The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-30
Pr ;A- FEzs- sd NsossDsc
[ 3. Answers TO Roll Call

] gladly second your motion, oh pleas
ant Phocion. 20 revive the Household,
and am ready 10 answer here to roll
call.
To give an account Of our wandering
might involve too long a story. l. for
Que. never wander very far from the
"Hone-Folk'' IN heart or mind. LEI The
bodily presence be where i may and
OF late il has been a very movable body,
whose wanderIngs are not vet eEded, or
the end even IN sight. To tell Of some
o. the m~iSrauons though viii be easy
enough if any OF the good folk are inter
ested n them.
Just az present the sight | see o1en-
est i the water front Of the twin cities
OF New York and Brooklyn. as a sal
down New York hay generally ills up
an hour and 3 half OF the space between
four o'clock and dinner. To inland
people the sight : wonderful. for a per-
feet forest OF waters rises up a tay a
the eve can reach on both sides the rv-
er and down the bav. aud the whole
surface OF the water : so studded with
sailing craft that j; literally looks set
tied. You a form no idea OF the lm-
| mensitv Of the business done here until
! you become somewhat familiar with the
water front. the countless piers and
docks. the in6nity n vessels OF a. sorts,
sizes and n~ationalitles that cover the
face OF the water. or lie al anchor IN
their docks. And this stretches U for
miles until al the very outmost verge o!
the horizon line the tall masts show
Ike a fine fringe between the SKY and
water line. Some OF the finest steamers
that ever sailed have passed before me
calm and stately as they slowly swung
round the piers into their docks-ship>
like the Oregon the "Ameriqne.'
and the Nv yoming. that are fifty call
ed ''the racers OF the sea- having made
the distance between New York and
Liverpool in SIX DAYS and u hours.
Funny isn'tit. when III the days Of our
| grandtathers they used TO write OF "a
ship that made quick Dispatch in 60
days from Liverpool TO Petersburg. OF
Wilmington.
New York bay IS beautiful, so alive
with ships. and all of sailing
craft. and showing the wonderful stretch
OF the two cities. now Slamese twins
with that marvellous bridge uniting
them. As far as the eve can reach
| mile after mile OF masts fringe the bor-
ders OF the acres of houses, stretching
out and out until they seem without
limit. while countless spires fret the
sky with a very godly show o~fCLurchcs.
which argue more piety than the daily
list OF crimes make good And the
amount OF travel that i done would
- II 9 1,. ~ A-..-. xLa,N.
die of sheer surprise. Dozens OF great
river steamers crowded with people un-
til the decks look black. pass aud re-
pass il and out: while back and forth.
necessarily ply the uumhcrlo>> ferry
boats. ana every one j full ~ people.
! Where on earth DO they all come from.
aud who can be LETT at home: Is tie
mental query rises irresistably. And
every soul of them Is in a hurry. As
soon as the boats begin to near the
dock there is a headlong surge Of people
to the forward deck. many. even wo-
men. jumping ashore before the anchor
chains are drawn.
But if | talk Of river. bay. and boat.
all the time. will have no space left tOI
Household greeting and gossip.
First. about come Of the abseutees,
y. L. III. has had double tides OF work
aud trouble.-a sick husband, an III
baby. family troubles. aud two serials
to lie written at once to make both enGs
meet-a brave. true-hearted woman.
who merits all love and praise Right
ioyfully viii we welcome her back to
our side.
Helen McGregor. too. hat ray OF
mountain sunlight. has been sick. and
80 has the McGregor.-and the June
foods drowned all of the crops and some
Of the neighbors. which last Helen took
most to heart. and we will too if il keeps
her bright pen idle.
The other members | cannot speak
for. Nv wanderings have taken me out
Of their sphere. But heartily ioin in
the request that Grandma, En- Broiderie.
Violet, Farmers Wife. Anita. Dixie.
Judith. and all the band come into line
again, and tell Phocion what badge YOU
all prefer. | think a half inch wide
white ribbon tied in the third or fourth
button hole Of the dress. or vest. accord
ing to the wearer. would be simple. in
expensive. and distinctive. and without
the risk OF doing violence to the color of
any costume that the ladies might wear.
and the wearers could be her identified
as H~ouseholders. and if introduced I'M
der their own names could keep the
Household nom De plume still an I'M
known quantity If thew preferred.
But a distant clock striking the hour
OF midnight warns me that '~.silence is
golden" so with loving regards for all
| am once more ready 10 subscribe NY
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