Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-02-13
Old Times.

er who is still alive in the midst OF
a younger generation. Here and
there, too, in many houses, we come
across old relics of their time and
day, carefully treasured as BELTS
their value and the loving regard in
which they are held by the descend
ants of their former owners.
Their dress was more simple and
cost them less thought and labor as
to construction than ours to-day.
Pieces of the best dress are still to
be found here and there, and show
colors of modest silk Of gray or drab,
or the simple glossy black so popular
and so durable i'm the service Of Sun
day wear. For the rest, the every
day wear was strong and suited to
the wearers needs. We have heard,
too, how il took a whole crop OF corn
to buy one of the immense leghorns,
the ideal headgear of the fashionable
miss of that day. Quite a contrast
in shape to the tower-like and equal
ly expensive piece OF millinery the
great-granddaughter wears to-day
AS to the men, they wore large
neck-cloths of silk or linen, square in
shape and folded on the bias, in which
when in use the head was severely
poised between the saving needs Of
stiff collar, bolt upright, and It's
dressing of cloth.
In those days few were ashamed To
work, ,and wealth was gained by thrift,
economy, and willing endeavor such
as are rarely seen to-day. The men
toiled in field or shop, in store or of
flee, their needs simple, their living
plain, and while the money came but
slowly it was the more surely saved.
The women spun and wove and piled
away the product of their labor well
pleased TO have in store such goodly
array of future comfort for their chill
dren. Each child, betimes, was early |
taught the thrift Of its parent and /
shared the task. They had their
simple extravaganza OF fancy work
as well as we, as old bits of samplers
testify, and here and there some
dainty bit of white embroidery, price
less from its age and dainty work.
manship. The quilts we all have
known with their marvel of fine
stitches fairly darned upon the fab
ric. This was their work OF pastime
earned after the weeks toll Of spin
ming.
Not much given 10 novel reading
like our young people Of to-day, they
read and valued the few books they
had. The Bible, hymn book, "Pil-
grim's Progress" and it may be, IL
The library was an extensive one,
Jhe well-worn volumes of the "Ref-
Such novels as those OF
Frederika Bremen were treasures un-
old, and / well remember the treat
we had in first owning and reading
hose rare tales OF Sir Walter Scott.
man, middle-aged to-day, shows
among the worn treasures of his boy
lood "Robinson Crusoe" and "Uncle
Toms Cabin" still OF later date than I
hose of older times.
On the high mantel-piece tieked
he wooden clock Of the day, always
laving to be doctored by the gaunt
physician, going stopped and garru-
Gus through the town, periodically,
md good for a days visit at least.
Iere and there were rare old pieces !
# the high-cased clock Of our grand
black and rich with old age,
bove whose face travelled the won
Ier-moon of our childhood. Still in
ther homes swung the ancient "wall-
weep" whose face was bright with \
flowers. Stiff, straight q
'aoked chairs adorned the walls, each
xactly where it was TO be, while the
ew easy-chairs were ms stff and h
traight, albeit on rockers. Methinks n
he generation Of that day were none 4
90 idle or given 10 much use of ei- Il
her rocker or foot-stool, but left 4
hem to feeble old age or helpless 1
hildhood. q
The shoes were stout, strong calf, !
nd began and ended with one pair .
piece. On Saturday night all were I.
arefully blacked and set in double !,
ows to await the shine of Sabbath
Umbrellas were almost
and but few wraps were ~
rorn, even in the winter. People "
Tere more hardy and the winters less 81
evere. Old-fashioned freplaces, q
-ide and glowing with the great log \,
eat, warmed the living room which p
as kitchen and parlor all in one. : :
10 extra fires were used unless In n
ase Of sickness. School-houses were
mall and the system ill-kept and al .
lost deplorable as to results. Schol- !
RS would on occasion engage in the !.
ne practice of "locking out the mas !.
sr" until treat was offered. The
eat was to be Of ginger cakes aud !
nall beer, or cider, the terms passed !.
nder the closed window on a slip Of
aper TO the irate master. lie gen +.
rally .succumbed, TO the qualification y
( the school, and treated right roy i
Ily. 'Twould be fine sight 10 be- :.
old the system put in operation now
days Travelling by steam was un-
nown in those days, and the stage Be-
bach and canal boat served instead. p
oods were wagoned for many miles N
yer roads we would now consider 81