Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-12-07
LIFE IN THE OLDEN TIME.
As PICTURED ny THE AUTHOR OF A HISTORY o
MFDFOpD MASS

tors was very plain, strong and comfortable;
but their Sunday suits were expensive, elabo-
rate, and ornamental The men, in their
Sunday attire, wore broad-brimmed hats.
turned up into three corners, with loops at
the side, showing full bush-wigs beneath
them; long coats, the very opposite of the
swallow-tails, having large pocket-fods and
cuffs, and without collars, the buttons either
plated or of pure silver, and of the size Of
half dollar vests, also, without collars,
but very long, having graceful pendulous lap
pet-pOckets; shirts, with. bosOms and wrist
ruifies, and with gold and silver buckles at the
wrist, united by link the neckcoths or
scalIs Of fine linen or figured stuff, or em-
broidered, the ends hanging loosely. Small
clothes were in fashion, and only reached
little below the knees, where they were orna-
mented with silver buckles OF liberal size
the legs were covered with gray stockings,
and the feet with shoes, ornamented with
straps and silver buckles. Boots were some
times worn, having broad white tops gloves,
on great occasions, and mittens in the winter
gentleman, with his cocked-up hat and
white bush-wig; his chocolate colored coat,
buff vest, and small-Cothes; his brown
stockings and black shoes his ruflles buck
les, and buttons presented an imposing fig
ure, and showed man who would probably
demean himself with dignity and intelligence
The best dress Of the rich was very costly
The scarlet coat waddcd skirts, full sleeves
cuiIs reaching to the elbows, wristbands
tringed with lace; embroidered bands, tas-
sells, gold buttons; vests fringed with lace
and small-clothes with puffs, points, buckles,
etc sword hanging by the side.
The visiting dress Of the ladies was more
g,1
their husbands or brothers wore. But with
them we have little to do in this brief notice,
and therefore leave TO others the description
OF their coiilures, which were 50 high as to
bring their faces almost into the middle of
their bodies; their black silk and satin bon
nets their gowns, so extremely lonr-waist-
cd : their tight sleeves, which were sometimes
very short, with an immense frill at the cl-
bow ; their spreading hoops and long trails;
their high-heeled shoes, and their rich bro
cadcs, ilounces, spanglcs, embroidered aprons.
etc. Their dress on the Sabbath was simple.
secure and modest a cheap straw bonnet.
with only one bow without. and no ornament
but the face within calico dress, of sober
colors, high up in the neck with simple
white musli71 collar just peeping round the
top neat little shawl and stout pair of
shoes, presented to the eye the Puri-
tan costume of our ancestral and pious
mothers
We may get the truest ideas of their do
mestic habits by watching all the plans and
movements of family in their log-hut. We
will take Saturday. Let us look closely.
The father is a strong man Of forty-six, with
true Puritan heart; and his wife is seven
years his senior, with good health and with
out anxiety Their first child is a son. eight
cen years old the next is daughter of six
teen; then come three boys, their ages four
teen, eleven, and eight and the youngest
child is a daughter aged six. OF hired men
or women they had none. Extra help came
from what they called "change work
Let us first mark tue cares and labors of
the farmer and his boys, Saturday was a
busy day with them; although one days or
one years experience was almost exactly like
anOthers. To rise early was not considered
worthy Of any remark while not rising early
would have been deemed crime. To be up
before daylight was a matter of course with
every family, The father was expected to
move first to strike light with flint and
steel to kindle "a fire under the kettle in
which the water for the porrdge was to be
boiled. This done, he calls the bows, who
soon appear, and after them the mother and
daughter. One wooden wash-basin, in the
sink, served each in turn for morning ablu-
tions; and one roller sufiiced for wiping all
faces. Their dress is suited to their work.
The father wears an old cocked-up hat or a
thick cotton cap; no Crayat, but low shirt
collar; short frock of strongest warp a
pair Of old leather brceches; and leggins,
which were confined above the knee, and tied
over the shoe with string round the middle
of the foot The boys had cotton caps on
their heads, or the remnants of old felt hats !:
short jackets, of the coarsest fabric; leather
breeches and leggns, BY earliest dawn the
| father and his three eldest sons are in the
cow-yard, milking. This over the youngest
son drives the cows to pasture, and hastens
back to the next duties. The hogs have re.
ceived their allowance of buttermilk. The
| mornings milk has been strained and set for
| cream, or heated to begin cheese. Then
come the reading of the sacred Scriptures and
the family prayers. Immediately afterward
| follows the breakfast, which in winter is by
candle-light, and in summer by 'dawn-light.
The breakfast, commenced by "asking a
blessing" and closed by returning thanks, 81
consists Of pea-poTidge, dealt out before sit.
| ting down, in small wooden bowls. A cen.
| trail dish has in it some salted shad and smuk.
ed alewives; or, peradventure, some fresh
eels which the boys caught from the river the
evening before. With these, brown bread
and beer are served; and here ended the usu.
nj variety. Sometimes the children were re.
called with samp and milk, and the father
with boiled salt pork. From the breakfast Ia
BILE the father and sons repair to the field, and
are at work by six O'Clock. With their tool.
they have taken the family gun, not so much
1 & 6 Ia, Al. a.
some valuable game. Sometimes fine.dec
crosses their field on its way to the river
and, if they are SO fortunate as to take him
it makes feast-week at home, for every
part is eaten. Sailed and smoked it wa
deemed very savory dish. BY half pas
eight O'Clock our laborers in the field ar
ready for the usual lunch, which consists 0
smoked shad, bread and cheese and cider
Thus sustained till quarter before twelve
they hear the dinner.horn announcing
the boys had been expecting with impatienc
dinner. All hauds break off and start 70
home, and are ready to sit down to the tabl
Just as the sun is square on the window-ledge
and the sand in the hour-glass out A bless
ing craved, they begin with the Indian pud
ding, and relish it with little molasses
Next come piece of broiled salt pork, O
black broth, fried eggs, brown bread, cab
bage, and cider. They denominated thei
dinner "boiled victuals," and their plate
''wooden trenchers. Dinner despatch
ed in fifteen minutes, the time till one o'cloc
was called Incoming when each laborer wa
free to sleep or play. Nooning over, they rC
pair to the fields, and find that fox or wo
has killed sheep and eaten his dinner Tn
father takes his gun and hastens in searcl
telling the boys ''to keep at their work, anC
if they see the fox, to whistle with all the
might" The fox that took great pains
be there when the owner was away, no
takes great pains to be away when the ownt
is there A drink of good beer all round
three O'Clock is the only relief in the afte
moons toll, which ends at five, at which hol
the Youngest son drives home the COWS, an
e the milking IS finished at six. The hogs an
sheep are now called to their enclosures net
the barn, and the faithful dog will gual
them from their night-prowling enemies, "A
thugs being safe, supper is ready The fat
er takes a slice of cold broiled pork, the us
al brown bread, and mug of beer, while Il
boys are regaled with milk porridge or has
pudding. In their season they had waite
melons and muskmelOns, and for extra occ
sons little cherry wine. Sometimes thu
had boiled Indian corn mixed with kidne
beans Into bean and pea porridge they p