Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-06-15
SIXTY YEARS AGO.
WRITTEN FOR THE MONITOR. ]
"The house to me may lowly be
re- h,,t lilo tl,a neonle in IL >,

he Olu uOIuC. w ltO Aitto Va NhiiN
ish pictures the words bring to mind.
There were eight of us children, John,
Lewis, Mathew, Ellsworth, Charlie Mar
tina, baby Mary and myself The section
in which we lived was thinly settled, and
we were many miles from village and
some distance from neighbors. The
house, built of logs, and only the utter
most good nature enabled SO many chill
dren to exist in so small space. Occa-
sionally there was mutiny. but for the
most part we lived in peace and harmony.
There were only two rooms down stairs.
One of these contained two beds and was
the sleeping room for father, mother, and
the three younger children. The other
was the kitchen, sitting-room, dining
room, pantry and all combined, there by
the fireplace sat mothers low kitchen
rocker, and fathers old armchair, there,
too, the baby's cradle stood, and Rover
and pussie basked in the light of the
logs. There were the tongs, the bellows,
and the crane, and over the mantle hung
numerous kitchen utensils, and fathers
old flint lock. Farther back from the
fireplace stood an old-time dresser with
it's shining tins, and the long deal table
round which we used to gather with raw
enous appettes. The loft or chamber
was low and upholstered and l mind me
how we used to sleep. l have lain many
a night and watched the stars twinkle at
me, or the fair face of Luna peering i'll
through the cracks IN the caves or around
the chimney. There were five of us who
occupied nightly this well ventilated
sleeping room, land also one bed; and it
was necessary to exercise the uttermost
caution to prevent some one of us from
lying on the floor, which, in the winter
was not desirable resting place. This
is how we did it: the one who was ready
for bed first, laid his face to the wall, at
the fartherest side of the bed the next in
order laid close to him, in a similar po-
sition and so on until all were Snugly
slowed away ''spoon fashion," as we
called it. We was not cold if we could
see the moon through the shelter of our
nest Sometimes neighbours boy stayed
all night with us, and then came il spirit
ed contest as to who should sleep next
the company" On one such occasion
Ellsworth and Mathew were the candi-
dates to sleep next to the new conner, but
Ellsworth was counted out by an over
whelming majority in favor of John, and,
intent on revenge, no amount of coaxing
or pounding would make him lie quiet.
The battle waxed furious, and the noise
became uproarous. Suddenly Il voice
from below called sternly-"Boys, what
is the matter up there?'
Silence, profound as death, and then a
quavering voice, belonging to Lewis,
squeeked out, eff you please sir Ellie
won't spoon"
ellsworth, do you spoon, and no more
fuss about it, Numbered the head of the
family, and Ellsworth "spooned' and Or
der was again restored.
My father, although he owned the farm
upon which we lived, was often away
from home his business at such times be-
ing to buy cattle and sheep. Sometimes
they were taken home and fattened upon
the refuse of the distillery Connected with
the place, and then sold to butchers in
the adjoining towns; sometimes they
were driven to Boston in droves or sold
out along the route as opportunity offer
ed. The spring that / was seven years
old and John was nine, Git was in the
month of March, think father sent US
to drive a fat OK to L, a village ten
miles from home, and six miles entirely
new to us. The snow was crusted that
morning and we travelled gaily along I'M
til we turned from the familiar road to
ascend hill unknown to US. Unfamiliar
paths seem longer than those oft travel
ed, and our footsteps began to lag. AT
last we came in sight of house, and be-
tween it and us, we could see boy at
play upon the snow. you ask him how
far it is to L." said John.
Accordingly as we approached the ur-
chin inquired the distance to L.
'Six miles" was the prompt reply. We
drew long breath and FASTENED on. AS
we came opposite the house our OK be-
came engaged in lively combat with the
farmers oxen which were loose in the
road, and the farmers came out to Seper
ating them.
GgHOw far iS If tn T-2'' oCka6 Tnhp
"Wall, not morn five mile l reckon,
said the farmer.
:'Well ask everybody we see," sale
John. eff the distance shortens as rap
idly all the way as it has between tina
boy and his father, We'll be there in nj
time
And so we plodded on and at las
reached the village; two tired and hun
cry little travellers we were too. w,
stayed all night, and the next day fathe
came after us with horse and sleigh. A.
a special treat we were taken to the no
tel for dinner. Not long ago my daugh
ter and myself took dinner at hotel il
L. Among the viands set before u
was Il beef steak; after vainly trying t.
reduse it to edible morsels, Missy re
marked Papa, l think this must be
piece of the fat OK you and Uncle Joh
drove to L sixty years ago"
My father had no knowledge of an
studies excepting reading and writing
until after was old enough to go t
school. One night the schoolmaste
stayed at our house and that evening h
taught my father to "cast interest" H
seldom made poor trade, and in all hi
dealings was exact to a cent in his tran
saction for himselfOr others. If coul
change my advantages for modern educa
ton for his clear head and sound judge
ment, l should think myself extremel
fortunate If the two could have bee
combined the result would have bee
colossal He was somewhat stern, an
we boys stood in wholesome fear of hin
A fear that was not wholly without four
dation, for often it was word and
blow, for some misdemeanor real or far
cied, and not unfrequently the blow cam
first. He never wasted words. / remen
Der well, one hot day in midsummer, h
had sent me, (then twelve years old) int
the woods about two miles, after a loa
of poles to build a shanty over brio
kiln. / cut my poles, loaded them int