Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-11-29
NEW ENGLAND INDUSTRY.


Mrs Sigourney's Letters) ofthe true nurse
res OF Republics:
81 have seen no class Of people among
whom more efficient system OF industry
and economy of time was established, than
the agricultural population OF New Eng Iaho'
iheii possessions are not sufficiently large
TO allow waste Of any description. licnce
every article seems 10 be carefully estimated
and applied 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 employments which are necessary
for the family, aud proceeds early with his
sons or assistants to their department of daily
labor. The birds cnllven them with their
songs, and lambs gambol, while the patient
OK marks the deep furrow, or the gram Is
committed to the earth, or the tall grass
hunbed beneath the scythe, or the stately
corn freed from the intrusion of weeds
Fitting tasks are proportlonedto to the younger
ones, that no hand may be idle.
| "ln the interior OF the house an equal dill
gencc I.evails. The elder daughters take
willing part with the mother in every domes-
tic toll. The children, who are too small to
be useful, proceed to school, kindly leading
the little one who can scarce walk. Perhaps
the aged grandmother, welcome and honor.
ed inmate, amuses the ruddy infant, that she
may release a stronger hand for toll. The
sound OF the wheel and the vigorous strokes
oI the loom are heard. The fleece Of the
sheep ara wrought up, amld the cheerful
song OF sisters. Remembering that the fab
rIcs winch they produce will guard those
whom they love from the blasts OF winter,
hi. ,h.,,l In
/ pleasing consc sciousness Of useful industry.
"In the simple and abundant supply of a
! table, from their own resources, which shall
refresh those who return weary from the
field, all are Interested
"The boy who brings his mother the fresh
We getab!cs, selects a salad which his own
hand cultivated, with some portion of the
pride with which Diocleslan pointed to the
cabbages which lie had reared. The daugh-
ter, who gathers treasures from the nests of
the poultry that she feeds, delights to tell
their history, and TO number her ducks as
they swim forth boldly on the pond. The
bees, whose hives range near the door, add
n desert to their repasts, aad the cows, feed
ing quietly on rich pastures, yield pure nutrl-
ment for the little ones. Nor their bread
they have "sown, and reaped, and gathered
into barns !" the flesh is from their own
aocks-the fruit and nuts from their own
trees. The children know when the first
berries ripen, and when the chesnat will be
in its thorny sheath in the forest. The hap
py farmer, at his independent table, need no,
envy the luxury of kings.
"l'he active matron strives to lessen the
expenses 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 instrGcts her daughters by their dill
gence 10 have purse OF their own, from
which to furnish the more delicate parts of
their wardrobe, aud 10 relieve the poor. lnI
the long evenings OF winter, she plies the
needle, or knits stockings with them, or
maintains the quiet music of the flax-wheel,
from whence linen is prepared for the family.
She incites them never 10 eat the bread OF
ldleness, and as they have been trained, so
will they train others again; Tor the seeds
oflndustiy are perennial.
"rhe father and brothers, having recess
from their tolls Of the buster seasons, read
aloud such books as are procured from the
publ; library, and knowledge, thus entering
in with industry and domestic order, forms n
hallowed alliance.-The most sheltered cor
ner by the ample frcside is reserved for the
hoary grand pare nts, who in plenty and pious
content pass the eve of a well.spent life.
"Fhe sacred hymn and prayer, rising daily
from such households, is acce ptable to hcav.
en-. To their humble scenery, some Of our
wisest and most illustrous men, rulers Of the
people, sages and interpreters Of the law OF
God, look back tenderly, as their birth place.
They love to acknowledge that in the indus
try and discipline of early years was laid the
foundation of their greatness"