Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-02-22
CANADIAN PEASANTS.
Life Among the Agricultural Ci"sse
la Canada,

Life Among the Agricultural
la Canada,
C. II. Farnham, writing about the
Canadian peasants, in HdIpeI'S M0ga-
ziHe. SAYS: The habitants, or peasants
are widely separated from the gentry
there seems TO be no democratic, aver
are level of society But all classes
are on the best of terms, sharing as
they do the national contentment and
gayety. Their social life in winter
presents the most characteristic feat
ures but this unambitious people lind
time for their simple enjoyments at
any season. The home of the habi-
tant is the plainest and cheapest shell
ter demanded hy comfort But his
social life presents more interesting
/ features. In this class also one Is
struck by the fullness of social happi-
ness and the meagreness of external IN
terests; 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. snl gets no information on even
his speciality Of agriculture. He learns
less than an average farm laoorer
among us.
But said to him, chow 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"
81 should think your long winters
would be a very enjoyable season for
study What do you all do with so
much timc.'
"Oh, we loaf and enjoy our pipes.
; But we also have to work. We get up
:. at half past five, light the lanterns, and
= cote the barn TO feed the stock. After
f breakfast, at half past seven, the two
+ principal labors of winter are begun
! VIZ, hauling wood to keep the house
t, warm, and threshing grain to eat.
p Those who 90 far for wood start at
le four OF five o'clock. We used to see
II forty or fifty sleds in line going up
ir the mountain at st. Pacome to ouT
IN wood lots. When the wind blows VIC
re set the windmill going, and thresf
rt grain in the barp. After smoking th'
no after-dinner pipe we saw wood OF
IS, thresh or fan grain till the chore
9r- come again at half past four. Ate
1t. supper the men 60 to visit favorit
rt; neighbor for, the parish is somewha
fui divided into sets-ufntil nine o'clocl
in The final visit TO the barn, to bed an
MS feed the stock, finishes the day. An
oil we don't make much out of reading"
"What do the women do all winter
"Oh, their work is never done. The,
70 Of course, keep about the same houl
.ot as the men. After making the fire
ia and putting the breakfast and pea-sou
nd to cook, they take the lantern and G
to milk. After the breakfast, TIL
washing of the children for schoo
and the sweeping are DONE they 81
down to spin, weave or knit all da!
!. Sometimes the dog may be harnesse
~ to the little sled, and my wife ride
over to a neighbor to make an evenin
wv call. But, as a rule, the women go OF
' very seldom, excepting to the churcl
~, OF course, there are days of gener'
scrubbing- with spruce boughs for til
pleasant OdOr they give-Of Washin
:. every three or four weeks; and season
=, of special labors, as butchering fC
Christmas, when meats for six montl
are dressed, and frozen, either on ii
shelves of an outer room, or in box'
and barrels filled with snow On SUI
day the women must rise earlier tina
usual to get ready for mass at ha
past line o'clock. Some families WI
live far from the church take their dl
Ot. ners with them, and cat them by
ho friends stove while waiting for vespel
ne after which they may visit a little {
ed the way home. Then in the fall the
mt is the general preparation for wintt
when some families move into Il
most sheltered end OF the house, al
give. up the other as a store-room f
wood. etc. There are also the speci
labors of cooking for Christmas-e
and New Years, the carnival sea5o
and so on