Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-07-15
Summer Living in Tents.

Augusta Moore, writing to the \. Y.
Erening Post, from Chelsea, Vt, says:
1t is matter of astonishment that in
country like ours, with scenes of such un-
speakable beauty within one or two hun
dred miles of our teeming cities, SO little
use should be made of tents rs summer
dwellings for families. Every family in
comfortable circumstances should own one
and use it too, in July and August. 1t
would pay lis whole cost in one year by
the health and pleasure it would afford the
children and their parents. Father and
mother need not te in hurry once all
those weeks of tent life. Rest, refresh
ment; refreshment, rest-;l their sweet
employ-this is the life of tent dwellers
on the Islands in Lake Genesec. But
such noted places are not best for people
Of small means.
| wish | could see the New England
hills dotted with tents from its cities, and
its woods and waters alive with city chill
dren, growing wild and stout and tanned
and freckled and hapy like these sturdy
country children. What cruel sin and
shame it is to keep children quiet and clean
and shut up all the year round in the
strong city. Were | father and mother of
a family I'd have tent if / didn't have a
parlor. and my children should have Il six
or eight weeks frolic by the waters and in
the woods, if | never had silk dress, or II
broadcloth coat But this delightful rus
ticating could be managed so as 10 cost no
more than staying at home all summer
would cost.
OF course gumption and prudence
are required for such an enterprise as well
as for all things else. Shiftlessness =
can mismanage anything. Good judg-
ment is needed even in saving wood. Its
Just as hard work to saw it SO that one
stick is too long to 60 into the stove. and
the other too short for anything, as to saw
it in the middle. But many a man lacks
the sense to make both sides right. Peo-
pie of this sort had better stay where they
are, if they can. If they change the
place they'll keep the plan.
We took a ride the other day about the
hills and wales of Chelsea, Vermont. We
found many beautiful camping-out places
We found a farmhouse on a mountain-top
The prospect was grand and inspiring
Hundreds of peaks arose all round the
horizon-some bleak and rocky, but most
heavily wooded, and greenest green
Snow Law on them We gathered and ate
some. 1t was refreshing. We beset the
pleasant-faced woman who came out to
talk with lis to take us to board; but she
was the only, with Il house full Of men,
and had too much work to do already. !
know she would have been glad to have a
tent-full of nice people near her. She
looked exactly as though she would do all
she could to supply their wants. On an
other high hilltop we found another farm
house. This man had wintered twenty
head of cattle, four horses, and sheep-I
forget how many; milk, butter and meat,
YOU see, and horses for hire, all in plenty,
right there l wanted to pitch my tent at
once. But for many reasons it was not
worth while. So contented myself with
board in the green cup of a valley which
contains Chelsea village.
Chelsea village is very pleasant. Two
streams run through it, making the place
cooler than many similar valley settle
ments. The surrounding hills are green
to their very tops, and SO near that it is
sunset down here long while before it is
on the high land. Thus we have very
long cool evening, however hot may be
the day. The walks and roads about
town are delightful. In fact, the whole
place, with its bird songs and constant
sound of water, is to me more like a
charming dream than like reality.
Idon't know how willing people here
are to take boarders. think some could
be accommodated. The prices are from
three to five dollars week. Do not write
to me, but to the postmaster, if to any one
here; am but stranger in the place.