New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-31
AyENGLIsH FARMER OF rHEOLDEyTI4ES
From, Found about great Estate" Gy Richard
yS0Ties.

From, hound about Great Estate" by Richard
JDTtes
The house was small. FOR in those days farmers
did not look to live III villas and till WITHIN the ia
few wears even the parlOr toOr was OF stone ilags
Rushes used to he stTewn III the halls Of palaces IN
ancient times. and seventy years ago old jonathan
grew his own carpets.
The softest and best Of the bean straw grown OF
the farm was selected and scattered on the floor Of
the sitting room warm aud dry to the feet, and
that was all the carpet IN the house. just before
sheep shearing time, too, Jonathan used 10 have
the netles cut that Ourshed round the back of the
sheds and styewn on the floor of the barn. The
netIles shrlveed up dry, and the wool did not stick
to them, but could be gathered easily.
With his own hands he would carry ont a quart
of beans to the pigs-Iust quart at time ana co
more that they might eat every one. and that none
might be wasted. So, too, lie would carry them
few acOrns in his pocket, and watch the relish
with which the swine devOured their fayorlte food
He saved every bit of crooked wood that was about
the place; for at that date iron was expensive ana
wood that had grown crooked. and was therefore
strong as well rs curved. was useful for hundred
purposes. Fastened 10 wall tor Instance. II dld
for a hook upon which to hang things. Ii an apple
tree died III the orchard 1t was cut out 10 form part
of plough and saved till wanted.
Jonathans hard head wthst0od even the whr
of the DAYS when corn was at famine prices. Knt
these careful economies, this continual saving
put more money III his purse than all that sudden
flush OF prosperity. Every grOat thus saved was is
u nail driven INTO an OAK fixed aud stable. becom
ing trmcr as time went on How strangely differ
ent tie farmers of to-day, with score OF macuines
well-furnished villas! Each of JOnathan's
beans In his quart mug, each one OF the aoOrns 10
hs pocket. became guinea.
Jonathan's hat was made to measure on his own
SPECIAL block by the batter IN OverborO' town. and
ii hard ana stout that he could SIT upon II
without injury. Ills top boots always hung near
the fireplace, that they might not get mCnldy and
he rode into market upon his short-tail horse as
ho called his crOp-tail nag. farmer was moth
ing thought of unless he wore top boots when
seemed a distinguishing mark, as it were. OF the
equestrian order OF agriculture
But his shoes were made straight: not rs now, one
to each foot-a right and a l0tt-but each exactly
alike; and he changed his shoes every morning.
wearing one on one loot one dag and on the other
the next, that they might not get wore 10 either
foot IN particular. Shoes lasted a great length OF
time IN those days, the leather beng all tanned
with oak bark only, and thoroughly seasoned before
II was cut up There Is even q story Oi FARMER
who wore his best shoes every sunday Tor seven years
IN SundaYs-htty years-and when he died had iheb
buried with him. stIl far from worn out.
AT that dat" folks had no banking accounts, Dnt
kept their coin III strong chest under Tue Deu'
sometimes hiding u III strange plac -. Jonathan
was once visiting friend, and after they bad NOD
nobbed q while the Old fellow took him. with many
precautions that they shOuId not be observed INTO
the pigsty. and showed him fifty gumeas hId ~ lne
thatch, That was by no means ali his property
but the old fellow sail with wink that he lhed 10
have little hoard of his own that his wife kne"
nothing about.