The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-08-11
For the Ninnesotian.
Village Sketches.


thing beside the weather. Fog. mist and a
feeling of uncomfortable dampness pervading
all things, prevail in the village OF Westfeld--
Westfeld in the Jerseys" Placed in the
guide book, "twenty miles from New York,
delightful route" good attractions for New |
Workers in summer residences; plenty ofpeach.
O., springs and fresh air, and you can catch
pike, pickerai and chills, in abundance. West
field il a row ofwhite houses on rose colored |
street, which, in very dusty times, gives one
the same impression the fly had when he ad-
dressed the wheel.
1t contains no livery stable no hotel, no
shoe maker, no tin shop, etc. 1t appears to
be jumping off place, where one is not expect
ed to need any superfluities evermore. Raise
your corn, potatoes and buckwheat says an
old farmer, live happy, die happy"
The New Workers declare Jersey to bc out
OF the pale of civilization, and will not own it
as State. To a stranger everything wears
new aspect home and human nature are
changed. Here dwells the veritable " ankec"
Not the New Highlander, bold, sturdy and
independent, not the Eastern farmer, who
comes down to the city" in his coarse dress.
puts up" at the best hotel walks into Ball g.
Blacks or Stewards with his hat fixed firmly
on the back of his head. addresses all the
strangers distingue he meets and ''can talk with
the best of them" Even though he does as
the peasant to King Charles, in the German
story, tell how he 'can afford his chicken in
his pot O. Sundays and think nothing of it,
He criticizes Jenny Lind, honors which picture
p!cases him lest. When they. contrast Kate
Hays and Parodi, thinks one a parody. Not
the man described by John G.. SAKE in one of
his poetical lectures, but the Yankee as
the word is used now days, it is inexplca-
ble-tOo entirely '.Yankecv to be definitive
| beg New Jerseys pardon if offend, but
| truth is truth and m0gnaest veritas.
| Let us imagine it pleasant weather and COM
mcnce pilgrimage to Storrsholm. Let US
take the rose colored road over the plain to-
ward the mountain. On every side lie neat
| farm houses some are built in taste, the gar
dens arranged in beauty, while the Mississippi
creeper blows its trumpet blossom upon the
outer wall. In others the garden lies before
the front. door, where peoples and cabbages,
| larkspurs and cucumbers, institutions ard
onions, lie wed side by side. Suddenly you
| turn a corner and there lies 81 orrsholm, for all
| the wo Id like an old man, with an unshorn
beard, you cannot see him at first for the shrub
berry embracing him, but you walk up the short
| wide path and there he stands before you with
all bis imperfectiOns. 1t is an island in sea
| of green, that spreads shining and shining to
the borders Of an old orchard which bends over
it. Through that orchard, like paths of sun
light, lie the rows of newly mown rye. and
resting in its branches, the young apples lie
quiet awaiting the return of their parents,
bright and heat, to brood them.
Storrsholm is Of ancient lineage, moss has
gathered upon its roofs and fences Like
chess board, it is marked with spares, fields Of
golden rye, graceful oats, noddng barley,
shining corn and uninteresting potaiccs-.
Three fresh water ponds, like dew drops, lie in
the bosom of it's green hill and valley land
One bears upon its waves the satin lcayed
lily Of pure white. In another the darling
pike and timid sun fish play. The third, Che
favorite) is entirely surrounded by chestnut
and persmmon trees, interlaced With shrub
berry. Here cool and dark the waters glide
quietly, listening to the music of myrads OF
birds who end beside it peace and safety
We have neighbors at Storrsholm. This
world is no longer a desert, if one does not
hold communion with their voices, they cam
not help but see them. Opposite Storrsholm
across fields ofrye, traverse huge gateway
OF granite, with heavy iron gate in grape
work, stone wall encloses a large square
within which fountains play, gorgeous exotics
bloom, rare fruits ripen and wild wood trees
wave around lofty mansion. One built in
peaks and gables of the dorc, ionic and corin-
THAN orders combined, with portcos, veran
dahs and galleries of graceful form. In and
out OF this stately arch, role bright carriages
and their prancing steeds, fairy children play
in The deep shades, and music and laughter
float out OF the bay windows on moonlight
nights. Sometimes when the sun is setting.
the oriental blinds are thrown open and beau
tiful pictures disclosed in the flood of glory
One is full length portrait of an ancient aged
physician. see it shadowy and dimly now,
"'AA t"@ "0"u "PSoic w WEAR CTONu OI Innt.
hope for closer inspection.
Ga the "back corner lot" in an octagoual
brown house, with lOop-holes for windows aud
no standing invitation to the sunlight, not
vestige of tree around the house, for fear of
bugs and mosquitoes, there dwclls Mrs. media |
tigable. Early to rise is her maxim. at the
first ray, faint and glimmerins of morning. II
hear her blowing the breakfast horn' with a |
running accompaniment of the voice next view
she is seen scampering ''around the house and |
around the house." with a bowl of sour curd in |
her hands, followed by troupe of lotg legged. |
long necked young turkes. who will at any
moment leave their natursl mother ut the |
sound of Mrs. Us voce.
A soft voice is an excellent thing in woman.
Neighbor lndefatigable has never read poetry
and is proud OF her voice. Deaf peope always
hear her. Iii were not for her talking, none
OF the animals would hear her. and Mr.. l. |
would think her 'dreadul ill.p Clear and
bell-like, with tightening flash on one note
and a thunder roll on another, hear her CAL
ling her swine, who answer in every variety
OF squeals and intonation 10 pigdom, from the
little, white, running piggie TO the uninterest-
ing grunter. Indeiatigable can dig wells,
build fences, hoe potatoes and has done every
thing but build house. and believes she could
succeed in that. This rain does not keep her
within door; cloudy weather is best for weed
ing" and in bl0omer halfstyle she pulls the
,lai ptair, bo Ii