Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-07-29

Come INTO THE COUNTRY. When Mrs. Sparrow
grass and moved into the country with our hearts
full of fresh butter and crisp radshes for tea; with
ideas entirely lucid respecting milk, and looseness
in calculation to the number in family it would
take good laying hen to supply with fresh eggs
every morning; when Mrs. Sparrowgrass and NOV
ed into the country, We found some preconcelved
notions had to be abandoned, and some departure
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 the grass under the opening lids of the
MORN and so forth. Early risngl What can be
done with or o'clock in town. What may not
be done at those hours in the country with the hoe
the rake the dibble, the spade, the watering pot!
To plant, prune drill transplant, graft, train, and
sprinkle! Mrs. S. and agreed to rise early in the
country Early rising in the country is not an IN
stinct it is sentiment, and must be cultivated
friend recommended me to send to the south
side of Long Island for some very prolific potatoes
real hippopotamus breed. Down went my man,
and what with the expenses of horse hire, tavern
bills, toll gates and breaking wagon, the hippopo-
tami cost much piece pine apples. They
fine potatoes though, with comely features,
and large languishing eyes, that promised increase
of family without delay. AS l worked my own gar
den, (or which hired landscape gardener at two
dollars day TO give Instruction. l concluded that
the object of my first experience in early life should
be the planting of the hippopotamuses. accord
ing rose next morning at B, and it rained rose
next day at s. and it raned The next, and 1t ram
potatoes every day for dinner My dear, says
Mrs. Sparrowgrass, "where did you get these tine
potatoes I" why, said she innocently, " out OF
basket from Long Island ~ The last of the hip
popotamuses were before me- peeled and boiled and
mashed, and baked with nice thin brown crust on
the top.
l was more successful afterwards. 1 did get some
fine seed potatoes in the ground. But something
the matter; at the end OF the season did not
get many out as put in.
Mrs. Sparowgrass who is notable housewife,
said to me one day. Now, my dear, we shall soon
have plenty of eggs for have been buying lot , OF
as many feathers as grasshopper, and chirp not
louder. Of course, looked forward with pleasant
hopes to the period when the first cacke should an
nounce the milk white egg, warmly deposited in the
hay which we had provided beautifully. They grew
finely, and day l ventured to remark that our
hens had remarkably large combs to which Mrs s.
replied Yes indeed, she had observed that but IT
wanted to have real trust, ought to get up early
in the morning and hear them crow" Grow! "
said family, "our hens growing! Then, by the
cock that crowed in the morn, to wake the priest
all shaver and shorn,' we might well give up all
hopes of having any eggs, said |, " for, as sure as
you live, Mrs. s., our hens are all roosters! And
so they were roosters that grew up and fought with
the neghbors chickens, until there was not whole
pair of eyes either side of the fence.
A dog is good thing to have IN the country. l
have one which raised from pup. He is a good
stout fellow, and hearty barker and feeder The
man of whom l bought him said he was thorough
him. He is good watchdog, though, for the mo-
ment he sees any suspicious looking person about
the premises, he comes right into the kitchen and
gets behind the stove. First kept him in the
house. and he scratched all night to get out. Then
turned him out, and he scratched all night to get
in. Then tied him up at the back of the garden,
and he howled so that neghbor shot at him
twice before day break. Finally gave him away,
and he came back and now he is just recovering
from tit in which he tore up patch that had been
sown for our spring radishes.
good, strong gate is necessary article for your
garden. A good, strong, heavy gate, with disoca-
ted hinge so that it will neither open shut Such
a one had last year. The grounds before my fence
are in common, and all my neighbors' COWS pasture
there. remarked to Mrs s., stood at the win
dow in June last how placid and picturesque the cat
tie looked they strolled about cropping the green
heritage. Next morning found the innocent crea-
lures in my garden They had not left afgreen thing
in it. The corn in the milk, the beans on the poles,
the young cabbages, the tender lettuce, even the
thrvngshoots my young fruit trees had vanished.
And there they were looking quietly on the ruin
they had made Our watch dog, too, was foregather-
ing with them. 1t too much, SO got large
stick and drove them all out except young heifer,
whom I chased all the flower beds, breaking
down my trellises, my woodbines and sweet briars,
and roses and petunias until l cornered her in the
hot-bed had call for assistance to extricate her
from the sashes, and her sued me for damages
and recovered believe shall move into town.
Knicker6ocker.