The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-05
THE FAsM-YAKD CLUB OF JOT-
HAM.
By DIR. George 81. Eoring.


FIFTH MhLIiNd ub'AOl OAlIhh'
The mid-winter village life of lothian
was passing quietly away. The days had
begun to lengthen it is true, but in ODE
dience to the recognized rule OF the wealth
er-wise, the cold began to strengthen, and
those Arctic spasms winch winter always
INDUCES IN Just before 1t resigns Its sceptre
had driven man and boast INTO the shelter
of house and byrc, and had brought about
the glitterng and refulgent days and the
starry nights which make TINS season so
Respondent. The winter work was really
over In the door-yards OF the most pros
porous farmers,-those who had not yet
abandoned their hresides for the sitting
and gloomy warmth OF air-tights and col
umn stoves, whence come thousand fatal
ills to young and old-the sled-length WOOD
piles lay, Jagged and uneven, waiting for
the second attack from the woodlands axe,
which was to reduce them to size hit for
the brass andirons, whose polished heads
had served as grotesque mirrors for the
children OF many generation OF gatherers
around those hearth-stones. Inc people
OF Jotham sull loved their wood.lots, and
they knew as well how to supply them
selves with fuel OF the best description as
they did how to gather their hay-crop at
the best time and IN the best order And
SO they cut and hauled their wood IN Jan
uary, cut ana splt II lor use IN March eX-
posed 1t for Il couple OF months IN the open
air, then placed 1t under cover where 1t
could season properly, without losing its
vitality They had moreover learned the
economy OF burning few green sticks with
the dry ones, when the hard cold days rem
dered steady and glowing fre necessary,
hour after hour; and no such fires have
ever been seen as those OF Jotham, where
the dry sticks OF the previous season were
commingled with the maple and walnut,
just drawn from the forest, and laid with
that skill which the sons and daughters OF
wood-burning people alone exercise and
understand. Into the far-otf lots, the barn
yard manure had been hauled over the snow
and lay there in great heaps, waiting for
the opening summer. Even now the barn
door fowls had begun to gather in the many
corners of the open woodsheds, and to man
ifest, by their rudy combs and busy air,
that the time for their work had already
arrived. A few stray hairs flying thus early
from the heavy winter coats OF the cattle
and horses told also that the time was fast
approaching when those warm garments,
which nature had so bountfully provided,
would be no longer needed. And all the
farmers knew That they must seize the mo-
ments as they fly, and prepare for active
work of spring, or else lose those days
which, once lost, can never be regalned,
even in the longest season and by the
swiftest pursuit. 1t cannot be said that the
village was very lively, for the cold still
lay heavily upon it. 1t cannot be said that
the church was very lively, for Fanny
Wright was married and gone oil, and the
bright star of the choir had dropped from
the armament. 1t cannot be said that So
ciety was very lively, for the social as
semblies springing out of Thanksgiving
and New Year were over, and the sleigh
ing parties to Joppa ended, and the fresh
ness of winter was gone. II you had vis-
tied the workshops and wagon-houses OF
the farmers, you would have found them
putting their ploughs IN order and tighten
ing the harrow teeth, and oyerhaullng the
cart-wheels, or repairing the shovels and
hoes, or painting the wagon-Dodles ana get
ting ready Tor spring work. These prim-
tive mechanical Establishments were busy
enough. And the Club, as the objects of
its deliberations came nearer and nearer 20
the minds of its practical members, and
the field, with all its toll and its expected
profits, began to have more immediate
interest, was filled with keener life and ac-
tivity.
When the Club assembled once more in
the parlor of MIR. Hopkins, II was under the
most favorable auspices. The usual en-
tertainments of the village were over, and
the details of the coming season had COM
menced. The members of the Club had,
moreover, become more intimate with each
other, less reserved, less awkward in the
well furnished rooms of their President,