Polynesian., 1857-03-28
No. ~

-
tny twenty feet square, with fireplace six feet
VIDE and four deep. On one SIDE il looked ou,
upon the garden, the sQuaShcS and cucuubers
IcHmoIn" up and forming tcstoOns over the door;
on lhe other view was presented of the orchard
embracing trst circle Of peaches, pears. and
Piums' and beyond. Il widespread cloyer-hcld. en-
lowered with apple trees. Just lv was the we'll
with It's tall sweep, the old oaken bucket danrInG
from the pole. The kitchen was in fact the most
comfortable room IN the house: cool in Summer
and pcTiumcd with the breath of the garden and
orchard; IN Winter, with its roaIiug blaze Of hck-
ory, 1t was a cosy resort dcfyng the bitcrcst
blasts of the season. Here the whole family as
Isembled Il! meals, save only when the presence Of
company made 1t proper TO serve tea in the parlor
The chambers were all without carpets and TN,
furniture was generally Of simple character.
The beds, however. were Of ample size, and we'll
hlied with gccSe-ieathcrs, these being deemed
esSenila! for comfortable people. L must say, by
the way, that every decent family had its flock of
geese, OF course, which was picked thrice year,
despite the noisy rcmoustrances Of both goose and
gander. The sheets Of the bed though of home
made linen, were as white as the driven SHOW
Indeed, the beds of this era showed that sleep
was luxury, well understood ana duly cherished
Oy al! classes. The cellar. extending under the
whole house. was vast receptacle, and by no
means the least Important part Of the establish
men'. In the autumn II was supplied with three
oarfe.s oil beet and rs many of pork, twenty bar
res OF cider, with numerous bins of potatoes tur-
mps, boets, carrots, and cIbbages. The sarret
was Of huge dimensions, Mt the same time display
ing labyrinth ct dried pumpkins, peaches and
aPPleS-hung IN tcsiOons upon the rateis amid
punches Of Summer s3vory, bouesct. fennel and
other her5S-thc floor being occupied By heaps of
wool, t1X. tow, and the ike.
HE m1nncrs and occupations Of the people
were no less simple and unpretcndnr than their
In =
the morning was reading the Bible, followed by
prayer Then came the breakfast, which was a
substantial meal, always including hot meats with
vegetables, appe-sauce, pickles, mustard, horse
rodsh, and various condiments. Tea was com
mon, but coffee was almost unknown. Dinner was
z siHl more hearty and varied repast; tea was a
ight supper. The day began carly. Breakfast
was at SIX IN Summer, and seven in Winter-din-
Her at noon-the work-people in the fields being
called 10 their meals by a conch-shell, usually
wound by some kitchen Triton The echoing of
his noon-tide horn from farm to farm, and over
lIll and dale, was species of music which even
-lyalcd the popular melody of the 6e and drum.
The men of all classes were dressed in long, broad
allcd coats with huge pockets, long waist-coats
md breeches. Hats had low crowns with broad
)rlms-sone so wide as to be supported at the
'ides with cords. The parson and few others
wore silk stockings in Summer, and worsted liz
" inter; those OF the people IN general were of
WOOL, and blue and gray mixed. Women dressed
n wide bouHcts sometimes of straw, and some
lines Of silk. The gowns were of silk, muslin,
gIugham, aud so forth, usually close and short
vaisted, the neck and shoulders being covered by
full muslin kerchef Girls ornamentcd them
selves with large white "vandyke."
The principal travel was on horseback. Many
# the members of Congress came to Washington
n this style. 1t was a universal custom when
rayCeTs met with people on the highway to sa-
ute each other with certain dignified and formal
courtesy. All children were taught at school to
make their manners to strangers. A traveller
Who refused to acknowledge this ciyity was
eemcd low fellow, perhaps friend of Jacobin-
SIN. The emphasis of 4 strangers courtesy was
,enerally the measure of his station. As Demo-
Iacy came IN, according to our author, this good
Id custom went out. The age Of politeness pass
d away with the Hartford Convention Federalism.
mis- is in great degree, he maintains, to be laid
{ the door of jefferson. That celebrated states
nan affected great simplicity in bis taste, dress and
manners. He wore pantaloons instead Of breech-
:, and adopted leather shoestrngs instead of
ucklcs. These pccuantics were praised by his
duIircrs as SIGNS Of his democracy, and certain
oarseuess of manners was at length deemed dem
cratic an Illustration Of whch we have an an
cdole, OF which the historical accuracy IS guar
nteed by the author.
70 About this time, there was in the eastern part
{ Connectcut clergyman by the name Of Cleve-
md, who was noted tor his wit. One summer
ay as he was riding along, he came TO a brook.
Ierc he paused to let his horse drink. Just
Icn. 4 strancer rode into the stream from an op-
osite direction and his horse began to drink also.
he animals approached, as is their wont under
uch circumstances, and thus brought the two men
ice to face.
:: How are YOU pTiest?" +" said the stranger.
's How are YOU Democrat said the parson.
Il, I nm. q democrat
..How do yoa know 1 am pries said the
ther.
= know yon to be priest By your dress?"
nd the stranger.
:. ! know you you to be democrat By your adj
rcss . SAID the parson.o
The paternal grandmother Of Mr.. Goodrich
as fine specimen Of the New England wife in
avs of vore We must make room for her port
iifure. taken rs she was seen after the commence
ient or the present century.
She was a model housekeepcr, and as such had
rcat administrative talents. Everything went
rht in the household, the garden. the home lot,
le pasture, and the little farm. Inc hens laid
is of large fresh eggs, the cows gave abundance
: milk. the pigs were as fat as butter; the wood
lie was always fall. There was never any agony
,ouf the house all was meth0dical, as II regu-
ted bv some law Of nature. The tail old clock
the entry. although an OctOgenarIan was still
aunch and ticked and struck with en- emphasis
lat enforced obedience. When It told IN the
orning, the breakfast came without daring to de-
Y even for minute The stroke of IL brought
i. sun TO the noon-mark, and dinner to the table.
be tea came at 6. At sunset on Saturday even
70. the weeks work was done, and according to
lc Puritan usage, the Sabbath was begun. All
lddenly became a, let and holy. Even the knit
ng-wort, was laid aside. Meditation was on ev-
Y brow; the cat in the corner sat with her eyes
III Shut as if she, too, were considering her
ays.
On tl.e morning OF the Holy Day, all around
as silent. The knife and fork were handled
u -. L. .nhln The tnilet ihongh sedn-