Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-07-30

Are we degeneratingP Are we indeed so
much fallen from the olden standard Of
strength and endurance ? 1t seems 80, from
the miraculous stories told US by aye ladies
Of We olden time" our venerable grandmoth.
ers, who have such tenacious memories for
the achievements of their prime who look
upon all the modern aches with no degree OF
allowance, but with a sort of lofty contempt
cheer us with the comment, "Why, child,
when | was at your age | never knew what
it was to be tired aud just thiRk Of all the
work | used to accomplish, with all the cloth
to spin and weave before it could be made
up, while you think 1t something Of a trial
to cut aud make the already woven cloth"
Well, the good woman had one crumb OF
comfort that is denied us when her clothes
we're made, they lasted. She didn't have to
wash with care, barely half a dozen times,
and then find that the frail fabric was worn
out. We have to make a dozen garments
where she made one. The way our children
"go through" the thin print dresses would
have been a caution in those days. Their
homespun wooden dresses would last for half
a score Of years, aud the stout linen ones
scarcely less. Then she wouldn't let any
thing hinder her from accomplishing those
wonderful days works." She never stopped
for trihes. She would 6ll the brick oven
with wheat bread, brown bread and beans,
enough to last four days, at least, close the
door for them to "do their own baking" and
90 to her loom or spinning wheel with a
light heart, the culinary department off her
hands indefinitely, for We are told that the
"early rose" or its progenitor tubers were
not in common use in those times.
Down all these years comes the tradition
spoken in whispers when grandma is by Of
the time when people ate prOmiscously from
one comma platter, when tablecloths and
napkins were unused, aud when it did not
require half the work to keep house that it
now does. Just imagine a farmers wife GO
years ago vexing her soul over marmelade,
blanc mango, or k~otohupl How the 'nec-
essary" nothings multiply in these degener-
ate days 1t almost makes ones back ache
to think of it. But then, it is a comfort to
think that one need not follow the fashions
at the table, any more than at the toilet,
further than they choose.
l remember an old lady who is at enmity
with all "new tangled" improvements; who,
unless she gets converted to new ideas
(which is very improbablo), will never allow
a garment Of hers to come in contact with a
wringer, preferring them to 60 to the line
dripping from her own weak hands who
cannot abide the noise of n sewing ma
chine, but objects to it mainly on account of
wasting thread; who will, no doubt, trem-
blingly knit her own hose to the last, in de-
6ance of the invasion of Bickford and
Lamb who comments, with horror, on
modern extravaganza, even in so mild a form
as three tucks, tho she c~onfesses to have
had nine, once, in a dress in her young days,
and said it was very TASTY" too. l have,
slowed away in a warm corner Of my heart,
the memory Of my "model old lady," who
makes no pretensions to perfection, and
doesn't claim to be an angel. But | fear
me she will he ere time shall add many more
white hairs to the head already s~ilvering
with the irosts Of seventy-ive winters. Her
dear, kind face is always pleasant to look
upon, and every day finds her happy and
cheerful. She insists on loving the children,
and delights to spend hours in amusing
them, aud don't mind a little noise. She
never reminds one of their uselessness by
comparison with herself, and is content to
let the world move on in its own way, well
comes all labor-saving inventions and re-
joices that women are not the slaves they
used to be. The way she speaks of her early
hArdships is not boastfully, but she admits
that they made a virtue Of necessity, wove
and spun, and endured privations, because
they were obliged to, not because they pre-
ferred it or would not have done otherwise if
they could. 1t is a part Of her religion 10
sympathize with, to love, and make allow.
ance for her fellow creatures shortcomings.
IL is not strange that, as she loves everybody,
everybody loves her, for her genial, smiling
face and sweet voice carry sunshine and o
welcome wherever she goes. God bless my
model old lady If every one of us coulC
put as much beauty and contentment int
our later lives, it would be a joy to near thu
, close of life-there would be no dread il
growing old. She is not afraid, for she put
her trust In Him who "dOeth all things we'll.
I Wauld you imagine my two old ladies' wer,
5 sisters2 Well, they are. But neither o
Z them ever read the FARMER.
i. But | was speaking Of our remembrance
| think no one supposes that we have inner
tied our grandmothers' spinal columns, bu
then we can do considerable yet if put to tn,
test. l presume most of us would enjoy
. loading hay after tea these iue days, bu
3 when it comes to shouldering a barrel o
-four, a Ia Joe Calls sister, what's the us
' Of talking, except to inquire, "Who wants Il
0 be a glantess y ANNIE.
4 Proctorsyille, Vt, July 20. 1875.