Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-29
The Life Of a Canadian Peasant.

The babitants, or peasants, are wide
" separated from the gentry; there
seems to be no democratic average
level of society. But all classes are on
tho best of terms, sharing rs they do
the national contentment and gayety.
Their social life in winter presents the
most characteristic features, but this
unambitious people find time for their
simple en;oyments at any season. The
homie of the habitant is the plainest
and cheapest shelter demanded by COM
fort. But his social life presents more
interesting features. In this class also
one is struck by the fullness of social
happiness and the meagerness of ex-
ternal 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
D and gets no information on even
his spe :ialty of agriculture. He learns
less than an average farm laborer
among us.
But" I said to him, show do you
keep yourself posted on the improve
ments?"
"NVhy, we don't: VIC don't improve;
that's all. We get along we'll enough
as our fathers did"
II should think your long winters
would be a very en- oyable season for
study. What do you all do with $50
much t'me?'
ooh, we leaf and enjoy our pipes.
But we also have to work. We gettp
at half last five, light the lanterns, apd
90 to the barn to feed the stock. After
breakfast, at half past seven, the two
principal labors of winter are begun.
viz, hauling wood to keep the house
warm, and threshing grain to eat.
Those who 60 for wood Start at four or
five o'clock. We used to see forty or
fifty sleds in a line going up the mount
ain at st. Pacome to our wood lots.
When the wind blows we set the wind
mill going. and thresh grain i'll the
barn. After smoking the atter-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 favor.te neighbor-
for the parish is somewhat divided into
%sets-until nine o'clock. The final
visit to the barn. to led and feed the
stock. finishes the day. And we don't
make much out Of reading"
"What do the women do all winter:9"
"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 and go to
milk. After the breakfast, the washing
otthe children o rschool, and the sweep
ing are done, they sit down to spin,
weave or knit all day. Sometimes the
dog may be harnessed TO the little sled,
and my wife rides over to a neighbor to
make an evening call. But, as a rule,
the women &C out very seldom, except
ing to the church. OF course, there are
days of general scrubbing-with spruce
boughs for the pleasant odor they give
of washing every three OF fourweeks;
and seasons Of special labors, as butch
ering before Christmas, when meats for
six months are dressed and frozen,
either on the shelves of an outer room,
or in boxes and barrels filled with snow.
On Sunday the women must rise earlier
than usual to get ready for mass at half
live far from the church take their din
ners with them, and eat them by a
friends stove While waiting for vespers,
after which they may visit a little OF
the way home. Then in the fall there
is the general preparation for winter,
when some families move into the mos
sheltered end Of the house, and give uI
the other rs a store-room for wood, etc
There are also the special labors of cook.
ing for Christmas-eve and New-Year's
the carnival season, and 50 on.'-C. FL
| LIua1Lull in Aua.nea,s LuIuu .iae