Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-08-26
Written for the Saturday Evening Post
Changes in Prairie Land.
BY AUNT ALICE.

BY AUNT AIiCE.
l. Village life is pleasant so long as it is vi
lage life, but when we begin to ape city life
the pleasure is gone. 1t is but few year
since our town was first settled and as W
were among the first who came, we hav
watched its progress with considerable
interest There were only eight house
built during the first year; then a larg
mill was put up; soon after three store
were opened, and we began to feel quit
comfortable in our new home. | recoliec
about this time had friend from the Eas
pay me visit; the first morning after he
arrival, she dressed up her little son, DO,
of four years. in suit Of his city clothes
he looked sweetly in his wide, white trou
sers, and bright green waist covered witt
buttons; his little cap, with long tassel
sat jauntiIy on his head; aud when he hat
coaxed his mother to unpack his drum, hi
drumming in fine style down the street Il
prairie. prairie, far and WIDE" and only
| that the grass was somewhat shorter, one
could not tell the streets from the COW
pastures. We were watching the boy, tt
see that he went to the right store. wher
We stI" HtiI stbpPCl III lily IlfhE I'll NY t"G
little tow-headed girls; they seemed tt
question him, but Dick answered by drum
| ming louder than ever; they locke / at him
they lived in the next house to as they ran
10 their mother, who was standing at the
gate, and SAID, "Oh, nanny, we've met a
show boy, but we can't see no tent going up
yet~ The woman placed her hand over
ha 70, Al H. IL
sun, and gazed long and earnestly over the
green prairie, in search ofthe expected tent
My friend concluded not to wear her best,
when she walked out with me that evening,
as fine clothes were not appreciated here.
At that time every person dressed as they
pleased; no two men having coats alike and
no two ladies' wearing bonnets of the same
pattern. When we had company 10 tea,
erery body was invited, and every one was
taken care of when they were ILL., All
denominations met for public worship in
small school house, where excellent sermons
were often preached, the minister standing
behind a new pine table. The whole con-
gregation joined in singing and some really
fine voices, mingIing with the rough, nn-
taught notes, made rayiety; we did not then
call it "discord" After the services were
closed, all fingered near the door. to say
kind word, and to invite any who might
have come in from the country, to stay in
town until evening, taking them home to
dine, &c. These were happy, friendly
times pity they could not last,-we do not
know when the change took place, it came
SO gradually: but now we have our first,
second and third classes. Our houses are
furnished in better style than we can afford
6 first class" having Brussels, second class
Ingram, and third class Rag carpeting. AS
TO dress, We quite astonish persons who
come here from New York or Boston. We
are so far ahead Of them. No lady of the
. first class /" will condescend to wear dress
Or bonnet purchased here, the second class
ny TO initiate the first, and thesthird class
'ollow them, and so on. Our parties are
very select, none being invited who cannot
-etarn the favor. When any of our upper
en are i'll, they cannot be seen or condoIed
with; they lie in darkened chambers, and
/ is not considered genteet to admit friend
Q sit by their bedside.
But the most striking change is in our
tor we have now several churches, |
With crimson pulpit cushions. singing gal
cry, and all that. 1t il true, the ministers |
reach meekness and humility. bat the con-
yregation attend dressed out in their best, |
all up the aisle and seat themselves in |
pews, prayer is made. all keep
ng their seats, then hymn IS read, the /
holr in the gallery arise, quite stir takes
lace, prolonged t-o-ot is heard, then full I
'urst OF sound from the whole choir, and the
inglng begins. Nav e Hey diddIe diddle, Z
J not proper to be thought of during Divine
eryice, yet I could not keep it out Of my
lind while listened to our choir, as they
tempted to sing that good old hymn, be-
inning, When can read my title clear
tune that went iigity jig. First the
'eble sang, When can read,n then the
NOR broke IN with, When can read
lie bass roared out, When Iii can read,1
len young lady with a buILfrog voice,
roke out with, my ti-teIl clear" finally /
ndfng the verse, sqneaking, roaring, moan
g the words, amy weeping eyes, eyes.
res e felt quite relieved when they all
u through safely and took their seats.
hen church is out. all walk proudly and
IDLY down the aisle, few formal bows are
Ichanged, but NO more shaking Of hands
Of old; tightly fitting kid glove will |
4 bear the pressure perhaps. Who can
! benefited By all this formalitya it is g all
unity and vexation Of spirit The WELL I;
essed children are no longer taken for
show boys but they walk of as stately as
cir elders, casting scornful sgIances at all /
no are poorly clad. What will The next
'feration come to five improve (1| as fast !,
ring the next few years!
How MUcH SUGAR DO WE EAT last year !
ere were consumed IN this country, about :
!, eO0, GOO pounds Of cane sugar, and n 900, !
Q pounds of maple sugar. This gives more
10 twenty four pounds Of cane sugar, and one
und OF maple sugar to every man, woman and a
lid. This does not include molasses or honey. Y
this sugar was put into barrels holding two =
ndred pounds, and each barrel occupied the
ace OF three feet square only. it would require il
acres Of land for ii to stand upon. The
rre1s, It placed IN row, would reach two i
udred and twenty miles. JIG this sugar was :;
up in paper packages Of FIVE pounds each,
Fould require IN, 400, 600 sheets Of wrapping
,er and il only yard of string was used Il
zach package, there would be required 1885, v
!, 600 feet or 81, 600 miles Of string three p
es enough to go round the earth. III every s;
III clerk sold one hundred pounds Of sugar
b day, It would require nearly q, 900 clerks
iell It al IN . year. It the dealers, whole n
and retail together, made profit Of only n
cents pound on this sugar, these profits n
ae would amount to nearly SIS, 000, 600. e
u The Knickerbocker tells Of y man who v