The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-07-10
50 90 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

near enough to be protected. Oh, pil!ion-
riding was pleasant institution! There
was such an idea Of protection on the one
hand and support on the other-such an ac-
knowledgement of mans physical superiori-
ty, and such delight in trusting to it, that
no modern mode Of travelling can equal it.
Our ancestors went to meeting in that
way-the farmer with his wifo behind him
on one Of the old team horses, and the old.
est brother with the sister on the other.
while the little boys and gills trudged on
foot, with their Sunday shoes in their hands
to put on when they came in sight of tho
meeting house. The right arm Of the old
dame steadied her as she rode, by her grasp
on her husbands coat, while the left held q
bunch Of dillor fennel to keep her awake in
meeting. The small Bible and hymn hook
were in her husbands capacious pocket, or
in her own. The slow progress Of the tired
farm horses that had been laboring all tho
week prevented any disarrangement Of the
folds Of the chintz or the silk dress kept only
for the Sabbath's uses. As they logged
along, the old man would shake his head at
the frolicsome children by the side of the
road, who stopped to chase the goslins into
the ponds, or pick the berries or young win
ter-greens as they passed-the kindest Of
the boys handing up to the eldest sister, who
80 often took care of him, a large bunch Of
that spicy vegetable for her to chew in tho
singers seat. ..-. s.s- .sss.ss,r rIss
This was primitive style. We are richer
now; are we any happier? That was the
day OF hard hands, and bronzed faces, and
honest hearts. There was an integrity of
purpose, and uprightness of feeling and
hrmness OF action in those days. Labor
brought health aud cbeerfulness and compe-
tence. The old man brought up his children
to work, not only as q necessity, but as a
duty and blessing. To fear God and
eschew evil was the blessing he taught them
both, by precept and example. Our ances-
tors may have been severe and stern, but
never morose or cruel. Whatever defects
their religion might have had, they laid tho
foundation Of a national character in New
England, more upright and sober, more law
abiding and God-fearing, than that Of anv
other nation on earth.-Hartford Couranf.
The editor of the old Courant knows Of
what he speaks experimentally beyond aues-
ton, or at least he must have been one Of
the frolicsome children who chased the gos-
Inns. Pillion-ridng was also pleasant in
stitution in the boy-hood Of Ohio, blanket
or bear-skin being the substitute for "the
round stuffed seat attached to the rear of
the saddle for the accommodation of two on
horse back" The Sunday -go-to. meeting
rides through the pathways Of the dense for
est to the log school-house were doubly
enjoyable, to say nothing of the evening re-
turns from singing schools with the girls
on behind, the old folks at home, and tho
owls overhead joking at such coziness. The
woods trained horse would keep the bridle-
path no matter how deep the darkness, the
only serious care required, being to keep
clear of brush of by low limbs, 1.-THE stad-
dies, or stately but leaning trunks. Cross
ing the run or creek was always frolicsome
and sometimes pokerish, especially if the
ford was deep, rosinate, friskv, and the
banks steep. A closer clink became ne
cessity, and ensured greater safety as we'll
as confidence between horse and riders. Of
ten the ford would be crossed tho second
and third time just for the fun of the thing
and to get used to it. If the girls screamed
at the plunge and the splash Of the water
about the ankles, a repeat was certain to
follow, until the loud laugh Of the roguish
fellow would be smothered by the sweetest
hand ever clapped over boisterous mouth.
Ohio pillion- riding had its practical uses
as well as its innocent pleasures. Single
room log cabins furnished bat poor accomo-
dations for old fashioned earnest and honest
counting, and much Of the "sitting up with
the girls" was enjoyed on horse back, or in
delightful oot.tramps arm in arm, going to
and from evening meetings when the circuit
elder came round, singing schools, quiltings,
pairing bees, husking frolics, or in friendly
evening calls on neighbors and young folks ,
though the cabins were separated bv mile
or more of woods. Distance but lent en-.
chantneut, and the longer the ride or walk
the closers the ties and the talks. We know
OF what We write, and if modern fashionable
sparkers think the rustic picture too pleas
ureably eolored, let them ask pioneer fathers
and mothers for a glimpse Of the one most
treasured in their memory.
We thank the Courantf for its pillion gos-
sip. Many who read it will revert with
satisfaction to the "primitive style, brought
to the wilds of the West from New England
to the days of "hard hands and bronzed
faces, and honest hearts," in New Connecti-
eut-when the wife piled and fred the brush
cut BY the husband. and the daughter piled
the hoe with her brother in the luxurians
corn fields.
We stunned not labor; till twas DONE
We wrought with right good will
And for the homes We won for them
Our children bess still.
We lived not hermit lives, but oft
In socia! converse met;
And hras Of love were kindled there,
fha, burn IS warmly yet.
: Oh pleasantly the stream Of life
Pursued tts constant dow;
In the days when we worc Pioneers
Fifty years ago.
,-C1creland Leader.