Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-05-01
MISC + Liza N Y.
SKETCHES OF A VERMONT BOY.

OhElChEo Or n tEhmONl DOI.
Perhaps no State in our Union presents a
landscape of such wild, picturesque beauty as
Vermont. Bordcred on one side by the bright,
sparkling Champlain, and on the other by the
beautiful Connecticut; intersectcd by the long.
grand chain of Green Mountains, whose snowy
peaks are presented in lively contrast with their
verdant sides; watered by numerous rivers and
brooks, and dotted over by nnumerable silver
lakelets, Vermont spreads out before the eye of
man one of the most lovely pages of Natures
great book No wonder that her sons have
read it, and become statesmen, orators, and po-
cts
More than half century ago rcsolutc pio-
neer shouldered his axe and took possession of
one of those fertile valleys which are watered
by the silver streams from he mountains side
Here he ielled the stately trees-broke up the
unturned soil with wooden pillow built bis
Lighthouse and planted his corn; and here was
our Vermont boy born and bred.
This man was hardy son of New England ;
an honest farmer who earned his bread by the
sweat of his brow, and whose toil-hardened hand
was ever ready to give the grasp of welcome to
the homeless and the wanderer, no matter how
humble his abode; no matter how scantv his
fare, his house was never too full to hold one
more, and his last loaf never too small to be di-
vided with the needy Such was the example
81 OeneVolence and brotlerv love set for the
imitation of our hero; and well did he learn the
lesson and profit by it. Who would not be
proud of such parentageo
But Vermont wears at this day very differ
ent aspect from what it did at the time when our
sketch commences. Though in many parts there
are visible traces of its prmeyal roughness it is
fast beginning to assume the appearance of our
more densely populated New England States
Good, substantial tarm-houses cover her valleys
and river banks; churches rear their lofty spires
in close proximity to her towering mountain
peaks; school-houses and academies peep out
from among her green hills and the hymn of
peace and plenty goes up from every cot. Ev-
erythlhg speaks OF the energy, industry, moral
ity, and indomtable perseverance of its inhabi-
tants
Vermont farmers ought to be the happiest
class Of people in the world With their hocks
and herds, their fine grazing lands their fields
OF grain, their rich cheese and golden butter,
their fruits, berries, and cream their stately SUI
gar orchards and dense forests, they can at any
time set before their guests feast fit for the
palate of an Eastern monarch.
How do you suppose Vermont bov look ed
fifty years ago? Not like the modern dandy
made up of linen, buckram, and broadcloth not
pale as plant grown in the shade, and feeble
as fashionable boarding-school miss. No, he
was stout, round-faced rcd-cheeked, chubby
fellow, with u skin somewhat bronzed bv wind
and sun, a clear, sparkling eye, bold, manly
generous bearing, and great warm heart and
we are happy to say that these noble traits OF
characterize the Vermont boys of to-day.
Dressed in his warm, home-spun clothes, man
ufactured by his mother and sisters from the
fleeces OF his fathers flock, he was ready to en-
dure toll, and mantnlly grapple with the cold
long winters OF that almost polar climate. I'm
agine him, if you please, clad in coarse sheep.
gray pants and round jacket, a parti-colored cap
III the form Of an inverted sugar-loaf, with a tas-
sci on the top, securely tied under his chin his
hands well envclopcd in pair of long -wrstcd,
wool-dressed, sheepskin mittens; thick shoes
upon his feet, which are well protected from the
snow and cold by long wooden leggins, firmly
fastened under the feet with leathern strings and
you have the complete uniform of Vermont
school boy fifty years ago.
Up in the morning before the dawn, and into
his fathers barn, milking cows, feeding horses
or at the huge kitchen wood-pile, Justify swing
ing the axe, no wonder he ate his breakfast with
keen relish, and knew nothing of dyspepsia
save the name. Next, we see him on his wa,
to school, running, jumping, or coasting upoi
his sled
And here it may not be amiss to take peer
at the school-houses of that dav. These were
often built of logs, hewn down at the ends, sc
as to lie in some sort of convenient proximit,
to each other, and where anumuly crooked stick
maze 100 large an opening, piece of bark wa,
skllliuily fitted to the cavity; the crevices were
then plastered over with mud mortar. One end
OF the ediiice was set apart for the door and fire
place The chimney was built with large stones
and when these could not be easily obtained
formed OF sticks, laid up cob house fashion, ant
plastered on the inside with mud; not unfre
quently these chimneys used to take fire. Their,
was a hearth some six by eight feet square, com
posed OF large Hat stones, in front of the fire
place, which made all safe in the vicinity of TIM
chimney. common sized man could. with hi
nat oil, walk quite comfortably into the fire
place, and, If he chose take peep through tn
sooty telescope into the heavens.
row OF writing desks, long, heavy, oake,
penehes' were elevated step above the floor
ahd lnclosed the room on three sides thes
We're occupied by the larger boys and girls. II
front OF these benches We're plank seats for III,
primary department, and twas no small advance
ment Tor Juvenile TO get promoted from IN,
low seat to the "high seat" where his toe
could not touch the loor
On one side of the big omen fire. nloce s+oo,
an old-tashioned cross-legged table, and
straight, hiigh-backed kitchen chair, for the nc
commo iation of the teacher.
Ohoppihg wood at the school-house doc
formed no small part of the BOYS exercise
ms was done in turn, and with right good
Will. The people Of the district used to ,o int,
the forests, fell trees, "snake" them up on sled,
and drags, unload them at the school-house anf
thus they were left at the mercy of the boys.~
Now general onslaught commenced the tree,
were speedily decapitated, and soon, from yar
Gus amputations, became completely limblcss
nothing but the bare trunk being left. Thi,
was cut into lengths of four feet, and reserved
for back-logs, the smaller sticks occupying tn,
more prominent and enyiable place of fore
sticks intermediate, came the brush, chips, AND
crooked sticks of all sorts, and thus most glo.
riOus fire WIS kent hurning ON tho altnr af %;