
the scarlet at the far end vividly contrasting with 
the rich green. At the left stood the owner’s cot¬ 
tage, and beyond, the tents of his irotner, who had 
come for his early pastime. 
Settling in the Wilderness. 
To go back six years or more, Thomas and James, 
two of Dr. Lyman Beecher’s remarkable family of 
thirteen children, including Harriet Beecher-Stowe, 
and Henry Ward, the third son—were accustomed 
to wander through these wild backwood regions of 
Ulster Co., comprising the lower Catskill range. 
Pastors of flourishing congregations, the former at 
Elmira and the latter at Poughkeepsie, they 
came for the rest which the woods afford, the 
health which air fragrant with balsam brings, 
and the enjoyment which remote trout streams 
furnish. One day they discovered this beautiful 
6heet of water, hidden in the mountain forests, 
far from any travelled way. Upon the following 
summer they revisited the spot. James became so 
enraptured with the whole surroundings that he 
erected a rude cottage in place of his tent. Sub¬ 
sequently he resigned the pastorate of his Pough¬ 
keepsie church, with its three thousand dollars sala¬ 
ry, and made this his permanent home—captivated 
with the restful tranquility of the unbroken forest 
and the unvexed water. Hawthorne desired to get 
awayfrom the world because hedisliked society,and 
Tlioreau thought he would be contented at finding 
some spot to which newspapers could uot penetrate. 
But Rev. James had not, like 
them, wearied of civilization. 
He simply loved his moun¬ 
tain retreat better. And so 
he continued to extend the 
dimensions of his cottage, 
to fell the trees, and clear 
away the underbrush, until 
now, of the mile square of 
territory which he controls, 
twenty acres are under cul¬ 
tivation, and afford the 
nucleus of a good stock farm 
in the near future. Mean¬ 
while Rev. Thomas has con¬ 
tinued to come every sum¬ 
mer for from six to eight 
weeks. At Tumwood’s, 
seven miles away through 
the forest, they get their 
mail, once a week, and what 
with farming, fishing, boat¬ 
ing, grouse hunting, etc., 
time passes rapidly. Every 
other Sunday Rev. James, 
who is highly respected by 
the scattered settlers in this 
out-of-the-way region, goes 
from his mountain, down to 
Shin Creek on the Beaver- 
kill, and preaches a sermon, 
which people come from 
miles and miles to hear. 
’Tis manna in the wilderness 
for them. No whiskey is sold 
in Hardenburgh township, 
unless by stealth, and Sun¬ 
day fishing and hunting are 
prohibited. I suspect Rev. 
James has had considerable 
to do iu bringing about this 
desirable state of things. 
A. few rods drive from 
the bridge, over the lake’s 
outlet, brought us to the dwelling. Rev. James 
stood greeting ou the porch. Bronzed features, 
full flowing beard, sombrero, checked shirt, and 
pants carelessly tucked into capacious boot tops, 
imparted a decidedly frontier 
aspect to the hermit preacher. 
Three door-windows extend¬ 
ing from floor to ceiling, look¬ 
ed out from the wing upon 
the water. A huge fire-place 
was suggestive of both com¬ 
fort and long evenings. 
“ This,” said Rev. James, 
“was at first my main build¬ 
ing. Originally I began with 
a fly tent. It was supplanted 
with a wall tent the next sea¬ 
son. The following year I 
became so enamored with the 
spot, that I decided to leave 
Poughkeepsie and reside here 
the year around; then I built 
this, what now appears as au 
extension, and subsequently 
the main habitation. I have 
done all the work myself, and 
there are associations connect¬ 
ed with every clap-board and 
6aingle even that is laid.” 
Charming Views. 
Erom the extension we 
passed into the main build¬ 
ing, comprising the sitting- 
100 m, bed-rooms, etc. A 
large double bay window, as shown in engraving, 
opens on the lakeside, commanding most sweeping 
and enchanting views. “ A sailor by nature, and a 
minister by grace, I love to sit here by the hour,” 
said Rev. James, “and look out upon these sur¬ 
roundings. They are a source of never-ending en¬ 
joyment. During the winter months, I am still 
more fond of this retreat, for as the beautiful snow 
lies so still and quietly all about us, there is nothing 
to either disturb or discolor it. Here is true re¬ 
pose, and communion with nature. I have not 
read a book in a year or more, and should not miss 
the papers were they not scut to me. My expendi¬ 
tures, including my buildings, and improvements, 
etc., have not averaged more than four or five 
hundred dollars a year; and with these buildings 
completed, as is now the case, I can obtain more 
real enjoyment and comfort here with three hun¬ 
dred dollars a year than with three thousand dollars 
in New York.” 
In reply to a suggestion that Henry Ward ought 
to enjoy a summer here as a change from the Fish- 
beecher’s spring house and churn. 
kill farm, “No,” said Rev. James, “he is too 
fond of sesthetieal surroundings for this spot. He 
wants too much brie a brae about him, which I do 
not care to lumber up my rooms with.” 
To another suggestion that the house should be 
protected by a lightning -red, Rev. James replied: 
“ I don’t believe lightning-rods are any protection. 
The insular theory is exploded. If I did put one 
up, I should have it lay direct upon the house, 
without any glass insulators. But if I am ever go¬ 
ing to be killed, I had rather die by lightning than 
any other way.” 
Three Graces. 
Several pictures, indicating culture, ornamented 
the plain walls of the sitting-room, and the well- 
known engraving of the Beecher family flanked 
the bay window. Three lovely blonde children, 
with long golden curls, and a visiting brunette from 
Brooklyn, were receiving their morning lessons 
from a pretty Owego governess who had come to 
spend the season in the woods. School was at once 
adjourned, and a few moments later the bevy of 
VIEW FROM BEECHER’S BAT WINDOW. 
beautiful children were running about the lake 
shore barefooted and barelimbed, pictures of 
health and enjoyment. 
In the rear of the house, a side-hill cellar, also 
made by the owner, serves all the purposes of 9 
