The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-04-29
Home Industry,
OR ANNA GREENWOOD AND TIE YOUNG
MANITFACTITRFR
BY ANN Il. PORTER.

MaNUFACIUkER.
BY ANN Il. PORTER.
Some English traveller says that "A homely woman,
is an anomaly in America" Though as u nation, we
nre disposed 10 appropriate broad compliments as
grave truths, Jet in common honesty, we must be-
eve said traveller did make as thorough nvesti-
CATION as the more renowned Dickens. Neverthe
less there portions Of our country, where beauty
is the rule, deiormy :he exception. Such is the re-
glen orthe Green Mountains. Some have attributed
It TO the salub'ity OF the amosp here others TO the pu
ry Of the water, and find n reason for il in the
beautiful scenery, with which this State ahounds.-
We believe all these have some influence No city
denzen who has left for a while the pent up town for
a rambe north, can deny the refreshing influence Of
mountain air. He pauses inhale it, and feels fresh
vgor with every inspiration, and when he some
gushing cooling spring bubbling up in its little green
retreat he quaIs its water with keener zest, than
the sparkling champaign which he finds at home
And, when too, he gazes the gorgeous display of
hill and valley, the silver streams, the deep green
woodlands and rich pastures, Of beauty steals
iusensibly into his very SOUL and it may be the
tenance Itself cat ches the hue Of the spirit she pas
SEES Yes, it is privilege to be nurtured amid the
beauties Of nature; our playlhngs buds and flowers,
our sporting place. green fields, toll in ripper
years, the labor Of the husbandman. 1t seems if
one must be pure, BETTER to be in constant cUmpan-
ionshp with these works of Him who pronounced
all things good, and in the beauty of earth gave US
glimpse of Heaven.
But why do not begin your story says at my
side, 81 dislike pressing when there is tale to be
told. To speak the truth, am very much like the
good Deacon, in the Massachusetts legislature who,
when rising To make his maiden speech, began: 81
would like to say few words before l commence"
To proceed in my way, was going to give
stronger than any that has yet been adduced
why the ladies' of Vermont are more beautiful than
at the south west III mistake not they would
not long retain that cleanliness and brancy of
pexion, and that symmetry of form, if constant
else were added the OF their springs, the
air of their Hills, or the beauty of the country. And
by exercise mean, not system of calisthencs, prac
It's, by rule and book under the eye of teacher,
with eaden weights to strengthen the arms, and pa
tent steel backs to srug hten the form; neither do
mean the dull boarding school walk, where, two by
two n long file, walk out scientifically take
else, looking Ike penitentiary prisoners going din
ner But mean the exercise of the broom and spin
ming wheel, obsolete yet AIR 6 us, and the wash tub
greater renoyutor of pale cheeks than Gourard's
chemical soap, Clones Spanish lily white,' or patent
rouge City bellies may the latter, If they prefer,
and make "beauty TO be gased at, not touch, to
worship not approach but country damsels preserve
the beauty Heaven gave them by the only genuine
compounds, simple tastes and industrious habits.
Would you see them when most lovely, visit them
in their simple calico dresses, made and fitted by
their own hands, watch them they perform their
household labor, and you will have an idea Of what
the poet meant, when he said, "Beau,y unadorned,
adorned the most.''
In church, or in their social parties, the vanity of
our sex in love of dess manifest here in all
places where woman's empire is acknowledged. The
tightly drawn corset, the added rufics, and super
numerary bows are no addition to their beauty But
there exceptions even here, and Anna Green
wood was one. The first time saw her was at II
party at Mrs, Watson's in the summer OF 1885. She
sat by side table engaged in conversation. Her
dress was a simple white muslin, with no ornament,
BY ornament | mean such as may be found at the
jewellers bat if mass of black raven curls that lay
upon neck and brow and pair Of brilliant eyes thai
needed not the aid of tongue to speak the ullness Of
a ioyru heart were ornaments then was she richly
a,tired. Added 10 these, there in the high brow
and intelligent countenancc, something when spoke
soul within, an intellect of more than ordinary ca
pacity. 1t had been cultivated too. Awaiting her.
self of the advantages afforded the village Acade-
my, under the superintendent OF an able and quail
fled preceptor she had made rapid progress. The
problems of Euclid were short to her, and the Latin
tongue lost none of its richness in her ruby ps,whie
her French pronunciation would delight even
Monsieur La Porte.
With all these, she was thoroughly domesticated,
country girl. No one could make prcttier border
TO pumpkin pie, dress turkey with greater ski',or
make whittier bread than Anna. Her father was