Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-10-21
Fifty Years Ago.

!
in palace ear. and were just as retired and
rs much at ease rs though We had been tray
cling In our own drawingroom. IL wa.
magnhcently. all in scarlet and
gold. with panels of polished rosewood and
mahogany. and lovely Wilton carpet The
windows were OF French plate-glass. with
and lamberquins all complete. Then
there We're luxurious easy-chaie and sofas
great mirrors. an upright piano, and lunch
tables and card-tables, and every thing one
could devise for comfort. And 1t all seemed
So much like an Arabian Nights tale that
fancied had only to rub one of the silver
plated lamps which hung from the ceiling "a
make a cenii appear who would execute my
bidding. All, it was superb j.
Seems 10 me times have changed little
since | was young" said old uncle Ezekiel.
taking advantage Of the momentary pausc
Miss Geneyramadc. Then people couldn't |
10 scooting about the country in a parlor. |
they had to put up with good many mcon- |
yenicnces, not to say pryations, II they |
wanted to travel. but then guess they took |
lust as much comfort, ON the whole, As they !
do nowadays. At any rate they looked |
enough sight more healthy and wholesome
than the young folks OF this generation do
with their airs and their graces, their folder
OILS and their pinched-looking forms and
faces. Now, when ! was rising one-and-
twenty took a notion that ] should like to
see a little of the world. You see, had al
WAYS stuck close at home, only now and
then going to the nearest village TO muster
or to trade off some apples or butter. 50
spoke to father about it, and he said that
after having and harvesting | might take
the three-year-old colt broke ia the spring
Il 1,4i- tt.at ia
II was called the New state then, and before
they let it into the Union they called it the
Future state. Well this idea suited me
nightly and III warrant ! set more store
bv it than boys nowadays would by trip
TO California There didut much grass
grow under my feet for the next few weeks.
| can tell YOU, and we got our last load OF
grain in uncommon early, so that one morn
ing in September | was all ready 10 start. !
got up early and fed my pony and mother
baked short-cale before the fire and made
good cup OF tea for my breakfasts then
while | was eating she put generous al
lowance Of doughnuts and cheese IN my bag.
and showed me the new cravat and socks
she had got ready for me. Mother was al
ways thoughtful for us, and, besides, she
wanted me 10 make handsome appearance
up country and so she bad a taioress in
the house for a week, making me a suit OF
the pepper-and-salt home-spun which she
had Just taken from the loom. The sun was
rising over the barn when | sprang onto my
pony and waived goodbye TO my mother,
and to the little sister who had crept down
in her night-gown 10 see me start and stood
in the doorway by her side. As | passed
through the village | saw quite a number of
the young men OF my own age stepping to-
wards their barns.with their milk-pails upon
their arms, and they stopped and stared well
to see me setting Off so early in my new
clothes but | enjoyed their surprise too
much to stop and give them any informa-
ton on the subject The air was fresh and
bracng, and was so carried away with the
idea of holiday, that | wanted to whistle
and shout and sing to work off my extra
spirits. Brutus" seemed to feel as keen
as / did, and he cantered along pretty
brislly for the first few miles Then he be
gan to take it a little slower, for the road
was getting tolerably hilly, and by the time
we reached Gainesborough, he was consider
ably tuckered out. | knew by the looks OF
the sun that it was nigh onto noon, so
drew up to the nearest tavern and asked
them to bait him. As for myself, | sat
down under big elm tree that grew in the
yard, and took out my doughnuts and cheese
The long ride had sharpened my appetite a,
well as Brutuss, and ! never relished any
thing better than | did those cakes. Mothe
always did have the name of beinga excel
lent cook, but | thought she had fairly out
done herself that time. After | had eater
all cared for, ! went to the well and dranl
some clear, cold water, right from the bucket
q have always thought should like TO e
back and drink once more from that well
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tasted Just as that did, After that | fel
Just as well satisfied AS though | had bee
IN AN inn and paid out a shilling O
twenty-five cents for dinner, and ! lat
down in the shade for an hour or so till
thought the pony had had good chance I
get rested, then | concluded | might as we
push along, for | meant TO stop that nigh
with my mothers cousin, who lived abou
ten miles further on. As | was putting o
the saddle the tavern-keeper came out.
al wouldn't be too quick about starting
young man. said he, it's going to rain.
80 Reckon you are mistaken there said
"'Guess not replied he. I've lived her
these five and forty years, and Inever hear
the looms scream over the pond and saw tn
clouds hang below the mountain the wa
they do now without our getting rain afor
night
However was sure | could get to m
cousins in time, 50 ! started in spite of hi
warning; but hadn't got more than a ina
ter of two or three miles when it grew s
dark that ] knew had better make for she
ter, and as ! hadn't passed house since
left the tavern, calculated that the be,
thing | could do was to 60 right back Tn
road was down hill all the way, and WASH
long in comprising the distance, but just o
entered the barn the rain came down pow
erfully. The tavern keeper laughed whe
he saw me, and said he was looking for m
back 10 supper.
"sWell, III agree that you are the be'
Judge of the weather. said |, but when
left home didn't lay out TO put up at ta'
crns. and if | could do a little something
pay for my lodging | should be glad to-
"Oh, don't you borrow any trouble abol
that said he won't be hard upon you r
but now | think of it, | have some grain
my barn that needs threshing, and if your
mind 10 try your hand at that a spell We
call it square
. So went TO the barn pretty well please
with my bargain, and, pulling off my Goa
made lively work among the rye that va
spread ont upon the floor. pTided myse
upon being able TO thresh with any man
the country, and my fail buzzed up and dow
the length Of the barn till you would hay
thought there were a dozen fails in the al
| mind how the young fellows who wel
hanging about the tavern came and stared ,
me and made remarks; but laid about n
at such rate that they We're glad TO stan
back out of my way.
81 reckon the landlord didn't lose niue
by his trade that time We had fried pot
toes, cold salt beef, and corn bread for SUI
per, and il was all proper-good, no mistake
The next morning the sun rose clear
bell, and was off again bright and earl
! went right past Cousin lIepzibole's, for
was anxious to get through 10 my uncle
that night. 1t wasn't no great disapIoin
ment 10 me; for, as | said, she was onl
second cousin on my mothers side, an
though had never seen her, ! had alwal
heard that she wasn't the pleasantest an
most eyen-tempered woman in the worl,
If l could have had my choice, | think
should have rather done the threshing an
way.
IL logged along at pretty good pace thi
forenoon, and by twelve O'Clock was prett
well up among the mountains. ! had mo
than half Of my doughnuts and cheese lei
Mother wasn't oneof the kind that scrinp'
In putting up luncheons, and there VI
plenty Of good clover by the road side,
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