Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-28

for sheets and pilow-biers were spun. woven
and bleached at wonderful rate. Damask
table-cloths and towels, in diamond and
hucklebuck, ooverlets Of wool, blankets, fan.
mel sheets, linen bOd-spreads and yards Of
Melted fringe in beautiful shellwork and tas.
sells were the delight Of her leisure hours
Young HOBART would sit by her side aud hold
the ball or thread the netting shuttle, while
they built airy castles for their future life.
They were happy days and the time few
quickly by. Elsie Smiley's wedding dress
was spun and woven by her own hands, and
lovingly did she linger over the fairy stitches
which she set in making it up. Bright hopes
were threaded into the needle with each
thread that she used, and merry voices united
with nimble fingers in quilting the flowers
and wreaths into the dainty bsd-quilts.
They were married at home, in the square
room, on Thanksgiving day. A roaring fire
burned in the ample fireplace and the bright
ly polished andirous reflected back the glow
of the flames. Everybody was invited to
attend And then the dinner lit was Mrs.
Smiley's best. Roast turkeys, geese, chick
en- pies, beef, plum pudding, pies of every
variety then known. A dance in the long
kitchen finished the entertainment. The
horses were brought to the door, and the
bridegroom mounted his steed and drove up
to the horse-bloCk, where stood the bride,
she took his hand aud jumped into the pilion
behind him, with one arm around his waist
to keep her steady. The guests mounted in
like manner, and the merry cavaloade dashed
of at full speed to the home, which was
lighted from garrett to cellar. 1t was real
old-time house warming. A merry dance
and bouutiful supper followed, and the
wedding guests took their departure. The
next day Mr.. Smiley loaded q cart with
Esie's household goods, and started with the
oxen, driving four COWS, ten sheep, and o
splendid gray mare, as a wedding gift to his
much beloved daughter. He gave his SON.
in-law two hundred dollars to buy what sill
YER spoons and fixings they might need, when
they went TO Boston. This was their start
in life.
Which were the more sensible, and which
Of the two married couples began life's jour-
Dey in the most rational manner ?
Extravaganza and display, or economy
and comfort The march of time brings
revolutions and changes-changes which are
not always for the better. Whether the
homes of 1876, with all their luxurious APP
pointments, are dearer and pleasanter than
the plain abodes and coarser fare Of cen.
fury ago, is question that is as yet uuan-
swered. One thing is very spparent,-con-
tentmeut and morality are on the decline.
Luxurious living is demOralizing the health
and happiness Of the nation, as well as of
individuals. A restless, uneasy temperament
characterizes the whole country.
Are we as nation any better than hun
dred years ago. Are we more honest re-
ligious, kind-hearted and enterprising than
were the people of 17762
l admit this is an age of intelligence and
progression. but in the onward march are we
not forgetting the very essentials that give
power and vitality to the energetic growth
of the tree of liberty, which was planted in
our country one hundred years ago?
FARMERS WIFE