The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-10-24

Icars not how humble, for happy willie
So sang DR.. Julian Alley, as, pausing
on the brow of little hill, he pointed to
a peasants cot, visible across green fields,
nesting at the foot of a mountain whose
pine.covered sides made somber back.
ground to the group of white buildings.
"That is our new home my dear, where,
according to your desire, you will see
nothing of the fashionable world, but
where you may obtain an insight into the
everyday life of these Syrian peasants,
whose homes are guarded and frowned
upon by these grand Alpine heights"
cit makes a beautiful picture" re-
joined Mrs. Alley, "and l am sure that
the change from the sitting, cholera
laden air of Vienna to the clear, tonic at
mosphere upon the Semmering will be
thoroughly appreciated by each of us. Eth,
Myo ?"
The little fellow thus addressed was
too busy scuffling along the dusty road,
and enveloping himself in cloud of pull
verified earth, to make reply.
at is such beautiful dust, mamma p
demonstrated he when called upon to de-
sist.
DOpCOuuiuR lIOh VuC highway Nv u
grassy slope which led into little valley
through which flowed clear mountain
stream, they crossed rustic bridge, and
entered the domain of Herr Johann
Pontesegger, Bauer, or peasant free-holder,
in whose cottage was to be their home for
the next four weeks.
Mrs. Alley had only a confused idea of
a collection of buildings and number of
people as they were ushered up the mar.
row outside stairway into their room,
which bad neat and unfamiliar lspk.
The floor was bare, but to that they were
accustomed. In one corner stood a tall,
cylindrical, yellow, earthen stove; in
another, small cupboard with glass
doors, holding few pieces of precious old
| china. Between the front windows was
| the sofa, and close in front of it the in
| evitable sofa table," One side of the
room was occupied with the two narrow
beds, which stood foot to foot along the
wall. How odd they looked to American
| eyes There were no quilts or counter
! pane. A small feather bed, over which
was drawn pink gingham case, was the
only covering; the pillow.cases were of
| the same pink gingham. The only white
visible was the coarse linen sheet drawn
| tightly over the bed, upon which the
sleeper was expected to repose, snugly
ensconced under the pink gingham-cov-
cred feather bed.
Mrs. Alley, upon whom former expert.
ences had left an impress, glanced at the
beds, and then, turning to the good frau,
who had accompanied them to the room,
inquired how often the bed-linen could be
changed.
"Once month";" promptly replied the
old lady.
"Oh, that will never do in the world.
We are used to changing our beds once a
week."
"Once week p echoed the frau 81
couldn't do that. l haven't bedding
enough. We only wash four times a
year."
1t was now Mrs. Alleys turn to be
surprised. "Four times year Why,
in America we wash every week"
The frau seemed to feel this statement,
as a thrust at German institutions, and
Immediately turned the dart toward the
enemy.
"Humph |" said she. "The Ameri.
cans must be dreadful poor, or awful dirty
to need to wash so often"
This answer put both parties in good
humor and after some good-natured bar.
gaining, it was agreed that the bed and
pillow-cases should be changed once q
week, and the lower sheet on the alter.
nate week. The frau then turned to
leave the room, when her eye espied some
thing that needed attention. Behind the
stove, on the floor, lay number of circu
| lor obi acts rprhana ainhtaar inohaa -
diameter and four or five inches thick in
the center, of the color of pig-iron, ant
looking solid enough to be made of that
material.
"Here, you Kattle," she exclaimed
"come and take this bread away"
"Breadl" CALCULATED DR.. Alley. g"
thought they were pavingstones for bar
ricade in case of seige."
Katie (Which, by the way, is the Soutl
: German diminutive for Katrina, and an
swers to our Katie)-a short, stout CIR
whose joints moved as if on pivots, an
whose broad, stolid face and big, blue, Q,
pressionless eyes gave her an added lik,
r ness to an animated wooden dollar
= swered the call, and the bread was remove
from the room, and stored on the floor 9
/ the hall outside.
l {" We bake only once month";" e.
3 planned the frau.
i. Myo and his mamma afterward had q
j opportunity to observe the baking process
in big outdoor brick oven, and to 81
how the warm bread was put to cool, eac
Q loaf in basket of its own size and shap
= and when cool was piled away in any COZ
l. venient corner, sometimes under bed.
Q 81 think we can endure this for fe
= weeks" said the Doctor, when the fro
/. and Katie had taken their leave. "W