Polynesian., 1857-03-28

choice pieces, as the spare-ribs were distributed
the neIghbOrs, who paid in kind when they killed
7 their swine Mutton and poultry were supplied IN
theirturn from the homestead, save that on Thanks
giving day some of the magnates Of the town gave
the parsou turkey. The bread was of rye tinced
with Indian meal Wheat bread was reserved for
: great ocCaSOns-tOr the sacrament and for com
pany All the vegetables Of the family came from
their own garden and farm. The fuel was supplied
from the wo0j-lOt, wCej-scentcd hickory Stepping
chestnut, odorlterous oak, and ''recllng, fzzing
ash. 1t was goCdiy SIGHT to see these stalwart
products Of the forest laid in huge piles all alive
with sap, on the TALL gaunt andirons. You nigh,
nave thought you heard John ROGERS and his iam-
~ at the stake, by their plaintive simmerngs. The
building OF 4 fire was real Architectural achieve
ment, favored by the wide yawning fireplace, and
was always begun by davbrcak There was first
a backlog, from fifteen TO four and twenty inches
b IN diameter and FIVE feet long, imbcdded in the
ashes then came top-log; then a iore-stick; then
mlddle-stlck, and then heap OF kindhngs, reach
lng from the bowels down to the bottom. A-top
Of all was pyramid of smaller fragments, artfully
adjusted, with spaces for the blaze" Friction
matches had not then been sent from the regions
/ of birthstone, 10 enable any boy to carry coufa-
grafton in his pocket If the fire went out. resort
bad to flint. steel and tinder-box To feed the
family fire during the severe winter season was
fully one mans work. Sugar was partially sup
Piled from the maple trees although the chief
store came from the West Indies. The mixing of
maple sugar was wholly domestic operation. and
afforded time OF great rejoicing to the children.
E0cn had the privilege of an occasional sip or dip
from the period Of the lmrid sap to the sparkling
crystals Of the sugar. Rum was largely cousum-
ed, though there were but few distillerlCs Every
ddy-labOrcr received q haEpG, of it a matter OF
course, especially in the summer season. In all
families It was offered to visitors as an essential
point of good manners. Even ladies freely in
,ltrfs col. L.. L
Elixir, which Is pronounced by the writer 10 be the
most delicious means of getting tpsv that has
been Invented" Hot toddy was considered an in /
igilI6!e specific 10 quiet CRYING babies Every man
imblbed lls morning dram, and if not using this
indulgence to excess, was deemed temperate
There Is story Of preacher about those days, .
who thus lcciarcd his parish / say nothing, nv
beloved brethren against taking little bittcrs be- .
fore breakfast, especially if you are used TO IT, .
W hat | contend against Is. this drumming, dram .
ming, drumming, at all hours of the day. There
are some men who take glass at l. O'Clock i'm the .
forenoon and at in the afternoon. | do not pur-
pose TO contend against old established customs
my brethren, rendered respectable by time and /
authority; but this drumming drumming is a cry
ing sin in the land " iuxham's tiucturc was
literally prescribed by the physicians. Tansev /
bitters were regarded as eievating in more senses
than one, for even the morning PRAYER went up
heavily without the usual dose. Brandy was al
most entirely unknown except in the houses of the
rich and the drug shop. Cider was the universal 4
table beverage. Wine was seldom used except for
the sacrament.
Il remember to have heard story of these days
which is suggestive. The Rev. DR.. C of I:
j.. had brother who had lived some years in
France, and familiar with the wines of that
On certain occasion he dncd with his
clerical brother who after dinner gave him glass
of this beverage. The visitor having tasted it,
shrugged bis shoulders and made wry faces.
% 'Whcre did you get this liquor, brothcr:' said
he.
"'Why " it is some that was left over from the
sacrament, and my deacons sent it to me-
. i don't wonder, brother, was the reply, that
your Church Is so snail, now that J know what
wine you give them = 4
There was, Of course baker in Ridgefeld.
Each family not only made their own bread, cakes
and pies, but their own soap, candles butter,
cheese, pickles, preserves and what not. Flax and
wool were also spun and woven at home, but cot !
ton wholly unknown except 4 curiosity, pro {
duced somewhere in the tropics but whether II I
grew on a plant or an animal not&learly set
tied in the public mind. The woolcn cloth was c
sent to the fuller to be dyed and dressed the linen
was bleached and made up in the family Twice {
year the tailor came TO the house and made up d
the scmannuaI stock of clothes for the male mem
Jcrs; this was called ''whippng the cat. Man
tuunakers and mllliners came IN their turn 10 fit
out the ''women folks There was q similar pro-
cess for boots and shoes. Carpets we're known, ]
but only in few families, and were confined to {
the skeeDinr ROOM and parlor. They were all .
home made. CoverlIds consisted Of patchwork !
quilts. which were faHcifully wrought in a variety
lf figures and presented gay and rich appearance
The process Of quilting was great occasion. and
assembled all the women Of the nelghborhO0d both
married and single. The bcauX were admitted in
he evening, and the young people often got into Q
which matrimOny alone could un-
-avel;' ''StOne-bees" were another remarkable O
Institution of the olden time in Connecticut. Ut
hcse meetings the men Of the village came to- s
gcther with their draft cattle to clear some patch
IF ground which had received from nature more d
han It's usual proportion of rocks and stones. This
abor was all gratultOus-cXcept that the owner =
If the land found the grog. d
We must not omit the full length picture Of r
armer's homestead half a century ago. as drawn
rom real life in the interior of Connecticut at that
ime
s'The home of this our neighbor B., was sit Il
lated on the road leading to Salem, there being
vide space in front occupied by the wood pile, =
which in these davs not only matter OF +,
rent importance bat of formidable bulk. The !
ize of the wood pile was indeed in some sort an !.
ndex to the rank and condition Of the proprietor. :
The house itself low edlfce, forty feet long, :
nd of two stories in front; the rear being what II
vas calieu byeGhOGck, JdL Is, oopih9 uo"H ~ n
light of ten feet; this low part furnishing shell I.
eT for garden tools, and various household instru
nents. The whole was constructed of wood the 4
uiside being of the dun complexion assumed by il
npainted wood exposed to the weather for twen- =
Y or thirty years, save only that the roof was :
inred of a reddish-brown by fine moss that :;
ound sustenance in the chestnut shingles r
To the left was the garden, which IN the pro- h
uctiye season was wilderness of onions, squash y
5, cucnmbers, beets, parsnips, and curranis- With
he never failing tansey for bitters horseradIsh for
easoninr, and fennel for keeping old women !"