Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-05

not alter the matter, for their individual
spirit, being Of the same kind, runs together
and calls for more Of the element. So the
collecting together and observing of animals
is rich source Of delight to the boy who
has opportunities for SO doing.
In long, low passage of one of the afOre-
said line of barns, l had collected fine
assortment of those spry little animals which
Ovcrrun the fields 10 summer, and whose
swift escaping forms, whenever tumble "
Of hay is disturbed, provoke even the stoical
laborers to a destructive chase. And not
only these had secured, but birds Of va.
rious kinds, squirrels, (of course,) and sundry
wild cats, caught at distant group Of barns,
where they subsisted upon strangling chicken s,
which food, however, served as irst-course,
to introduce to the felines the SAVIOR Of hams
and steaks, hanging temptingly in the cellar
Of the house, to which cellar they often made
nightly excursions.
Birds l found difficult to keep. Some
would weaken and die; some would, on the
other hand, use their powers Of existence so
determinedly, that secure them as would,
they did invariably find some way of escape.
Especially was this the case with some
young woodpeckers, which l had captured
(not, however. without some hard hits from
their powerful bills.) l had provided for
them wooden box, Slated with strips about
an inch thick. In this hoped to keep them
in complete imprisonment. But, alas the
short-sightedness of boyhood When next
went to look at my prisoners, was surpris-
ed at seeing two of the thick wooden bars
wh ich constituted the front of my cage, COM
pletely worn away by some powerful agency
within. l leave you to conjecture what that
agency was. My birds were gone.
System had some influence with me as to
the classification of my small companions. l
had my especial tame ones for petting, my
very widest for annoying, (which desire
forms large part of boy nature) then
had, set apart from all the rest, my EARN
CATTLE" from which L had much opposition
as to doing certain acts initiative of farming,
though on a much smaller scale. The great
mass, however, Of my live possessions, con-
sisting of some odd hundreds, kept merely
for show. With these l had little to do,
save the feeding. To look at so many liv-
ing things, all together, is peculiarly inter.
esting. Fights were very common, and it
afforded me great delight to watch them.
But of all pleasant memories connected
with the barns, that Of real work done in
them is the most pleasant There was the
tool chest and work bench, free to my de.
structive ingenuity, which always stood ready
for rainy day, in its place by the open
door of the horse-barn. How delightful it
was to hear the falling of the cool rain out.
side, making sort Of accompaniment to my
saws grating or hammers blows Though
l cannot boast of any real accomplishment
of design in the carpenteriug line, yet 1 think
Of it all as work, because it afforded scope
for thought and planning, success, and dis.
couragement, which leads to the stronger ef.
forts for success again, aud is, therefore, oI
good influence.
Real work it was, though, to assist in the
disposition of hay and grain in their right
places on the mighty lofts. With a shor,
pltchfork, 50 that it might not knock against
the root when the NOW grew to within few
feet of its limit, twas no pretended labor t
lay neatly away in the corners the mighty
bundles cast up by mems strong arms; while
the closeness, heat and dust were nearly in.
supportable. When the load had all beer
pitched of, how gratifying to ones selfcom'
placency it was to come down off the lott
reeking with sweat, aud march with the
thirsty throng to the we'll 1t made ont
feel vastly superior to those other juveniles
who, because they were not absolutely com
PEELED so to do, shrunk from the idea of &C
tive work, and lounged aside in lazy compla-
cency.
Those hours of rest and thought in thC
barns, on the fragrant and soft hay, how
love to recall them Perchance, with somt
good book, on Sunday afternoon, led to th,
desire Of repose by that delicious feeling o.
relaxation, SO incident upon a hearty dinner
(which kind | always eat) with the cool ali
crowding welcome in at the cracks between
the boards, and that drowsy hum outside o
heated nature, by its oneness of tone, serv
ing to increase the sense of apathy,-all thi
have | experienced aud learned to love, eve
through tho du!ling medium Of separation
aud unkiDdred present scenes.
The two most exciting and universal barr
games are egg.huutiug, and jumping iron
the beams. remember we'll the kind OF en-
thuSasm which filed my mind, wheneve
the wild, trumpet.like sound of self.satis
fed "biddy" filed my ears. 1t was like tina
| WuASh AOoND 0uo oOluiOt Oh w Nailub uSvua
for APPROPRIATIONS sake. And, indeed, tn
securing Of hens eggs is often no easy thing
or safe, Danger turks 10 half secured boar
floors, or on the dizzy beams which one mus
walk in order to secure the prize. And tn
longing for appreciation is not entirely lacL
ing in the pursuit of hens eggs, either. II
who brings in the greatest number, an
breaks the fewest has the busting kitchen
maids refreshing, That's the boy !" and th
no less welcome assurance, that the very neI
dainties baked shall be handed over gen,
rously to such an "helper."
What perfect Ore-bed Of eggs have
found, sometimes, in an Out-of-the-way Co
ner of some dangerous loft And then, II
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