Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-25

A'J h"tHNA "NA "a AihHA VI 0AHiAa lu
her house, about forty years ago, that She
was very proud Of, said grandma.
"Was there a carpet aud golden rods on
her stairs 2 asked Nellie "and was there
a wide ball, with front door at each oud
[ like ours2"
"Oh dear no Instead Of a ball was q
narrow, dark entry, and the stairs that led
up chamber were steep, and would round
the big chimney; but did not mean those.
meant seven little girls The oldest had
just stepped into her teens when the young.
est was able TO stand alone and when COM
pany came, mother would place US an in a
row, from the tallest down aud there was
just one step between
o" 4 very handsome flight Of stairs,
ma'am," the company would say, very
handsome indeed
We'll, how do you suppose SO many
lively little stairs managed TO be clothed,
and fed, and amused, and instructed? for
our parents were not rich people By any
means. Yet we always had everything we
wanted, because we never wanted anything
We could not have; and ihero is great
deal in that, 30 advise you all to remem.
Der il. We had two new dresses in a year
"a calico in the spring, aud a wooden one
in the fall The calico dress and sun.bon.
net that we had worn through The week
were washed, starehed and ironed on Sat
urday afternoon, when we were home from
school, TO be fresh for Sunday"
"What did You wear while your dress
was drying inquired Nellie, who was al
ways asking questions,
"A petticoat and apron suihced us," said
graulma. We generally took that time
to go up garet ana dress up in long dress
es.'
"Jast as Ike to 90 now whispered
Nell
ave lived in valley, continued grand
ma, "aud fathers farm was in the valley
the hills rose high and abrupt on either
side of u.s. A merry, noisy brook ran past
our door, which each Of US, think, took
our turn 10 falling into. A log bridge was
thrown across it, where the hay Wagons
passed, and a winding path led IN and out
among the rocks and eyorgrcens- which af.
forded Us delightful place to play. Ber-
ries Of all kinds grew on the hillsides and
TO gather those was eager fun; and just
the fact Of living in new world, where
something strange and charming was 10.
folded every day, was pleasure enough for
seven healthy, merry little girls like Us.
Then, too, we had work, helping father,
which we called play; riding horse
to plow, going after the cows, picking up
apples and potatoes, and grnndest Of all.
loading bay aud riding on the totiering
mass into the barn.
"Did you ike to 60 to school ?' asked
Nellie, thinking what trial that was to her.
Oh yes, always We used to carry
our lunch in a big dinner pail, aud spread
it on a messy table under the hemlocks, be.
side the same brook that, little farther on,
passed our door. Our teacher had very
pleasant way of rewarding the girl who had
stood the highest during the week, by in.
viting her home with her to spend the Sab.
bath. That was a rare treat, and romcm-
Der, when il came 10y turn, with what de-
light clambered upon the horse behind
her on Saturday noon, aud took the seat Of
honor, while | knew the other girls looked
on with envy. The horse was used to car
rying double, so he cantered along home
ward quite contcntedly. The next day
wen to church aud Sunday school for the
drst time in my life, our meetings at home
having always been held in the school house
| m lte elaborate preparations that morn
ing ! braided my yellow hair up very
tightly, and tied it behind with new scar
let ribbons carefully laced my morocco
shoes, aud polished them with my handker
chief. | scrubbed my face and hands till
they shone, and, to crown all, Miss Alen
crimped the stiff rufile on my pink sun-bor-
net between her thumb and finger till il
stood out quite perfect. The church was 9
great, square, barn.like structure, with two
rows of windows, through which the sun
glared, unhindered by curtain or blind"
Did you use to 60 to school in the
winter ?" asked Nellie.
" Yes, when the drifts we're not over our
heads. Our mother used to dress US W
very warmly, She spun and woye us dresses
and cloaks Of wool from our own sheepr
backs. Our aprons were also flannel, made
of one straight piece, with holes to put the
arms through, and string run in for a tie
round the neck
" My mother would not let me wear
such looking apron as that p said Nellie.
BLESS your heart, child what would
your mother do with seven little girls to
rulile and bedeck as she does you2 1t is
great pity that the simple dress of old times
has gone by. 1t would be such a saving
Of time money and temper and you would
be just as happy, if every one did so. We
would never have dared to wear cotton
clothing in winter lest spark from the
huge, roaring freplaces-both at home and
school-shoud fall on us and set us on fire
Wooden, you know, will not burn readily.
| think you would have liked the caps we
wore--something like your skating-caps,
only they came down over the ears. They
were made of scarlet flannel, quilted and
trimmed round the edge with gaily-speckl led
turkey feathers Father used to bring a
shoemaker to the house every fall to make
our winter shoes, from leather be had pre-.
pared and tanned himself. This used to be
an interesting time for us girls, who watch.
ed with curiosity the cutting, fitting, aud
peggng Of each little pair. When they
were done, even to the leather strings and
tongues, and set in row in the corner,
graded down from the biggest to the least,
we would view them with much admira.
lion."
"0ne winter there was a great rejoicing
in our house--a boy baby came. What
fuss everybody made aud how proud faith
er was You should have seen him He
held up his head when he marched into
meeting at the head of his line Of seven
little girls the next Sunday And that
brother-how We used to love to say the
word became great pet and lion among
US when he grew big enough to play with
and | do believe if he hadn't been such a
remarkably good boy naturally, he would