Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-15
For the VERMONT FARxER.
SPRING-TIME.

If there is one season that has more
pleasures, more joy and gadness, than an
other it is the beautiful spriug.time. Au-
tumn has many and varied pleasures, but.
while we rejoice 10 the rich harvest-6elds, it
is with feeling Of sadness, for all around
speaks Of decay and reminds US Of our
mortality. Not so the spring time, when
all nature is bursting into new and vigorous
life. Every object in nature upon which
the eye rests seems to say, coward in the
new liie."
The fields, so long wrapped in their snowy
mantle, come to view, looking brown aud
sombre, but how soon the tiny blades Of
grass, aud the humble wild flowers spring up,
and the earth is covered with carpet that
surpasses the most costly fabric of the
weaver's loom - The trees, with their
swelling buds for leaf and blossom, change
rapidly from bare branches to a mass Of
beauty, wealth Of verdure, that is crown
aud glory to the landscape. The wind
leaves its cold chill in some Northern CLINE,
aud comes waited over New Euglands hills
and valleys, soft and balmy, laden with
sweet fragrance from tree aud flower, and
imparting new life and vitality to every liv-
ing creature. Beautiful Spring Welcome,
thrice welcome, with thy birds, thy buds
and flowers. But, while we admire thy
beauty, we realize that spring is a time Of
labor, for we are assured that he that will
not SOW shall not reap.
The thrifty farmer rises with the sun,
and after doing the "chores" hastens TO the
field with his patient oxen or sturdy horses,
where the plow aud harrow are diligently
used as the occasion may require. Or, per-
haps the laborious task of "drawing manure
is being performed aud while We almost
wonder he is not disguised with it, 80 filthy
does it seem, he merrily whistles some favor
ite air, and wishes there was "heaps upon
heaps" more, to enrich his land aud add 10
the income oil his farm. But the hurry and
hustle of "seed-tims" is soon past, and the
tender blades shoot up from the mellow soil
and commence their onward march towards
maturity.
And now, having taken "birds-eye view"
Of farm labor in spring, lot us peep indoors
and take notes in that department. As we
step over the threshold, our first thought is,
confusion aud hubbub. House cleaning and
repair is the order Of the day. Curtains,
carpets, rugs, and all movable articles have
started out, aud soap, sand and water with
u liberal amount of "elbow grease" is being
lavishly applied. With some, paint. paper
and whiteWash are added to the list Of
0pring-tims labor for he household. These
although not pleasures, are real, substantial
benefits and the improved appearance Of
our homes amply compensates for the triaine
annoyance, and busy hands soon bring "or,
der out of chaos" House cleaning over
and things nicely set to rights, the next, il
not done before, is to make and repair
clothes for summer wear. The littls folk,
must be "rigged" for school, and VIII lie some
thing cool and comfortable should be select
cd, strength and durability should be cou
sidered. What is more perplexing to the
mother that has toiIed early and late to go
children ready for school, than to have theu
the first day come home with their clOthe
in shreds2 Children must frOliO aud play
1t isl part of their existence. 80 drss
them in good, stout clothes, and let then
climb fences, and rOmP to their hearts 60 n