Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-03-12
HOW PEOPLE LIVED ONLY y
IENd[R ALTON AGO

Mr.. Goodrich, (Peter Parles) in his 'Re
collections of Iifetime,' thus depicts the
lie of his youth liz New England:
'sMoney was scarce, wages being about
fifty cents day, though these were gener-
ally paid in meat, vegetables. and other ar
ticles of use-seldom in money. There
was not factory of any kind in the place.
There was a butcher, but he only went from
house to house to slaughter cattle and swine
of his neighbors: there was tanner, but he
only dressed other peoples skins: there was
a clothier, but he generally fuiled and dress
ed other peoples cloth. x
Even dyeing blue portion of the wool, so Us
to make insey-woolsey for short gowns, u
prons, and bue-mixed stocking vital neces-
sites in those days-was domestic opera
ton. During the autumn, a dye tub in the
chimney corner-thus placed to be
cherished by the genial heat-was as ia
miliar in all thrifty houses rs the Bible or
the backlog. 1t was covered with board,
and cosy seat in the wde-mouthed fire.
place, especially of chill evening. y
Our bread was of rye, tinged with lndan
meal Wheat bread was reserved for the
sacrament and company.
A u the vegetables came frorn our garden and
farms. The fuel was supplied by our own
ood.s--sweet-scented hickory, snappiug
chestnut, odoriferous oak and reeking ,fzzling
ash. Sugar was
partially supplied by our maple trees. These
were tapped in March, the sap being col
lected and boiled down in the woods. This
was wholly domestic operation, and one in
which all the children rejoiced.
Rum was largely consumed, but our distil-
Ieries had scarcely begun. half pint of
it was given, as a matter of course, to every
day laborer, more particularly in the sum-
mer season. In all families, rich and poor,
it was offered to maze visiters as an essen
tial to hospitality, or even good manners
Women--I beg PardUn-ladies, to their
sehnapps, then med "Hopkln's Elixir,
which wasthe most delicious and seductive
means of getting tipsy that has been lnven-
ted. Crying babies were 81 fenced with hot
toddy, then esteemed an infalh ble remedy for
wind on the stomach. Every man lmoloec
his morning dram, and this was esteemed
temperance. There is a story Of preach
er about those days, who thus le.:tured his
parish: 4 say nothing, my beloved brethren
against taking little btters before break
fast and after breakfast, especially if You are
used TO it. What I contend against is this
drammfng, dramming, dramming. at all hour
of the day."
we raised our own fax, rotted it, hackl,'
il. dressed it, and spun it. The little W heel
turned by the foot, had its place, and wa'
as familiar as if j. had beed one of the fam
81 x X
The wool was also spun in the family, pan
} tally by my sisters, and partially by Mol
: ly Gregory, daughter of our neighbor, the
town carpenter. / remember her well, al
r she sung and spun, aloft in the attic. II
, those days church singing was one OF the
r fine arts--the only one, indeed, which iiour
/; ished in Ridgefield, except the drum and flie
: The choir was divided into four parts, rang
n ed on three sides of the meeting house gal
$ lery.
(; Twice year, that is, in the spring an
d autumn, the tailor came to the house and ia
is bricated the semi-annual stock OF clothes fe
e the male members--this being called whiI
n pinp the cat. Mantua-makers and mlliinel
n came i'll their turn, to fit out the iemal
is mdmbers of the family. There was sim
ID lar process as to boots and shoes.
I'd A. the period Of my earliest recoiieetio