Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-06-30
MI. and Mrs Sparrowgrass retire from
tie City to enjoy a Rural life.
From the
From the Knickerbocher,

'AAS OA1y W OAJoJ d Ast1 oil LIE
From the KnickerbocLcr.
When Mrs. Sparrowgrass and moved
into the country, with our heads full of
fresh butter and cool crisp radishcs for
tea; with ideas entirely lucid respecting
milk, and loOSeness of calculation as to
the number in family it would take good
laying hen to supply with fresh eggs ev-
cry morning; when Mrs. Sparrowgrass
and | moved into the country, we found
some preconceiycd notions had to be
abandoned and some departures made
from the plans we had laid down in the
little back parlor in avenue G.
One of the first achievements in the
country is early rising! with the lark
with the sun, while the dew is on the
grass, under the open eye-lids Of the
morn, " and so forth. Early rising! What
can be done with five or six O'Clock in
town? What may not be done at these
hours in the country, with the hoe, the
rake. the dibble, the spade, the watering
pot? To plant. prime, drill, transplant.
graft, train an sprinkle! Mrs. $. and |
agreed to rise early III the country.
Early rising in the country is not an
instinct; it is sentiment. and must be
cultivated.
4 friend recommended me to send to
the south side of Long Island for some
very prolific pc tatocs, the real hippopo-
tamus breed. Down went my man, and
what with expenses of horSc-hire, tavern
bills. toll-gatcs. and lrcaking a wagon.
the hippopotami cost as much piece as
pinc-applcs. They were fine potatoes
though, with comcly features and large
languiShing eyes, that promised increase
of family without delay. AS | worked
my own garden (for which | had land
scape gardener at - per day to give me
instructions,) concluded that the object
Of my first experience in early rising
should be the planting Of the hippopota-
muses.. ! accordingly rose next morning
at five, and it raincd! | rose next day at
five. and it raincd! The next. and it
raincd! 1t rained for two weeks! We
had splendid potatoes every day for din
ncr. My dear" said to Mrs Sparrow
grass, 'whcre did you get those splendid,
potatoes" Why" said she. innoccntly
'out Of that basket from Long Isla1d!''
The last of the Appropriateness were be
fore me. peeled and boiled, and mashed
and baked with nice thin brown crust on
the top!
was more successful afterwards.
did get some fine seed potatoes in the
ground. But som thing was the matter.
at the end of the season | did not get rs
many out as put in.
Mrs. SparrowgrasS, who is a notable
/ housewife, said to me one day, "Now, my
/ dear we shall soon have plenty of eggs.
/ for have been buying Il lot of young
chickens" There they are, each one
/ with as many feathers as a graSSohpper.
and chirp not louder. OF course we
looked forward with pleasant hopes to
/ the period when the first cacklc should
announce the milk-white egg warmly de-
posted in the hay which we had provi-
dcd beautifully. They grew finely, and
one day | vcntured to say that our hens
had remarkably large combs to which
Mrs. SparrowgrasS replied. Yes, indeed
she had observed that; but if wanted to
have a real treat | ought to get up early
in the morning and hear them crow"
Grow" said |, family, "our hens crow
ing! Then. by the cock that crowed III
the morn to wake the priest all shayen
and shorn,' we might is well give up all
hopes Of having eggs" said |; for, as sure
as you live. Mrs. SparrowgraSs your hens
are all roostersr' And so they were
ro0stcrs! that grew up and fought with
the neighbors' chickens until there was
not whole pair of eyes on either side OF
the fence.
4 dog is good thing to have in the
country. | have one which raised from
a pup. He is a good stout fellow, and q
hearty barker and feeder. The man Of
whom | bought him said he was thor,
oughbred, but he began to have mon
grel look about him. lie is good watch
dog though, for the moment he sees any
uspicious-looking person about the
premises he comes right into the kitchen
and goes behind the stove. At first we
kept him in the house, and be scratched
all night to get out. Then we we turned
him out, and he scratched all night to get
in. Then we tied him up to the back ot
the garden, and he howled so that oul
neighbor shot at him twice before day
break. Finally. we gave him away, anC
he came back; and now he is just recover
ing from fit, in which he has torn uI
the patch that had been sown for oul
spring radishes.
a good, strong, heavy gate i:
a necessary article for your gar
den. A good strong heavy gate, with {
dislocated hinge, so that it will neither
open or shut. Such a one had last year
The grounds before my fence are in com
mon, and all the neighbors' cows pasture
there. / remarked to Mrs. S, as we stooC
at the window in June last how placit
and picturesque the cattle looked as they
strolled about cropping the green her
bage. Next morning | found the limo
cent creatures in my garden. They haC
not left green thing in it. The corn il
the milk, and beans on the poles, tn,
young cabbages, the tender lettuce, ever
the thriving shoots on my young frui
trees had vanished. And there they were
looking quietly ON the ruin they ha'
! made. Our watchdog, too, was fore
gathering with them. 1t was too much