The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-07-21
From he June Knieksrbocktr.
MIR. AND MRS. SPARROWGRASS RE-
TIRE FROM THE CITY TO ENJOY
RURAL LIFE,

When Mrs Sparrowgrass and | moved
into The country, with our heads full oi
fresh butter and cool crisp radishes for lea
with ideas entirely lucid respecting milk,
and a looseness of calculation rs TO The
number in family j, would take good
laying hen 10 supply with fresh eggs every
morning; when Mrs. Sparowgrass aud !
moved into the country, we found some
preconceived notions had 10 be abandoned
and some departures made from The plans
we had laid down in the lille back parlor
in avenue G.
One OF the first achievements in the coun-
try is eaily rising with the lark, with the
sun, while The dew is OH The grass, under
the opening eye.lids Of the morn, and so
forth. Early rising! Wha; can be done
with five or six o'clock in town! What
may not be done a, those hours in The coun.
Try, with The hoe, The rake, the dibble, The
spade, the walerin2'poi To plant, Prune'
drill, transplant, graft, train, and sP!rlnkle!-
Mrs. S. and agreed 10 rise early in The
country.
Early rising in the country is not an in.
siinct /; il is a sentiment, and must be cul'
,ivaled.
A friend recommended me 10 send 10
Long Island for some very prolific potatoes,
the real hippopoamus breed. Down went
my man, and what with expenses Of horse.
hire, tavern bills, ,oll.gales, and breaking
wagon, the hippopolami cost as mnch
apiece as pine.apples. They were fine
potatoes enough, with comely features and
large languishing eyes, that promised III
crease of family without delay. AS work
ed my own garden, (ior which hired a
landscape gardener a! Two dollars per day 10
give me ins,ructions,) concluded that the
ohiec, of my first experience in early rising
should be the planting Of the hipPopolami.
accordingly rose the next morning at
five, and il rainod | rose next day at five
and il rained! The next, and IL rained -
|, rained for two weeks We had splen.
did po,a,oes every DAY for dinner, "my
DEAR said I to Mrs. Sparrowgrass,
"where did you get those fine potatoes y
"Why,n - said she, innocenlly, "oui OF lhc
basket from Long Island The last oi
the hippopo,ami were before me, peeled
and boiled, ana mashed and baked, with a
nice thin brown crust on the top!
was more successful afterwards. did
ye, some fine seed potatoes in the ground.
Blu, something was The matter at The end
of The season did moi sc, as many out as
pu, in. .
Mrs. Sparrowgrass, who is n notable
bonsekeeper, said 10 me one day, "Now
nv dear. we shall soon have plenty ofeggs
for have been buying loi OF fyoung chick.
ems" There they be each one with as
many feathers as a grasshopper and chirp
no, londer or course we looked forward
with pie ,sani hopes 10 The period when the
frs, cackle should announce The milk while
egg warmly deposited in the hay which we
had provided bounilully. They,grew fine-
", and one day venlurcd 10 remark that
our hens had most remarkably large combs
10 which Mrs. S. replied, " Yes, indeed,
she had observed thai but il wanted 10
have real ,rea, | ought 10 &c, up early IN
the morning and hear, them Crow
WCtowi" said !, fainily;"' our hens crow
ing! Then by The cock iha, crowed mine
in The morn TO wake The priest all shaven
aud ,I,orn. r"we might as well give up all
thoughts OF having eggs, Ssaid !" for as
sure as you live, Mrs. 5. our hens are al
ROSTERS ~. Aid 80 they were roos'ers
,ha, grew up and fought with ihelneighe,ors,
chickens uniil there was net alIolher pair OF
ewes ON either side fihe fence.
A dog is n good thing TO have in the coun'
try. have one which raised from pup
be Is a GOOD stout fellow, and a hearty bar.
ker and feeder. The man ofwhom ] bought
him said he was thorough bred, bu, he
soon began TO have mongrel look aoou'
him. He is a good watch dog, though; ior
| The moment he sees any suspicious looking
person about the premises he comes I'gh'
INTO The kitchen and gets behind the sloye,
bAtIfirst we KEEP, him il the house: ana ne
scratched all night 70 set out. Inen W.
,urned Rim on, ard he scratched all n'ghi
10 gc, IN. Then we tied him up atihe oaek
of The garden, and he hoyleds so lhat oe' ~
neishbuf shot a, him twice before. .daybreaS;
F;dally. we gave him away, and he came
backi:: and iow he is just recovering irdrr
n IN, In which he las torn up a patch iha
Lima been sowr for our spring radishesa sa.'
IA rood srong gate is'a necessary article
for yo,ir garden. Agood strong heavy gai'
with dsIocaied hinge. so that Il will neib
or omen nor shut. Such one had'I las
Wear. Tho grounds before my fence ar'
| n common, and all the neighbors' cows pms
II - -. ~ 4 vorn,tt ~ "a N1ta q aa tvI