Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-21
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Let Us Be Kind.

~ W. LIS tribute 10 nged people,
graudmothers especially, found an echo 10
my own heart. 1t brought to my mind
most wildly sweet memories of childhood
We never had grandmother, which was a
source Of regret to my sister aud yet
there were moss grown graves in the old
cemetery, with quaint headstones, whose dim
inscriptions told US of a sublime faith aud
trust in God and we felt, though our eyes
had never beheld them, our grandparents
were waiting for US in the great beyond"
Ours were the first hands to plant flowers on
those graves. What sad, sweet satisfac-
tion it was to us; and though we are grown
to womanhood aud nearing middle age, those
flowers still blossom in their season and will,
perchance long years, after our heads lie as
low as theirs. How we loved to sit there
and dream and weave strange fan,ies. 1t
was hallowed spot to us there thrice hal
lowed now, for kind father and loving sis.
ter rest beside them. ..
No, we had never a grandmother, bat we
had dear old aunt whom we loved and
reverenced very much. How gladly we al
ways greeted her coming; how pleasant aud
kind she was and o, such nice things rs
were hidden in the mysterious depths OF her
capacious work -pooket for US. Aud what
treat to hear them talk, she and our father,
of their own childhood of their old home in
Massachusetts,; Of the haunted house, and
the old Indian, Bimlech. and tell queer
legends that would make ones hair stand
straight. Dear Aunt Carroll, she, too, laid
down the burden Of this life many years ago,
but loving hearts smoothed the way, and
kind hands closed her eyes in death.
Yes, let us be kind to tho aged. An old
gentleman not long since departed this life,
whom l knew we'll, who could have told us
"how sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to
have thankless child" His youngest son
never visited him during his last illness,
although passing several times each day, and
refused to 60 to his bedside when he knew
he was dying. He forbade the sexton max.
ing his grave beside his mothers, and during
the funeral services and while they were
consigning the remains Of his own father to
their last resting-place, he was about his
daily vocation as unconcerned as though
nothing unusual had happened. Do you
envy that man as he sits through these long
winter evenings by his lonely 6reside2 For
neither wife nor child bless his home.
fear it is too true that grandmothers are
degenerating Although yet in my thirties
| will have to give up to the grandma Of
30, for | can neither spin nor weave, nor am
very proud Of my knitting. But have a
dear little mother who can do all these
things most beautifully. Alb she is one oil
the great-grandmothcrs whose life has been
one continued labor of love. this bright-eyed
little mother. And whatever Santa put in
her stocking, know she was in the hearts
Of all her dear ones scattered so far and
wide ...
Well, if can neither spin nor weave, !
can make bread that is hard to be beaten, and
for the benefit of very young housek eepsrs
will tell how l do it. | take two good sized
potatoes (boiled), mash them, add two spoon.
fuls flour, one Of salt, One-half cup white
sugar mix we'll, pour boiling water on tC
make batter, not too thin. When cool
add half cup good stock yeast cake yeas
will do to start it, if you haven't the other
Leave enough 10 the Mr. to start new each
time you make bread il is but little trouble
as potatoes from the tate answer every pur
pose and it will rise in half an hour or even
less. To quart of warm milk add cur
OF yeast or ferment; rise it twice. and knead
thoroughly, To some of this dough add q
good.sized lump Of butter, kncad aud pound
we'll, roll out, cut with biscuit cutter, Civ,
. roll between the hands and lay closely in
a tin two rows). Rise we'll and bake ant
you will have some delicious rolls. To som,
prepared for the rolls add sugar and Englist
currants. or seeded rsisins, and you hav,
some nice buns. Rolls can be prepared il
this way and frozen up and be all the nice
for it, and ready for use at any time. Ris
them first.
For the buckwheat griddle cakes so mic
with maple syrup for breakfast, take quar-
of warm water, add cup good lively yeast
stir in -four to make batter and stand owe
night. In the morning bake on a griddl
and send hot to table.
To make puff paste tarts, work the sal
out of lump Of butter in cold water, max
paste same as for pie crust the colder tn,
hour and water and everything about them
the nicer they will be. Spread a laying @
butter on the paste aud knead lightly an,
pound repeat this (uine times is the rule
but six will do); cut out with small bis
cult cutter latter rolling thsm), wet them 5
they will stick and place three of ther
together, one over the other. Bake in
quick oven; dent 10 the top for jelly whe
used. This is perhaps not according to tn
rules Of hygiene, but they make tea tabl
, look very nice, and are really palatable, I
) make nice upper crust, spread on a layS
Of lard or butter alter your crust is ROLES
) then -four and roll lightly. After bsin