The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-17
From Mrs. Sigouraey's Letters.
NEW ENGLAND INDUSTRY.


a more efficient system of industry and econo-
my Of time was established, than the agricultu-
raj population Of New England. Their pos
sessions are not sufficiently large to allow
waste of any description. Hence every arti-
piled to its best use, Their mode of life is as
favorable to cheerfulness and health as it is
eminent in industry.
The farmer rising with the dawn, attends to
those employnents which are necessary for
the family-and proceeds early with his sons
or assistants, to their departments of daily la
Dor. The birds enliven them with their songs,
and lambs gambol, while the patient OK marks
the deep furrow, or the grain is committed to
the earth, or the tall grass, humbled beneath
the scythe, or the stately corn freed from the
intrusion Of weeds. Fitting tasks are pro-
portioned to the younger ones, that no hand
may be idle.
In the interior Of the house an equal dill
gence prevails. The elder daughters take
willing parts with the mother. in every domes-
Tic toll. The children who are too small 10
be useful, proceed to school, kindly leading
the little one who can scarcely walk. Per-
haps the aged grandmother, welcome and
honored inmate, amuses the rudy infant, that
she may release stronger hand for toll. The
sound of the wheel, and the vigorous strokes
of the loom are heard. The fleece of the
sheep are wrought up amid the cheerful song
of sisters. Remembering the fabrics which
they produce, will guard those whom they
love from the blasts of winter, the bloom deep
ems on their cheek, with the pleasing con-
seriousness of useful industry. "
In the simple and abundant supply Of ia
BILE, from their own resources, which shall re-
fresh those who return weary from the field,
all are interested
The boy who brings his mother the fresh
vegetables, selects salad which his own hand
cultivated, with some portion of the pride with
which Diocleslan pointed to the cabbages
which he had reared. The daughter, who ga
theirs treasures from the nests of the poultry
that she feeds, delights to tell their history,
and to number her young ducks as they swim
forth boldly on the pond. The bees, whose
hives range near the door, add desert 10 their
repast, and the cows feeding quietly OIL rich
pastures, yield pure nutriment for the little
ones. Now their bread they have "sown,
and reaped, and gathered into barns;" the
flesh is from their own focks-the fruit and
nuts from their own trees. The children
know when the first berries ripen, and when
the chestnut will be in its thorny sheath in the
forest. The happy farmer at his independent
table, need not envy the luxury Of kings.
The active matron strives to lessen the ex
penses Of her husband and to increase his
gains. She sends to market the wealth of
her dairy, and the surplus produce of her loom
She instructs her daughters by their diligence
to have purse Of their own from which to
furnish the more delicate parts of their ward
| robe, and to relieve the poor. In the long
evenings of winter, she plies her needle, or
knits stockings with them, or maintains the
quick music of the flax wheel, from whence
linen is prepared for the family. She incites
them never to eat the bread of idleness, and
as they have been trained, so will they train
| others again; for the seeds Of industry are
perennial.
The father and brothers having recess from
their tolls of the buster seasons, read aloud
such books as are procured from the public
library and knowledge thus entering in with
industry, and domestic order forms hallowed
alliance. The most sheltered corner by the
ample Preside is reserved for the hoary grand
parents, who in plenty and pious content, pass
the eve off well spent life.
The sacred hymn and prayer rising daily
from such households is acceptable to Heaven.
10 their humble scenery some of our wisest
and most illustrious men, rulers of the people,
sa2es and interpreters of the law OF God, look
back tenderly as their birth place. They love
to acknowledge that in the industry and disci-
pline of early years, was laid the foundation of
their greatness. . (.