The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-02-27
Life of a Canadian Peasant.

{. II. Famham, writing TO HdrpG's
Magazine. has the following to say
on the above subject:
The habitants, or peasants, are
widely separated from the gentry /;
there seems to be no democratic,
average level of society. But all
classes are on the best of terms,
sharing as thev do the national con-
tentment and gayety Their social
life in winter presents the most
characteristic features, but this un-
ambitious people find time for their
simple enjoyments at any season.
The home of the habitants is the
plainest and cheapest shelter deman-
| ded by comfort. But his social life
presents more interesting features.
In this class also one IL struck by
social happiness and the meagerness
of external interests for example,
Mr.. D, the most intelligent
and progressive farmer of the parish,
and one OF the foremost men of the
county, reads no paper, and gets no
information on even his specially of
agriculture. He learns less than an
average farm lab0rer among Us.
But, | said TO him, how do YOU
keep yourself posted on the improve
ments ~
why, we don't; we don't improve;
that's all. We get along well enough
as our fathers did
Il should thir k your long winters
would be a very enjoyable season
for study. What do YOU all do with
so much time ?"
oh, we loaf and enjoy our pipes.
But we also have to work. We get
up at half past five, light the Ian
terms, and 90 to the barn to feed the
stock. After breakfast, at half past
seven. the two principal labors ofthe
day are begun, viz, hauling wood 20
keep the house warm, and thresning
grain to eat. Those who 20 far for
wood start at four or five o'clock.
We used to see forty or fifty sleds
in a line going up the mountain at
It. Pacome to our wood lots Whsn
the wind blows we set the windmill
going, and thresh grain in the barn.
After smoking the after dinner pipe
we saw wood or thresh or fan grain
till the chores come again at half
past four After supper the men
always 90 to visit a favorite neigh
bor-for the parishis somewhat di-
vided into sets-until nine o'clock.
The final visit TO the barn, to bed
and feed the stock, finishes the day.
And We don't make much out Of
reading.
What DO the women do all win
ter ?"
"Oh their work is never done.
They, of course, keep about the same
hours as the men. After making
the fires and putting the breakfast
and pea soup to cook, they take the
lantern ana 20 to milk. After the
breakfast. the washing of the chill
dren for school, and the sweeping
are done, they sit down to spin,
weave, or knit all day. Sometimes
the dog NAV be harnessed to the lit
tie sled, and my wife rides over to a
neighbor to make an evening call.
But, as rule, the women 20 out
very seldom, excepting to the church.
OF course, there are days of general
scrubhing-with spruce boughs for
the pleasant odor they give-of
washing every three or four weeks
and seasons of special labors, as
butchering before Christmas when
meats for six months are dressed,
and frozen, either on the shelves OF
an outer room, III boxes and barrels
filed with snow. On sunday the
women must rise earlier than usuaI
to get ready for mass at half past
nine o'clock. Some families who
live far from the church take their
dinners with them, and eat them by
a friends stove while waiting for
vespers, after which they may vista
little on the way home. Then in
the fall there is the general prepara- I
ton for winter. when some families .
move into the most sheltered end
of the house, and give up the other
as a store room Tor wood, etc. There
are also the special labors ofcookIng
for ehristmas-ev and New Years, /
the carnival season, and so on"