Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-03-19

10 the prisoner and his perjured associates,l
with which she spoke was like revelation
from God himself,
HOW PEOPLE LIVED A GENERA
TION AGO.
Mr.. Goodrich, (Poter Parley) in his .'Rec-
oIlections Of Lfetime." thus depicts the life
of his youth in New England:
ssMoney was scarce, wages being about so
cents day, these we're generally paid in meal,
vegetables, and other articles of use--seldom
in money. There was not factory Of any
kind IN the place. There was butcher, but
he only went from house 10 house TO slaughter
the cattle and swine of his neighbors:. there
was tanner, but he only dressed othdf peo-
ple's skins; there was elothier, but he gene
rally fuled and dressed other peoples cloth.
Even dying blue portion of the wool, so as
to make lnsey woolsey for short gowns, aprons
and blue mixed stockings-vital necessities in
those days, was u domestic operation. Dur
ing the autumn dye tub in the chimney cor
her--thus placed so as to be cherished by the
geuial heat--was as familiar in all thrifty
houses as the Bible or tic back log 1t was
covered with board, and cosy seat in the
de-mouthed fire place, especially of chill
evening.
Our bread was of rye, Urged with Indian
meal. Wheat bread was reserved for the sac
rament aud company.
! all the vegetables eams from our garden and
farm. The fuel was supplied by our own
woods--sweet-scented hickory, swapping chest
nut, odoriferous oak and reeking, izzling ash
Sugar was partially
supplied by our maple trees. These we're tap
ped in March, the sap being collected and boii-
/ ed down iu the woods. This was wholly do
children relolced.
Rum was largely consumed, but our d;stille-
/ ries had scarcely begun. A half pint Of it
/ was given, as matter Of course, 70 every day
labofer, more particularly III the sumner seas
on ln all families, rich aud poor, it was or
4 fered 10 male visitors as an essential to hospi-
/ tality, or sven good taNflnerss Wo1ie1-4Is sasrs
4 paIdon-iadies, took their sehnapps, then cal
led Hopkins Elixir which was the most de-
licious aud seductive means OF getting tipsy
that has been invented. Crying babies were
senced with hot toddy, then esteemed an in
faliibe remedy for wind on the stomach. Ev-
cry man imbibed his morning dram, and this
was esteemed temperance. There is story of
preacher about those days, who thus ectured
his parish:-'I say nothing, my beloved breth-
ren, against taking little bitters before
breakfast, especially if you are used to It,
What | contend against is this drammng,
dramming, dramming, at all hours of the day
We raised our own fax, rotted it, hackled It,
dressed it and spun it, The little wheel, turn
ed by the foot, had its place, and was as fa-
hiiliar as if il had been one of the family. -
The wool was also spun in the family, partialiy
by my sisters, and partially By Molly Gregory,
daughter of our noighbor, the town carpenter.
remember her well, as she sung and spun,
aloft in the attic. In those days church sing,
ing was one OF the fine arts--the only one, iu-
deed, which fourished in Rdgefeld, except
the music of the drum and fse. The choir
was divided into four parts, ranging on three
sides Of the meeting house gallery.
Twice year, that is, in the spring ana au-
tumn, the tailor came to the house and fabrica:
ted the semi-annual stock of clothes for the
male memberships being called whipping the
cat. Mautua makers and milleners came in
their tarn, to tit out the female members OF
the family. There was similar process as to
boots and shoes.
''Atthe period of my earliest recollection,
men of all classes were dressed in long broad
tailed coats with huge pockets, long waist
coats aud breeches. Low crowned hats with
broad rims-seme so wide as to be supported
at the sides with cords. The stockings of the
. parson, and few others, were of silk in sum
mer and worsted In winter; those Of the people
were generally OF wool, and of blue and gray
! mixed Women dressed in wide bonnets-
sometimes of straw aud sometimes of silk: the
gowns were Of silk, muslin, gipgham, &c
generally short wasted, the breast aud shoul-
ders being covered BY full muslin kerchef
Girls ornamented themselves with large white
vandyke.
Tavern haunting, especially in the winter
with respectable farmers. Marriages were eel
ebrated in the evening, at the house of the
bride, with general gathering of the neigh
borhood, and usually wound up by dancing.
Everybody went as to public exhibition
without invitation. Funerals generally DIRE
: large professions, which proceeded to u
grave. Here the minister always made an a.
dress suited TO the occasion. If there Us
> anything remarkable IN the history Of tho D.
ceased, it was turned to religious aocounin
the next Sundays sermon. Singing meetiss,
] to practice church music, were great rOrt
! for the young in winter.
Balls at the tayerns were frequented bthe
; young; the children of deacons and mipters
: attended, though the parents did not. The
!. !. winter brought sleigtng. skating, aud thnsu-
! al round of in doorsports."
! The mind of scholars are librsies; thos of