Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-13
OLD CUSTOMS IN NEW ENG
LAND.


the morning was reading the Bible, fol-
lawed bya prayer, at which all were as
sembled, including The servants and he'll
pcrs Of the kitchen and farm. Then came
the breakfast, which was a substantial
meal, always including hot viands, with
vegetables, apple sauce, pickles, mustard,
horsendish, and various other eondi.
men,s. Cider was the common drink
for laboring people even children drank
it at viii. Tea was common, but not SO
general as now. Coffee was almost un-
known. Dinner was a still more hearty
and varied repast---charaeterized by an
abundance of garden vegetables; tea
was light supper.
The day begun early; breakfast was
had at six in summer and seven in win
ter; dinner at noon-the work people
in the fields being called to their meals
by a conch shell, usually winded by some
kitchen Triton. The echoing of this
noon-tide horn from farm TO farm, and
over hill and dale, was a species of mu-
sic which even rivalled the popular mel.
ody Of drum and fife Tea-the evening
meal--usually took place about sundown.
In families where all were laborers, all
sat at one table, servants as well as mas.
ters-;he food being served before sitting
down. In families where the masters
and mistresses did not share the labors
OF the household or the farm, the meals
of the domestics were had separate
There was, however, perfectly good
understanding and good feeling between
the masters and servants. The latter
were not Irish they had not as yet i'm
bibed the plebian envy OF those above
them, which has since so generally EN-.
bittered and embarrassed American do
nestle fife. The terms democrat and
! aristocrat rad not got into use; these
: distinctions, and the feelings nov implied
by them, had, indeed, no existence In
= the hearts OF the people. Our servants,
! during al my carly lifc, were Of the
: neighborhood, generally the daughters of
= respectable farmers and mechanics, aud
I respecting others, were themselves re.
r spected and cherished. They were de-
D voted TO the interests Of the family, and
were always relied upon and treated as
r friends. In health they had the SAINT
food; in sickness the same care as the
| masters and mistresses Of their children.
This seryitude implied no degradation.
s because it did not degrade the heart or
manners Of those subjected TO H. 1t was
never thought Of as repronch 10 man
= or woman, in the staiiors they after
b wards filed, tliat he or She had been out
to service. II serviiude has since be-
= come associated wi,h debasement, it is
j only because servants themselves, under
e the bad guidance Of demagoguee, have
lowered their calling by low feelings and
+ low manners.
At the period Of my earliest recoilsc-
Z tions, men Of all classes were dressed III
loug, broad-iailed coats, with huge pock-
t, els, long waistcoats, and breeches. Hats
= had low crowns, with broad brims-some
J. 50 wide as TO be supported at the sides
= with cords. The stockings Of the par
: son, and few others, were OF silk in
], summer and worsted in winter; those Of
J the people were generally Of wool, and
blue and gray mixed. Women dressed
ii wide bonnets, sometimes Of straw and
2 sometimes Of silk the gowns were Of
e six, muslin, gngham, &c, generally
close and short WASTED, the breast and
2 shoulders being covered by a full muslin
e kercIicE Girls ornamenied themselves
q with large white vandyke. On the
= whole, the dress Of 10th men and woman
n has greatly changed.
7 The amuscments were then much tho
d same IS ai present-though some sirik-
'' ing differences may be noted Books
2 and newspapers, which are now diiiused
even among the country towns, 50 as to
y Be IN the hands Of all, young and old,
% we're then scarce, and we're respectfully,
al and as If they we're grave matters demand
r ing thought and daiientiou. They we're not
30 toys and pastimes, taken up every day,
ig and by everybody, 10 the short intervals
oflabor and then hastily dismissed, Ike
waste paper. The aged sat down VIXEN
- ihey read, and drew forth their specta-
lc eles, and put them deliberately and reve-
e renfally upon the nose. These inatru-
mens were not as nov, ike iortoizesbelI
hooks, attached 70 a ribbon, and put OF
and on with jerk, but they were mado
of silver Or steel, substantially made,
and calculated to hold On with a firm
and steady gasp, showing the gravity Of
the uses to which they were deyoted.--
Goodniehs Recollseiioas.