Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-05-30

take them as they fall out. Suppose it then lust
before the commencement of hay-harvest, for then
he has short pause between the putting in of his
last crop of potatoes corn shutting up his fields
and clearing his green-corn lands and that moment
when the first scythe enters his hay fields, when
course of arduous and anxious labors begins, that
will not cease till his crops safely housed,-
hay corn, beans, peas and potatoes. Suppose, at
this pause in the growing time of summer or after
harvest, or amid the festive days of Christmas, he
feels himself comparatively at leisure in good spir-
its, and disposed to enjoy himself He and his wife
arrange their plans. On market-day he lays in all
necessaiies, tea, coffee, prime cuts of beef and 9TH
err meat; wine and spirits sugar and spices. At
home there is busy preparation His garden is
cleaned up-an operation Of rare occurrence with
busy farmer, who thinks so much of his fields
that he thinks but little Of his garden. His stables
and his rck-yard are put in order. The very names
and tails of his horses are trimmed; for all will
have to pass under the critical notice of his friends
and he feels his professional character at stake In
the house there is equal activity. There is world
Of cleaning and setting in order Floors are secured.
The best carpets are put down. This room is found
to want fresh staining; painting wants doing here
and there, both within and without. Trees also
want mailing and trimming on the walls; and it is
probable there may want some spout repairing, or
tiles renewing, that have often been talked Of, but
never could have time found for their doing. The
house, and all about it, look fifty per cent the bet
ter. Tic neatly cleaned walks and closely mown
grass plots; the brightly cleaned windows and the
scarlet curtains and the purely white blinds seen
within, give an air Of completeness that is very
satisfactory.
And then, within, begin the mighty preparations
of the feast. Geese, turkeys, ducks and fowls are
killed and pulled and part cooked and part are
made ready for cooking. If the farmer shoots, and
1t be the season, there are harcs and rabbits pleas
ants and partrdges, brought to the arder; if he do
not, he makes friends with the keeper, who occa-
sonally takes q social pipe and glass with him; or
he makes direct request to his landlord for this
indulgence. Hams are boiled pies are made, ptld-
dings of the richest composition arc put together
If it be Christmas, loud is the choppng of meat for
mince-pes, busy the mixing Of spices, and the
washing and picking of currants and raisins and
pork-pies and sausages of most savory and APPROX
ed manipulation, are raised into material existence
If the sucking-pig escapes whipping-and we hope
no honest farmer is cruel enough for this ope-
ration creams and syllabus do not: they are
whipped, not to death, but into life. There are
banc-mange and jelies, crystalline and fragrant
clouted creams, and cream of strawberries, rasp-
berries, and know not what melting and delicious
things. And, o such cheese-cakes, and such pat
ties, and such little cakes of various names and ma
lures, for tea, and entremets, and dessert see the
oyendoor open and shut, the iron tray of nicely
laden patty-pans goes into the oven, or comes out
with rich perfection, and with odors most delic-
lOuS, lllOSJ lIUSJ llCA pTtSSlD1e.
good and skilliul dame and the no less skliul and
comcly daughters, if she have them, and they are
grown up to years of discretion in these delicate
and culinary arts what is not their depth of
patton! What glowing looks are theirs; what spec
ulatons; what contrivances and anticipations
would fan take an easy-chair in some cool corner
of this milk-and honey flowing kitchen, and watch
all their sweet employments and hear all theil
sweet words i'll a grateful silence. But they are
far from the end of their labors. Nuts, walnuts
apples and pears, and other fruit according as the
season may be, are produced from their stores Oh
from the sunny walls and trees, wiped from every
trace of mould dust from the store-room, ant
placed in their proper receivers of glass, of china
or possibly of plate. The discovery of the richest
cheese in the whole cheese-room is to be made by
tasting; butter is to be moulded in small cakes
and imprinted with patterns of the deepest and
most elegant figure, and thousand other things
made, or done, of which the tasting were to be de-
sired rather than the catalogue to be particuarized
for, wonderful and manifold are thy works, o thou
accomplished spouse of wealthy farmer!
What dainties has that greater oven received in
to its more capacious cavern? Bread of the most
exquisite fineness and pies of varied character
fruit pork, beef-steak and giblet-if in Devon OF
Cornwall, seeet gibet pic that all England be-
sides knows not Of; tggy-bread, and saffron-cake
of transcendent brance and taste.
And then comes the great day! The guests arc
invited to dinner; but they have been enjoined tc
come eGriy, and they come early with vengeance
They will not come as the guests of night-lovine
citizens and arstocrats come, at from six TO nine il
the evening no, at ten and eleven i'll the morning
you will see theirf faces that never yet were asham
ed of daylight and that tell of fresh air and early
hours Then come rafting in sundry vehicles viii
their cargoes of men and women; lively salutation
are exchanged; the horses are led away to the sta
bles, and the guests into the house to doff great
coats and coaks, hats and bonnes, and sit down t.
luncheon. And there it is, ready set out. "They u
want something after drive" says the host "Tc
be sure" says the hostess and there is plenty, il
truth. A boiled ham, meats tongue; piece Of
cold beef; fowls and beesteak pie tarts and bread
cheese and butter coffee for the ladies, and fine
old ale for the gentlemen.
Snow do help yourselves" eXclams the hos,
from one end of the table; 81 am sure you must
be very hungry after such ride" 81 am sure you
must, indeed" echoes the hostess from the other
while dozen voices cry all at once, 80, really, |
ont think can touch bit We got breakfast
the moment before we set Off" and all the time,
deep the incisons made into the various vands
and plentitully hcaped are plates and bright liquor
is poured into glasses; and great deal of talk of
this and that and inquiries after this and that per-
son, go on "a hearty luncheon is made, and the
gentlemen ready to set out and look about them
They are warned by the hostess to remember that
dinner will be on the table at one o'clock" exact
ly at one" and assuming hats and sticks, away
they go.
While they perambulate the farm, and pass learn
ed judgments on land, cattle and crops and make,
besides, excursions into neighborng lands to some
particular experiment in management, or extraor-
binary production of combined art and nature, our
hostess shows her female friends her dairy her
cheese-room, her poultry-yard and discussions as
scientific going on, on the best modes of fatten
ing calves, rearing turkey broods, and on the most
approved manipulations of cheese and butter. The
quantities produced from a certain number of cows
are compared, and many wonders expressed that
lands of apparent equality of richness should, some
yield little butter and much cheese and others, lit
tie cheese and much butter-facts, well known to
all such ladies' but not easy Of explanation by heads
that pretend TO see further into the heart of diff
Guilty than they do, A walk is, probably, proposed
and undertaken through the garden and orchard,
aud flowers and fruits are descanted on and all
this time, in the house, roasting, and boiling, and
baking are going on gorousy. Savory steams
ro rollino abont under the ceilings. busv damsels