Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-02-14
Board of Agriculture.
MEETING AT WOODSTOCK.

MEETING Az WOODSTOCK.
The meeting held by the State Board Of
Agriculture for Windsor County, was
opened at Woodstock on Thursday.the 8tl
inst. 1t was called to order at 10 O'Clock
A. NJ, by the President ofthe County Agri.
cultural Society, Mr.. +. NJ. Goodwin Of
Hartland, introducing Dr. Boynton of Wood.
stock, who gave IN appropriate address Of
welcome to the board, after which papers
were read by John A. Chedel, Esq, Of
Pomfret, on Gardening"
An excellent paper on the " Value of
Muck as a Fertilizer" by Byron Ruggles,
Esq, of Hartland, which we hope to be
able to give in full in some future issue
also one on the care of Young Stock" by
c. C. Buck, Esq, of Woodstock. The at
tendance, though good for this session, was
not large.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
The session was opened by music by the
choir after which paper by Mrs, II. N.
Thomas of Bridgewater, on " Women of
the 10Th Century" was read which we
think worthy OF printing entire.
WOMEN OF THE 10TH CENTURY.
The Centennial is past, its echo is fast
dying away, and its wonderful exhibitions
are among the things that are past; but
wish to 90 back some fifty or seventy-iiye
years and briefly consider the subject of
woman; what she was, what she is. and
what she may become. 1t seems very evil
dent that our American women are NOT
what they were in many respects. In
those early days of hardship and toll, and
deprivation, women held very important
position in the great drama of life. She
was strong, courageous, and conciliatno;
equal to any emergency,in war or in peace,
prosperity or adversely. We have many
noble examples in history, of the wisdom.
prudence and skill of those time-honored
women, during the early struggles of our
nation, and we have reason to venerote
them. They were noble girls, and made
noble wives and mothers, " full of oood
works and aims deeds, " like Dorcas ofold
scattering sunshine and roses in their path.
way.
To become farmers wife in those DAYS
''meant business" and there was no posi-
BILE nor anticipated escape from labor.
They never married to be supported in
idleness and pleasure, and all sorts of fash
ionable amusement; but were willing to
clasp hands with the man of their
choice, and stand, shoulder to ehoulder
against the often recurring adverses and
dlsappolntments of life, and while the bus-
band went forth with a strong arm. and a
brave and cheerful heart to fell the mas
terly forests, and delve in the unbroken
soil and in faith sowed his seed, expectino
IN due time to reap a golden harvest the
vile, at the same time pliod her skillful
hand to the wheel and the loom, and
manufactured durable fabric from flax
and wool, each in their season, to clotbo
her sometimes numerous family; besides
carefully attending to all the various de-
partments of well conducted household.
such as cooking, washing, ironing, MAKING
butter and cheese, with an eye to the CAR
den-for she must have some fowers-and
in the absence Of her husband did not
think it beneath her dignity to drive home
the cows and do the milking.
A man in the possession of such n wifi,
is truly blessed, and can say in the lam
guaSe of the Psalmist, that his wife is n
fruitful vine by the sides of his house and
his children like olive-plants round about
his table" N'
Large families were the rule and not the
exception; and every little pair of hands
were eager to help, and were duly brought
into requisilion and carefully trained to
usefulness. The girls were stout and rudy
and were not afraid to put their hand to
the wheel and the "distaff," or help man.
ma" anywhere, in the house, dairy or gar
den; or go out in the hay and meas
ure strength with their boasting brothers
1t is perfectly astonishing to the present
generation, to think how much labor wo.
men used to accomplish, and that too, with |
out any labor saving machines, or con-