The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-02-02

WINDOW stood wooden frame on fou
legs, on which were laid transverse lath
that supported a bed of oal-chafi, sewet
up IN dirty, taltered sack, over wbicl
was spread coarse wooden sheet almos
black upon this lay two pillars Of straw
and thick, striped coverlet worn int
holes. Another sack of chair Law on tn,
floor in corner, over which was stretch
ed sort Of blanket torn to rags. Herr
slept all the children, excep, the tw,
youngest who lay with their parents
The fate Of the old man at night was no
made known 10 me, nor did | enquire.
The furniture Of the apartment below
consisted OF stool, on which the mother
sat; box occupied as a seat by the ell
dest daughterl two broken chairs unsafe
for either my guide or myself: fourteen
or fifteen articles of crockery of fractured
plates, sancers and cups; teapot; two
Or three small iron vessels for cooking.
and board table, sustained by diagonal
bars, fastened with nails. On the wall,
under broken piece of plate glass, hung
a white napkin, Gringed at the bottom, the
| only testimonial Of neamcss that poverty
could afford. The whole chatlel estate,
including the apparel of man, wife, and
children could not be sold for ten dollars.
No other building but the cottage in
which he lives, is allotted to the English
laborer. In America, other houses of
some sort apperlain TO The humblest dwell
ling OF man.-'rhe horse, mule, donkey
or COW has its stable, whose loft is well
stored with provcnder. Hard by is a
meai-honse, where hangs, unprotected by
bolt or bar, many broadslde of bacon,
ham or shoulder, in reserve for rainy
day or the arrival Of friend, with other
eatabIes OF every name and nature. in pot,
jar, and pan. Here the good housewife
enters, on proper occasions, by door
not much larger than herself, and forth
comes an abundance that would feed an
entire village Of English laborers. The
fowls, too, have their house, from whose
broad beam the cock filings his Joyous
notes to the distant hills. Nor is the dog
forgotten; being fed 10 repetion, he do.
yes all day in his kennel, vigorous and re-
Ireshed for the vigls of the night. -'rhere
is also contrlvance unknown To archi,ec.
ture, called crib, whence the native
maize may be taken without stint; next
the modest mlk-house, whose floor is
dug out OF the earth, wacred by foun-
tain and basins and crooks of milk and
butter, sheltered and amply secured by
covering Of boards, which hunger never
drives men to break through and steal.
Last and least may be seen, just above the
ground, pyramid Of straw and clay, be-
meath which is cancelled a winters store
OF that delicious plant, never tasted bv
our English friends, the sweet poiatoe.
The clearinghouse, for 50 the propri-
etor calls the cabin in the West. that shell.
Iers his family, is often built of logs, be-
tween which the winds whistle, raising
clouds OF ashes that sometimes e5pe The
yet the walls are well garnishcd
with wearing and bed apparel: the table
Is loaded with plenty, and in his right
hand is vote that tells in Congress. He
IS the owner of the land he cultvalcs.
down TO the centre of the earth, and when
he grows rich, as he certainly will, he
may build his castle Qd cniun,, as law
yers say, for he is master also of all
above the surface. He sows his fields to
eat the fruit thereof, and with the overplus
ne would gladly feed his hungry relations
n England, if their oppressors would
permit him. He is political economist,
not according to Mccullough or Say, bu.
practically; for he knows when his in
lustry yields more than he spends, and
BY applying the same rule to his neigh
lors and the nation, he ascerlains with |
certainty on which side the
balances incline. His private interest be-
ng linked with the public good, he takes
he same part in elections, and the enact
nent Of laws, that he does in the admin
stratlon of his own household. He lives
inder institutions for which there is no
precedent in history; social partnership
lot OF money, bu, of equal rights, in
Ehlch every one has share and share
alike. 1t is conlrivance altogether new
n politics, and as truly American as is
he navigation of the seas by fire and
steam.
In England there are five millions that
cultivate the earth, and six that labor in
he manufactures, who have no share in
he government, or hut to shelter them
rom the winds. Goaded almost TO mad.
iess by privalion and want, they are al
ways ready to overmtn that government
o which thew can owe no alIeoionrc