New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-12
OLD-TI.HE FARMERS.
From The Boston journal.

From The Boston journal.
Fifty years ago and more the farmers were simply
farmers and nothing else. They depended almost
wholly on the products OF their farms for their y-
ing They raised nearly all the supplies for their
own tables ana largely for their clothing, which
was manufactured from the material in their
own homes Wheat was much more generally
grown then than now, but not IN sun Gent guam
titles to furnish bread for the household. Flour
ana Indian corn were extensively used. In those
earlier days Hour bread was with large numbers OF
families, dlgnied with the name OF cake, and
considered a luxury for use on extra occasions,
when company was entertained. story is still
told in one of orr old Rockingham County towns,
which illustrates this fact. hlgh-toned gentle
man known as the Squire" called at a farm
house day on some business. and when lie had
fin shed ms Grand ana had rcmOunted at the door,
the good house wife. wishing to impress the Squire
with the dignity and thrift OF her family, said to
him. Squire won't you stop and have some Hour
bread aud butter !" thinking Il now too late for him
tn accept her invitation. 10 ner chagrll, the
doughty squire replied, Thank you, marID. don t
care If do and promptly dISm0unted and entered
the house. The poor woman could only explain
that to her surprise she found the flour bread all
ont and offered HIM the best she had. some indian
bannOck When a boy the writer has often seen
in the house of a neighbor string OF thee ban
nOcks, eight or ten III number set mp on TINS III
front of the fire in the broad fireplace, there beng
room left then in corner for him to sit and look
straight I'D the chimney into the blue heaven
There was very little market for farm produce IN
those days, except III the larger towns. ana long
journeys had to be made. mostly to such as were
known as "seaports AS there were no interior
towns of sufficient population to he centres OF mu
trade Every farmer kept GOck OF sheep, ana
wool constituted largo proportion OF the clothing
of the family. 1t was carded, spun and wOyeL at
home and made into garments for both sexes. The
best clothes for the men and boys were made OF
what was called " iuled cloth" This was made at
home OF the finest material and taken to the mills
known rs fullng mill where 1t was ppt
through process of thckening dyelne and hnlsh-
ing. The women used to wear gowns or cloth
which was called "pressed wOollen. This was
eli Nv bOm a up flannel above
named, and pressed, so as to present glossy sur
Every farmer had a small patch of flax This was
pulled ana spread out in rows on the ground,
" rottcd,' and then " broken and "swingled" and
was thus prepared for the combing, carding, and
the " little Wheel the machine was called on
which the flax spun, 10 distinguish 1t from the
larger machine for spinning wool 1t was woven INTO
cloth for table covers tOweling sheetng and SHIFT
ing. The "tOw," which the coarse portion
cOinbed cut on the hetchel.' was spun into IL
coarse yarn, OF which cloth was made tor summer
suits for tho men and boys. The tow shirt, 80 COM
monty worn. was. when new, an instrument OF
torture to the wearrr, rs IL was full OF prlckhng
spInes left from the woody part of the stalk
Inc tailor of the old days, with his goose, trav-
cling from house to house, to MAKE up the clothes
for the men and bOys-Or to cut and fit them for the
gossipng "tailorcss" to cOmpete-is not known
to tine present generation. The 2ld-fashoned shoe
maker, who used to perambnlate the country round
with his kit taking the families IN turn at their
homes, and working till the whole household was
shOd, Is almost forgotten. mat however, was n
common thing in the olden days. The writer calls
to mind an anerdote of one of these ancient cord
wainers who was noted for his wit and the
genialrty of his disposition. for the excellent
quality of his work. He used to make the shoes for
all the leading families of the town, and his visits
occasions of much fun and lollty on the part
of the Youngsters of the households. One OF these
families had "A black woman i'll their service as a
slave. and when her turn came the young people
thought they would have some fun at the snoc-
makers expense. when lie should come to measure
the long heel" PhlIis called in and all the
boys were there to see the sport but the WHY ola
DO darkey to thrust her foot into tub. She
obeyed only after u stern command and a stamp OF
his foot. when he told her she might CO. lie then
measured her wet track OH the floor, and cheated
the Jolly yOungs tiers out of their fun.