Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-02-05
Waits from the Country.
Ldrton's Tea House, Portsmouth, X. i
Jan. 1852.

The old speckIcd hen has just cacklcd
and is the only intruder upon the still
rcss Of my chamber for more than an
hour. Ofcourse another egg is added
to the larder and | have thought a
thought. Why does, not only the "old
spcckled hen," but the whole generation
Of hens cackle over the new lain egg2
Believe NE, have not started upon an
expedition for information, - neither can
plead entire ignorance Of the iea,hered
Kingdom in fact must acknowledge
that have been in the same box with
many OF my city neighbors with respect
TO the Hen Fever''-have read about
hens and talked about hens, - have
heard OF Cochin China Gentlemen big
enough to eat ones Grandfather and
Shanhai Ladies who would rival the
most stately Dutch Matron that ever ate
sour crou, in New Amsterdam, but in
all my wanderings have never known
the aforesaid question explained or even
suggested. You are not family man,
and may not be familiar with these
matters; you are professional man
and may not be inclined TO trouble
yourself without a q,id pro quo, yet if
you know, or not knowing, can find out,
and will inn art the same TO one in
search Of knowledge under difficulties,
pray you give me the designed iniorma-
ton.
One word of explanation, ! lave
dropped ino the country to see how they
look and what they do when the Ice
Kings holds dominion. That | know
their comings in and goings out in the
more genial season, argues not unfavor-
bly,, Tor who with prctensions to taste
knows not all about them then2 But
who within the range Of the cities
knows mu Of them las they are 2"
have often thought and with all my
wonderings have wondered what can
one do in the country in winter for
amusement. The trees are stripped Of
their foliage and the ground is hard and
and cold where we were wont to strech
our limbs and puff our regalia. the ice
is thick where we bathed and fished -
the fields where we roamed are covered
with snow and the song Of the bird is
hushed riding is tedious and walking
not to be thought Of. had thought
one might get along through The short
winter days, but wha, could one do in
the long winter evenings? AT home
would call upon some dear friend with
whom the hours would pass chcerily -
or with white kids and lorgnet,e would
settle down at the Astor Pace ;-or i'll
would laugh and grow lat take seat at
Burion's, for the thousandth time for the
Toodcs or the Serious Family, or at
Christy's with the ininilable George, or
TO some Of the hundred places OF amuse-
ment with " hich the city abounds. The
lecture room NIGH, add to my know
ledg land lhe Swedish Nightingale,
or the Irish Swan" ght charm me
with their melody, or the unapproacha-
bic Lola might iascina,e with her par
roneiies. But what do they do and what
can one do with himself in the country?
| am determined 10 find out.
am siaid and sober man, yet some
times lively and gay and not altogether
dull to the lie asures of life; and now,
like Macawber am waiting for some.
thing to turn up. As learn ! propose
10 acquaint you, | am afraid sh all
prove a dull scholar.
! already find that if summer is the
time to study the country, winter is the
time to study the people. The harvest
is gathered and they who have been
toilng IN the field are gathering by the
hearth stone. They are intelligent and
find as familiar with the events Of the
day as those OF more rretensions. They
can discuss, tie last coup efdt, and
Kossuth, and The Forrest Divorce Case,
and the Maine Liquor Law, and all the
topics Of the hour They think reason
ably and speak plainly and | Know
would not care if made Il note OF their
ideas for he benefit Of those who see
through glass, daIkly.
find that if every man does not have
his price. every place has It's market
Cade Lambs $500 to S4,75 each
Geese $3.50 do, Turkey-leathers CTS.
pr lb to travelling pedlers, fowl do cts
and geese 40 cts and upwards, and ]
heard substantial farmer say that he
would prosecute any man that would
dare to put a Muscovy Duck on his
farm.
How the hens, (hens again) how the
hens dread the snow. The foolish
black hen that stoned of her roost in
the Apple tree week ago, when the
mercury was below zero, is how, in a
thaw, glad TO get into the hen roost.--
How they fly over the snow banks. The
old Grower has just attempted the same
but has landed half way. He draws up
one leg and shudders like as one would
at disappointment, and see bright
eyed maiden at the window ti,tering be-
cause il was the crower,-had the
Grower been hen she would have
/ 4