Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-02-16


Solomon, all economical names, for
they can be shortened in common
use to Jed, E.b, Ab, and Sol. Two
of these wear the check wooden win
ter frock Of New England farmers
the others are in round lackets-they
are school boys. Upon the left side
sit Mary, Adeline, and Mehitablc,
pictures of rural beauty and health.
The eldest is " dressed up she has
been to town with her father she
has a gown of boughtcn stuff"
around her neck is boa of colored
Iamo's wool, knit by her own hands,
fastened in the throat with grand
mothers silver breach.
Further down the table are three
athletic young men, day laborers
upon the farm--sons Of neighboring
farmers -one of whom is cycling the
charms of sweet Mary, with an
expression easily read 10y good
physiognomist. The group is COM
pleied by the schoolmaster, a young
man with glowing eye, which
speaks of an intellect that will tell
upon the world some day. with as
much force, as though he had
not been obliged to obtain his
education with summer labor and
winter teaching. He is one of New
Ensland's rising sons The meal is
for men who toll. At one end of
the table stands pot of ample
dimensions, smoking from the grca,
oven, ilanking the fireplace, Of the
most excellent Of New England
cookeries,
"a dish of baked BEANS"
crowned with square piece of salt
fat pork, crisped aud rich. Lower
down, broad pewter platter holds
the remains OF the "boiled victuals"
that formed the dinner--beef. pork,
potatoes, cabbage, bcets and turnips,
pile that might rival a small hay
cock in size and shape---a plate of
rye and Indian bread, cold, and
another made of rye flour, are
untouched for great loaf just
drawn from the oven, nicely Drowned
and hot, is offered in great broken
pieces 10 tempt the appetite TO one Of
the richest repasts ever given 10 an
epicure. By the side of the old lady
stands black earhern teapot, the
contents of which are freely offered,
but only accepted by two Of them,
as the rich new milk or cold water
is preferred as beverage, morn
ing, noon, and night, by those
old fashioned healthy laborers. We
must not forget the never failing
accompaniment of the evening meal
in New England for It's New Eng
lands proudest dish, the golden
pumpkin pie.
God being THANKED for his Doun-
ties, after the close OF the happy
meal, all drew into a circle around
the great fire place Father is
finishing off an axe-hclve. Jed is
mending pair Of boots, and one of
the hired men upon the other side OF
the same bench is repairing a wagon
harness-bolh use the same tools
The other two are employed one in
Smelling corn, and the other helping
Mary peel pumpkins, which are in
slices, and hung upon poles over
head. This is Mary's accepted
lover. Happy hearts and blessed
industry. Mary, Alb, and Sol are
engaged with the schoolmaste,
around the high table, lighted with
homemade candle; they are study
ing writing and Misunderstanding
themselves for future slatesmen.-
Mother is making new coat for one
of the boys; Ada is ironing at a
side table, and lielly is washing the
supper dishes ut another. There are
two other members of this happy
family group--iho cat occupies the
top OF the blue-dye tub, which stands
IN the corner Of the fireplace, and old
Bose sleeps quietly under the table.
Directly, and before any sound is
audible to human ears, he gets up,
walks out into the long entry, and
gives long sharp bark at the out
side door, and stands waiting the
approaching step. Soon satisfied
that the new conner is friend, he
ret.res again TO repose, and three or
four boys who look as though
they might be brothers to those gl-
ready described, SO much are they
dressed alike, enter and draw around
the table with the Others aud school
master. These are from a neighbour
ing farm, sons of a widow, who have
I'LL now been engaged With the labor
ers of the farm; they have been unable
to attend the school in the day time,
but are determined to lose none of
the evening opportunities 10 keep
along with their class. They will
make honest, intelligent industrious
farmers.
The old folks welcome them
heartily, and the young ones are
rejoiced at their arrival. The old
lady inquiries why in The world their
mother did not come along and
Mary, the kind-hearled Mary, is so
sorry that it is because Sarah is not
SO well, and mother is very busy in
getting their new clothes done, so
they can go to school, a. soon us
they finish picking apples.
" John" says she, "lei us hurry
aud get thro' our "stent. - and we