Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-03-07
COUNTRY LIFE IN WINTER.
HOW ONE TYPICAL RURAL COMMUNITY ooNTB1vE
TO BREAK THE MoNoToNY OF LIFE.

HOW ONE TApIOAI RURAL COMMUNITY CONTNINES
TO BREAK THE MoNoToNY OF LIFE.
"what do you find for amusement during
the long winters in your quiet farming
townsY This is o question often asked by
residents Of large villages, and II is a very
natural inquiry, aud one which has often
been asked by the writer, until circumstances
made him a resident of one of these towns
and gave him practical experience. Presum-
ing ours to be a type of the rural towns in
general, will endeayor to ANSWER the ques-
tion. Aside from religious meetings, to
which two or three evenings a week are de-
voted, we have our sociRls, singing school
and the grange Our sooials are under the
auspices of the ladies' aid society and arc
generally well attended, especially by the
young people. The aid society is an institu-
tion for the purpose Of raising money for re-
plenishing our village library and for Incl
dental church expenses, and they have the
usual tact Of the sex in accomplishing their
purpose, sometimes by entertainments for
which a small fee is charged, and seldom
neglecting the annual festival in which they
tempt our appetite and draw from our pook-
cts larger fee, for we not only have to con-
tribute from our stores to supply the table,
but pay literally for partaking thereof.
The singing school is an institution which
you in the large village seldom have. Your
children are taught by private tutors. Here
we raise by subscription a sufficient sum to
hire a teacher for twenty or twenty five even
ings, and all are at liberty to attend. These
schools are we'll attended by all ages, from
the infant to those Of three score years, and
il the music is not always such as would
'soothe a savage" it might do the other
thing. Suffice il to say they are generally
interesting and profitable for were It not for
these schools we should soon be without sing
ing in our church.
The grange takes the place of the farmers
club, which formerly Aourished here 1t was
organized nine years ago and has a member
ship of 60. Meets twice month. The exer.
oises are varied by recitations, charades, mu.
sic, etc. Often original papers are read fol-
lowed by discussions. These are not con-
fined to topics of the farm, for we recognize
the fact that there is large field for mental
culture outside.
We also have military company composed
mostly of young men, although it has in its
ranks some veterans who have seen service.
This company meets at the town hall for
weekly drill. The young people have a histo.
ry club and give a little attention to the
drama. And must not forget to mention
the young misses mission circle under the
leadership of our pastors wife, an institu-
tion which has contributed quite literally to
both home and foreign missions and which
reflects much credit upon the esteemed lady
who organized and who SO successfully sus-
tains it.
In addition to the above we have two mag
azine clubs, each taking the Atlantic, the
Century, Harpers and St. Nicholas. Add to
this good village library of about 800 vol
umes and newspapers received through the
post office, sixty families receiving G daily,
III weekly and &c monthly newspapers and
magazines, and think have given a salts
factory answer to the question at the head of
this article, and that the long winter evenings
and stormy days can be profitably employed,
and none need suffer from ennui. c.
Westminster West Feb. 81, 1851