Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-07-27
entertainments.
For the Wa,chmau & Journal
OLDEN TIMES.---No. I3.
" SEVENTY YEARS IN THE WIN
OOSKI VALLEY"

OOSkl VALLEY
In my last number, Chittenden
and Allen, the former Governor and
the latter the leading hero and mas
ter-spirit of the first settlers of YER
mont were spoken of in connection.
Chiltenden, who lived many years
in the Valley of the Winooski, at
Williston, and the owner of lands
in Jericho, adjacent, was quite as
celebrated for the simplicity of his
life and manners as for his admira-
bic tact and sagacity in the manage
ment of public affairs. While Gov
ernor of the state his house was a
home for his neighbors and for
strangers. OF the latter, ladies and
gentlemen of distinction from a.
broad frequently called to pay their
respects To the Governor and his la
.dy. On such occasions, but one
table was set for the laborers upon
the farm and the guests. At one
time, when the latter consisted of
an Albany lady and her husband,
the horn was sounded for the labor
ers Of the field to prepare for din
ner. They nocked in, washed and
sat down to the plentiful and frugal
meal, as usual, leaving two vacant
seats for the guests, who were ush-
cred in by Mrs. Chittenden, and
seated a, the right and left of her
self and her liege lord the Govern
or. Every thing passed off pleas
antly on the part Of the Governor,
his wife and the gentleman stran-
ger. But not so, on the part of the
city female. To be seated at the
same table with hard-hsted though
warm hearted iaborers of the field,
and that, TOO, at a GoUerRor'S ia
bic, was little too much for the
proud spirit of city female to sub
init to, without at least a gentle re-
proof, administered to lady Chtten-
den. Seated at leisure and alone,
Mrs. Albany, for SO deem it best
to call her, chaiechisod Mrs. Chit
tenden on the doubtful propicty
and mistaken gentility of seating
her guests at the same table with
the hired men of the fam. II was
not the custom, she said, with the
{" best families" in the cities, and
she thought 1t custom better dis
pensed with than kept up in the
country, al beg your pardon,
MAN," quantity replied Mrs. Chit
tenden-no offence was intended. -
The best we have in the house is
none too good for cur intelligent and
faithful laborers. And our friends
from abroad always share with us
and with them in the best. Besides,
our laborers are as Intelligent and
well behaved as the roughness Of
the times and The peris of the will
dernoss Will permit. They have
stouu by un mauruny, through all
our trials and difficulties with the
Workers." on one side, the eastern
land sharks on the other, and the
Canadians and Indians at the north.
They have fcarlessly and faithfully
devoted themselves TO the promo
ton of our interests at all times, and
under the most trying circumstan-
ces, and even gone so far, when it
became necessary, as TO apply the
4" beach seal" to the naked backs of
our enemies. Such is my attach
ment to them, and that of Mr.. Chit
tenden's, we cannot find it in our
hearts TO deny them the privilege OF
dining with our very best and most
intelligent friends from abroad
when they honor us with a CALL
Our schools here in the wilds OF
Vermont and in the Vally of the
Winooski are so few and far between,
and especially our schools of POI
likeness, that We make it an invari-
able custom, whenever our city
friends, who enjoy the privileges Of
refined society, call upon us, TO seat
. our faithful laborers at the same Ia
, Bile, that they may there see a little
of city life, aud for the time being,
enjoy the advantages of "schooI
. of good manners" The guest bow
.. ed acquiesence, and said nothing
|. more upon the subject of dinner Ia
. BILE etiquette, around the well sup
piled but frugal board of the Pion
eer Governor of the Green Noun
tains.
Gov. Thomas Chittenden was a
lmuch distinguished as his lady 70