Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-01
Fifty Years Ago.

NY ANaAS <ASVs
"Oh, yes, we had An elegant time, said
Miss Geneva Wilbur, rs she settled hel
rutlles and puffs. 1--WE secured a private
room in \ palace car. and were just AS re-
tired and rs much at ease rs though we
had been travelling in our own drawing
room. 1t was furnished magniticently,
all in scarlet and gold. with panels ol
polished rosewood and mahogany, and a
lovely Wilton carpet. The windows were
Of Frencl plate glass. with curtains and
lambrequins all complete. Then there
We're luxurious easy chairs and sofas
great mirrors. an upright piano, and lunch
tables, and card tables, and everything
one could devise for comfort. And it all
seemed So much like an Arabian Nights
tale, that flncied had only to rub one
of the silver plated lamps which hung
from the ceiling. to make u genie appear,
who would execute my bidding. All, it
was superb.'
Seems to me times have changed a
little since WAS young,' said old Uncle
| Ezekiel, taking advantage of the moment
ary pause Miss Geneva made. Then peo-
pie couldn't 90 scooting about the coun-
try in parlor; they had 10 put up with
a good many inconvenicnceS, not to say
privatonS. if they wanted to travel; but
then l guess they took rs much comfort.
on the whole, rs they do nowadays. At
any rate they looked healthier and whole
somer than the young folks of this gen
GRAFTON do with their airs and graces, their
follerols and their pnched looking forms
and faces.
Now, when was rising one and twenty
| took a notion that | should like to see
li.tlo &c W.. ,,-,rIJ N,,, h,l
ways stuck close at home, only now and
then going to the nearest village to mus
ter, or to trade off some apples or butter
$, spoke to father about it, and he said
that after haying and harvesting might
take the three-year old colt | broke in the
spring and 20 up and visit my relations
in Vermont. Well, this idea suited me
nightly, and I'll warrant set more store
by it than boys now a-days would by Il
trip to California. There didn't 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 thai
one morning in September | was nj
ready To start.
Il got up early and fed my pony. ant
mother baked Il shortcake before the fire
and made a good cup of tea for my break
fast; then, while | was eating she put {:
generous allowance Of douyhnuts an,
cheese in my bag. and showed me the new
cravat and socks she had got ready for me
, Mother was always thoughtful for Us, an,
besides. She wanted me to make Il hand
some appearance up country; SO she had {:
tailoreSs in the house for week, making
me Il suit of pepper andsalt homespun
which She had Just taken from the loom
The SUI was rising over the barn when
sprung on nv pony aud waved II good
bye to my mother, and to the little sister
who had crcpt down in her night-gown tc
see me start, and stood in the doorway by
her side. As l passed through the vii
lage | saw quite Il number of the young
men of my own age stepping towards
their barns. with their milk pals on their
arms, and they stopped and stared well to
see me setting off early in my new clothes
but enjoyed their surprise too much &c
stop and give them any information on the
) subject.
".Brutus' seemed to feel as keen as
did, and cantered along briskly for the
first few miles. Then he began to take it
slower, for the road was getting tolerably
hilly, and by the time we reached Gaines
borough he was considerably tuckerec
out. drew up to the nearest tavern anC
NShtt llltIll W Dtll Illlli AS lOI IuNSell
sat down under big elm tree that grew
; in the yard, and ate my doughnuts ant
cheese. AS was putting on the saddle
the tavern-keeper came out.
. IL wouldn't be too quick about start
. ing, young man, said he. its going t
rain
:" Reckon YOU are mistaken there said
! "'Guess not, replied be, I've lived her,
five .,nI forty norc and I povo, bn,rJ ~
3 looms scream over the pond and saw thu
8 clouds hang below the mountain the way
3 they do now without our getting rail-
g afore night
% "llowevcr, was sure that | could gel
. to my cousins in time. SO started in spit'
o o OF his warning; but l had not got NOR
o than 4 matter of two or three miles, whcl
u it grew so dark that knew had bette
I make for shelter, and as hadn't passed
i house since | left the tavern, calculates
y y the best thing could do was to go righ
= back. The road was down hi all tn
way, and | wasn't long in comprising the
distance, but Just rs entered the barn
: the rain came down powerfully Th
k tavern keeper laughed when he saw mt
). and said he was looking for me back t
l. snpper:
l. We'll. I'll agree that Won are the bes
n judge of the weather. said |, but when
e left home l didn't lay out to put up 4
It taterns, and if could do Il little some
o thing to pay my lodging l should be gla
d to.
II - Oh, don't you borrow any troub
t.. about that, said he; Il won't be hard upu
o. you-but now | think Of it, have g
some grain in my barn tn 1t needs tlresl
ing, and if you are Il mind to try yol
|. hand at that :; spell We'll call it square.
f 80 | went to the barn pretty we
ID pleased with my bargain, and, pulling {
= my coat. made lively work among Il
10 rye that was spread out upon the floor.
w priled myself upon being able to tire
r.. with any man in the country, and my IL.
lis buzzed up and down the length of t
c1 barn till You would have thought the
), were Il dozen fails in the air. l mind he
es the young fellows who were hangi
about the tavern came and stared at I
and made remarks; but laid about 7