Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-02-21
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
The Farmers Winter Evening.

THERE are few seasons which we can
conceive more really pleasurabe than far
mer's winter evening. We will just imagine
the occupations of the day over, the lowing
kline and blating cattle in the barn-yard, and
Phillis, with pals overaowing with the snowy
foam, vending her way to the dairy. Then
comes the matron, or perhaps her eldest
daughter, to attend to the straining, skim
ming and putting away in the sweet clean
vessels, and the wiping off of every speck or
spot from the white and well.scoured shelves.
By the time that Mary, Susan or Eliza has
superintended the arrangements of the bouu.
tiful tablc-from the golden butter balls to
the delicate rolls and rich breads, the steam.
ing coffee, the creamy milk, and perhaps
juicy spare ribs and sausages,--the farmer
and his boys enter, use the water and towels
provided by the dutiful daughter, aud afte:
taking a warm at the blazing hickory fire,
rather round the fruits Of their own industry,
to satisfy their we'll rned appetites.
The repast finished, the table put in order
and the hearth swept clean, the farmer takes
his seat in mis- favorite corner, with his spec.
taces pushed up above his sun-burnt brow,
and his pipe and tobacco box ready for his
evening smoke. In the opposite nook, the
good dame occupies her cezy rocking chair,
with her knitting pins going at the rate of
ten knots the hour. The girls are seated
round the little work table, with their work
boxes and baskets, the rainbow tints Of
their patchwork pceping out here and there;
aud then comes o short discussion as to
which has the prettiest pattern. Elza's is
laid work with delicate wreathes and buuches
Of flowers scattered over-Susan's hexa.
gon, and Mary's an intricate star, 4 spcci-
men of the taste Of a certain gallant young
gentleman After the old gentleman ques.
tions the boys as to the feeding of the stock,
the locking up Of various outhouses, aud
numerous other little matters, Ned or Tom
hunts up the last paper, the good old sd.
rerliser" it may be, and at the request of the
parents, reads it aloud. After going through
the editorial for father, the obituaries for
mother, the marriages for the girls, and the
advertisements for the whole party, the paper
is turned again and the literary selections
read over. In the middle Of romantic
love. sketch, a mock is heard at the door, and
a youth enters who has been for sometime
casting sly glances at one of the girls. The
work is laid aside, but the farmer insists that
the story be finished. So Ned resumes and
as the names of the hero and heroine are
William and Eliza, the first being that of the
young lover, the latter of his inamorata, sly
winks and smiles are exchanged from one to
the other of the group, to the confusion of
the twain and the merriment of the rest
Apples, nuts aud cider, or perhaps "persim-
mon beer," are brought next. The merry jest
goes round, places are exchanged until the
young lovers are left in some distant corner,
and the quick, low, endearing epthet is whis-
pered-not so low though, but that the lis.
tening ears of Tom catches the faint echo,
which re-echoes from Ned to the girls, and
burst of merriment peals out on the warm
genial atmosphere.
Nine o'clock comes-the hickory logs
have been consumed, and great living Goals
gleam out from the ample fire place. The
good dame puts up her stocking. Her hus-