News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-06-05
Grandma'S Carrot.

useless articles, OF which IT has been
the receptacle for more than half a
century, is curious sight. The stairs
are few in number, high and very mar,
row, scarcely affording a foothold
The room is large, dusty, and fes.
TONED by cob-webs that obscure the
little light that may enter through the
four small windows. They are on
either side of the immense brick chin.
neys, of which the house boasts two.
These chimneys pass to the roof
through the eastern and western sides
OF the garnet. The smoke from one
curls into the air with a silence that
seems almost melancholy, reproach-
ing us for departing from the custom
OF 1.-THE good old times" in using a
meek little range, instead of a large
roaring fireplace. 1t seemed as if its
hunger could never be appeased, but
was continually yearning for more.
The other chimney is unused and a
colony of chimney swallows have long
since claimed It as their home. They
seem to be of rather sociable, or
quarrelsome disposition, we could not
determine which, by their peculiar
chatter, somewhat resembling their
less timid cousins, the barn swallows.
Their twitter would often keep awake
the occupant of the old fashioned,
high posted bed, as the chimney
formed part of the wall of a chamber,
or s'spare-room" Of the house. How
ever, we willingly allowed such dis
courteous Interruptions to pass unno-
tieed, for the sake of observing their
curions habits. Their nests were very
neatly formed of small twigs inter-
laced, or cemented together and to
the chimney with a substance resem-
bling glue, secreted by the stomach of
the feathered architect.
There are others who claim the hos
pitality of the old garrett. They are
very Sociable, but confne their calls
to the late hours of the night. These
nocturnal visitants have faculty of
meddling with none of their business.
They pry into the condition Of our
larder, and display a special fond
ness for cheese. They maintain a sly
distrust for traps and will not enter
the most innocent looking one mag
Unable, although they are allured by
the tempting odor of toasted cheese.
There are the frisky little red squirrels
and the more stately gray, who, by
ways best known to themselves, man
age to gain entrance to feast upon the
harvest of nuts that they did not help
to gather.
The rafters are huge timbers, brown
with age, from which are suspended
punches of dried herbs. Before they
can be plainly seen on account of the
you know by the odor that
is there, and can discover
the pungent odor of peppermint and
spearmint long before the place is
reached. A bunch of thoroughwort
has its place, together with hoarhound,
sage, SIENNA, and iverwort, and you
are recalled to the fact that catnip
has not been forgotten, by the sound
of the old black and white cat, Dick,
purring and rubbing against me, in
this way teasing for some. After he
has been satisfied my round of in
spection is continued, and l find a
large quantity of lobelia, and am at
last obliged to leave the spot, as the
remembrance of it's medicinal quail
ties, even now, effects one powerfully.
Over in that corner IS forlorn old
rocking chair which is over eighty
years old, while on it's seat rests an
old warming pan, the, cover of silver,
curiously4 chased. Here is heap of
old china which would craze an anti
quarian if he could not procure it, and
old dishes, of marvellous shapes and
unknown uses.
The Improvements in lighting the
house are marked by the sight of
candle rods, moulds and strange look
ing lamps for burning "lump OIL"
down to the shattered burner of a
kerosene lamp. The advancement in
the facilities for heating is as rapid,
and it can be traced by the cast-away
articles that characterized the old
methods. There is a rusty Dutch
oven, cranes and pot-hooks. What
is that half hidden by that old rug ?
Oh! it is an old brass andiron; the
lions head on it is furnished with verdi
girls it looks less fierce on account
of its air of decayed responsibility.
Here is box filed with powder,
wads: and shot of various sizes badly
mixed. Bullets, round and conical,
an old powder horn, holding nearly q
pound, stiff, cumberous shot pouches,
broken ramrods and dislocated locks.
Also a package of army cartridges,
the very paper covering Of which
seems to have turned green with dis
gust at being placed in such close
proximity to this array of unpatrioic
bullets. The use of these despised
bullets is to whiz through a gun held
by a skiIful hunter, and this bullet
rarely fails in reaching its destination.
1t brings to the ground the gray part
ridge that is daintily pecking at the
buds of the yellow birch, or brings
the futtering sheldrake splashing
helplessly into the water from which
she had just taken flight. 1t catches,
surpasses in his airy flight and whirls
powerlessly to the ground the sleek
gray squirrel as he takes his light,
flying leaps from tree 10 tree. You
might be told of the triumphs of the
rifle, but for a more substantial proof
will suggest that you leave your card
upon our hospitable gate. We will
show you to the old library where
hang the huge deer's antlers, the tro-
phies Of the hunt, and the tiny spikes
once adjoining the head of the fawn,
Lily, so named, because she was
caught when entangled in the lily
pads in some lonely lake in the Adj
rondacks. There is yet an undis-
turbed corner of the box containing
the bullets, and curiously mingled in
this confusion is tangle of fish-line,
a few rusted hooks, a broken reel, a
red feather ''fy'' to deceive the wary,
notified trout into Selling the singing
hook hidden under the glazing cheat.
Here is broken spur on the floor,
and here a dull sabre standing upright
in that old cavalry boot, while its
mate has succumbed to the many