Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-11-01

after our marriage, he began to talk of a
| FARM and the independence of farmer 5
life. | readily became imhued with his
fances; although having always lived in
the city, | knew as much about IT as {
did the jungl.s of India, but l knew
OF course, If he liked a farm, shoui /,
certainly. And we talked and dreamed
until ] had almost persuaded him to g.
aud claim a homestead ~ on the west
srp plains when uncle Ralph wrote. to ak
if we would c.ne and ia e his farm the
one George had helpeI to till 70: nearly
eight years while he and aunt visited
and rested among Their married daugh-
ters-a relaxttron that she very much
needed, he SAID. He generously placed
the use Of the firm, alrea ly stocked as it
was, at my husbands disposal for year,
to make whatever he could, and retain the
proceeds.
George was grateful, hut was juhi-
liant. A whole year to be happy N! 3
sldes. we ought to lay by enough in thar
tune to purchase d less expensive farm.
Arriving at the really grand old place
nv Joy knew 40 bounds. The next day
auuJ TOOK me around and showed ne a
her stores and bade me enjoy them Tneu
sac took me to the DAIRY room. and ex
paJned all that she thought necessary
here. Aud the last place ot all was the
a n hin.
:. You will want good, stout girl, Mar
garef,' she said. peeping at my hundred
poan wegnt over her glasses.
" N)t at fist, thins, aunty. cam
to work"
She smiled, and it told a4 much as NV
nUsban Is uubeIievjng whistle. She too
shall see what [ eau d., | told myself
very proud lly Anl now my life, as a
farmers W fe, began. But two cows CAV
mix az yet, AMI { m .naged with George
help to take care of that.
He did the fist churn'ng, aud then
stood and teased me, as tried to max
the butter take the form of roll, pat. o
IN fact anything but a mass of yelo~'s.
foam that stucS to the howl, IadIe ann
everything else it was allowed to touch
[ have seen aunt put hot water in.
think, George said, beginning to feei
somewhat puzz ed a. vel as myself
r.ager to learn, [ tried turning it d.
rectIy on the butter THIS only made mat
rers worse. The mass absolutely turnet
white at the indgpity. | next exper-
mented II a shal oE earthen vessel and
il spoon. These worked a little better.
AMI [ had fashioned it into something Ike
a presentable shape when n trying e
turu of the last ounce of huttermrlS. j.
= pped from the dish INTO the slop bucl E,
and my first churnng was finished.
~ lkinE. Aunt ha said there was ahuni
Iuce OF ashes to make up all the grease.
have made ley AMI cefnSed it ali, -,
sou VIII be spared that trouble, and ther,
: the kettle belonging to the arch to max,
lt IN.
3 much gained, I thought Aud on,
day when George and the h,red man wer-
away, AMI would not be home to dinner.
began my work FIRST. | made a FIRE a.
tnc arch under the kettle, then put in my
grease, and when 1t was melted, f led up
the kettle with ashes. But somehow IL
would not come to soap, cook It as would
lu3w wa- TO know that water should
have been put on the ashes | certalnl,
d i KNOW that water and grease would nor
mxI Finally the grease took fire.
can not say to this day what saved tn,
building, for [ had a prod g'ous bonfrr
and was myself consi eraby burned. Aud
thus ended nv soap-making.
| was suffering good deal. but tn
hungry men must have some supper
Toward night l gathered up what l hal
cooke ed, and then went TO the barn to f ,l
some eggs TO boil as easiest for my burn
hands. | had no trouble in findlng a nes
but the hen was on, and obstlnately re-
fused to leave rot the eggs, however
and lett the foolish old thing N an empty
nest Ny hands palned me so severed,
that George had To superintend the cooA-
NJ of the eggs.
" Are theY fresh, Margaret ,"
Quite 50. gathered them myself thi>
afternoon
Toey were soon ready, and the first on
broken displayed fnlI grown chicken.
Why, Margaret, where did you ind
them
81 In the tanning mill. And the miser
able old hen pecked aud scolded, and wa
Determined not to give them up"
" And no wonder. They are some egg
of fancy fowls. that aunt bought at .
fabulous price, and charged me to be so
particular about them. She would hav
been glad to have raised one pair-or eve,
Que bird l thought you knew abou
tnem.
Never, and wish the old hen had he,
eggs, and we were back to the city agaiu!'
aud after this very sensible and womanh
remark, went of to my room to cry wltl
pa Il and homesick ness.
\ few days after, when my hands wert |
quite healed, George proposed that |
should 90 TO a back lot on the farm, wher. /!
there was an abundance of wild straw |
berries. | heSitated d little, for | had a |
mortal terror of snakes.
" Can't you 20 with me, George"
Yes, and show you where they are |
But must not stay"
Il am afraid there are snakes our
there
Nonsense! [ have not seen a snake
since came Aud even if there should |
he, they will be as anxious to run as you
will, l assure you"
But half convinced, [ went. Their,
was goodIy supp Of the delicious fruit.
and after George left me picked quite
;Ontentediy, until, as | changed my pos.
ton, a verltable snake wIggled directly
toward me. With n scream that ought t.
have frightened his snakeship, if 1t did
not, discovered, to my horror that some.
hing was holding me fast by the ankle.
Boa constructors, Rattle.
,nakes | gave frantic Kick auu
reed myself from the basket handle that
lad tripped and held me. My berries
we're spilled, but | was too thoroughly
frightened to stop for any more, and hur.
ned hnmaNard lnnLinc. .l,.nicinnsl.r o. 1 q