Middletown transcript., 1869-12-18

Now dimly dawn the dark December days,
Dark but not dismal cheeriest of the year.
The summer grain secured, the velvet peach
Charmed in its turn, and ere the last was plucked
The purpling grape, and ruddy apple claimed
Our joyful care; while in the wide spread fields
The golden corn grew harder day by day,
Quick faded then the broad green blades thatwav'd
Through summers heat like leaves of forest tall,
And as the woods grew gorgeous, all the work
OF later fall was done. Day after day
The patient oxen toiled from barn to field
Thence to the barn again with heavy loads
of yellow ears. The evening air was filled
With strange wild melody as scattered groups
Of "darkies'' homeward bound from daily toll
Answered each other in their husking song.
The fodder stacked or on, the sheltering sheds
Securely placed; while from the brilliant woods
Came joyous shouts, as chestnut burrs fell thick,
Or heavier walnuts, each with sonorouR thump
Betrayed the boy above. So autumn passed.
Slant, and more slanting fell the noontide rays
And failed TO heat The biting frost came fast,
And faster dropped the leaves, as whistlng winds
No longer fragrant with the summer blooms
Shook their frail stems The year last work isdone
But stay; what hustle fills the farmhouse now2
See pots and boilers vast great tubs prepared
The grindstone, whirlng, sharpens knives anew
The cold, dark evening shutting quickly in
Wells curious work, for heavy stones are piled
And near them logs and two crCtched posts uphold
A massive pole. Now quickly men roll up
With tub on tub Of water. Supper now,
And soon to bed, and not too soon for ere
The dimmest star has paled a ruddy light
Springs toward the sky; the household is astir.
Now ringing laugh shout proclaim the approach
Of neighboring helpers, while the frosty ground
Cracks meath their hasty tread. The dawn comes
on.
The water heated by the kissing stones
Steams like a witchs cauldron. Now the work
For which these preparations, will begin.
See yonder pen, well shielded and arranged
Where for long weeks the Chester Whites
have grown
And growing, thrived, and thriving fattened too,
Till, proportions vast their slender legs
Scarce bear their ponderous weight. They stag
ger up
When food is brought, and tottering sway along
Their massive frames with infinite toll and pain,
And with choking grunt sink TO repoBe again.
These are the victims. AS the sky grows bright
And life awakens one is slowly led,
Making but poor resistance, to his doom,
sudden squeal, smothered groan is all
To tell the story of an ended life
Accomplishing by that one act the end
For which it was designed. The carcase vast
Is scaded well, and soon the scrapers knives
Scatter the bristles round the gallows now
Receives it, and as bright the sun appears
The call to breakfast comes is quick oheyed,
And then the work goes on. The kitchen too
Presents an active scene; the household work
Is hurried through, or laid entirely by
As OF small moment on day like this.
withered crone is here, who ne'er has failed
To give her aid these forty long, long years;
generation gone, and still she comes
| To the young masters home. Nor useless she
Though age has dimmed her eye and sorely
dulled
Her once sharp ear; the little she can db
| Is valued still; and as each year may be
| Her last with us, we tenderly regard
Tub after tub well filled,
| But odorous not of " Araby the blest,"
Is brought and emptied hurrying hands are there
Doing unpleasant work ere evening comes
The worst is done, and merrily 60 forth
! The kitchen force, to watch the varying weights
OF monster swine; and then with Joke and gibe
Each tests their own increase or loss of size.
And jest and laugh ring out. The day Is done,
Morn brings new work betimes the master goes
And from monster cuts the juicicst rib
To grace the breakfast; honored custom this,
Long may it last Now tables spread are piled
| BY slow degrees with sausage meat, and fat.
| To TRY" for lard. Soon pots and boilers steam
And jars and frkins stand prepared to hold
| The clear, transparent fluid while within
The vauted, cellar, slabs and blocks of meat
Are packed in barrels to await the brine
Now bring the pepper, salt, and sage,
The sausage meat will all engage;
One turns the cutter, others feed,
Some mix, tbs merry work indeed.
See here's tub full, but too coarse,
Twill never do; we must perforce
Run through again, and then we'll fry
A scrap the seasoning to try.
Now Betsey stands with twinklng eyes
g Its right, just right" she eager cries,
We taste assent and quickly bring
The stuffer TO the expectant ring,
Into the tub great ropes of sausage fall
With savory promise of feast for all.
My poem grows too long. fain would tell
How hogshead cheese, and souse, and scrappl
blend,
Their spicy odors with the roasting chine,
Or toothsome spare-rib; but must pass them by
, One thing remains to tell the kitchen cleaned
Pots, kettles, tubs in place, the work is done
But once again we gather round the stove
To fry the doughnuts while the fresh, sweet lar
Is heating fast, we roll the soft, light dough,
g And cut in various shapes then quickly drop
And soon the laugh goes round, as stubbor
things,
, They putting up, resist the turning fork,
Or from the dripping pan " "doll-cakes'' take
And rolled in sugar for the masters tooth.
= So ends the heavy work, for work it is
Though lghtened by the joke, and Jest and laugl
!, And bringing good results; may all who read
Know these at least not from my humble rhyn
But from experience, and they II surely Join
With me in saying that her teachings best
q Port Penn, Dec. 1869. FAITH.