Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-17
For the VERMONT FARMER.
WINTER QUARTERS.

Our provisions and clothing are not so
scarce probably, but our deepening SHOWS are
coming to far exceed those at Valley Forge,
for aught we know. There was one winter,
however, (l7s0,) when the deep SHOWS and
consequent suffering of the people and SOL
diers of Massachusetts, far exceeded our cx-
perience in northern Maine. Snow six feet
deep; not team passing in large villages
for six weeks; wood-hauling, church.going
and funerals attended with snow shoes and
hand sleds; and tradition tells Of the four-ox
team with its driver, all frozen to death and
standing together on Roxbury Neck.
But now, with full stores of wood and
forage, we can stay indoors and let the
winds Of Christmas storms whistle, and the
snow pile up in fantastic forms, which we may
either climb over or dig under when the
town teams turn out after the storm.
The experiences of our early fathers here
in Maine whould be more varied than roman.
tic if We we're to recall them; but with be-
coming gratitude for better days, we will let
the hardships of the past be forgotten, unless
It be to look out for the hungry poor, whose
Christmas turkey is too far on the wing
1t is now December Doth, and the Christ
mas storm is making a good beginning. Our
two feet of snow will probably be increased
to three feet when it is over, and perhaps,
more. Then the logging teams, with their
men 100000 in these woods,) will begin to
calculate whether it will pay to continue
work on snow shoes, or not 1t is only a
question of profit or loss, for if the lumber
will pay, the roads will be shovced aud the
work will be done, and we by our comiorta-
Bile fire will take what is rather second.
hand view of camp life.
If in the green wcods," and not in the
81 burnt land" our 10000 men have perhaps
as much enjoyment and far more health than
the same number in other industries of the
country. Accidents from falling trees and
foaming waterfalls in the spring are far more
frequent than necessary, on account of the
reckless daring Of men, but sickness is GER
tanly rare. Warm camps, the best Of food
and hard work are well agreed upon, wheth-
er the pay comes or not. An acceptable
cook or teamster gets from thirty to forty
dollars per month, when an axman gets but
twenty. The one takes care Of the men and
the other of the horses, on which two the
whole thing depends. The rule of work
Q is, that they must all be at their work on tn
first peep Of day, no matter how far from
camp; and as the timber grows scarce in the
later months Of the winter, their work is fire.
quently five miles, and have known nstan,
: ces where for weeks it was eight and ninc
miles away, and in this case the breakfast
must be eaten, and the dinner put up by foul
!, O'Clock. Then it will be eight or nine p. IN
i before they return to camp again. Then i
they have any spare time they will need i
+ to grind broken axes, for generally every
t man makes his own ak handles, and grind
: his AK without intruding upon the hours o
work A good foreman never works. no
= even to look up timber, but he sees Bhel
> the different parties 60 out and when the,
return and if broken sled comes in a
n night he can mend it, or 6nd another Will
y team and teamster are asleep. So much 70
G camp life. The reader may guess how we il
the spring get over six feet of snow, as ou
c horses might some of them learn how to keel
IS the track and if the foregoing will sufic
0 for camp life, we will recount some items 0
home life, while nature is resting aud we to-
- = are luKuriating in thesweets Of summers toll
" sweetened over again it may be, by bravin
|. the winter blast to deal out from the ful
stores of New England homes to all depend
5. ent ones the supply Of their wants, such a
Is faithful industry has gathered with the au
Is tumn harvest
The bees have gathered their own store
70 and paid their tribute, and now only ask I
y, sleep in peace in some quiet retreat ava
,e from the noise of logging life, while all tn
rest will join in being or making merry. Th
lie well fed COW will help the morning coffee
~ the family nag ready for the jingling bell
id and chanticleer from the hsn.roost gives th
H. signal of early morn, and when the wants
house aud barn have all been attended t,
- intellectual entertainments may come
n. place. The apples, and the cider, and Ii
L. butternuts, if provided for by faithful il
IS, dustry, will cheat winter of all its rigor
es turn storms into sunshine, and allow nothir
lis to be cold where the heart is warm.
r.. N. Il. KEEP.
at Dalton, AroOstOOk Co., Me.
For tho VERMONT FARMER.