Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-10-12
VERMONT BRATrIEBORo ERIDAY oCToBER


The buildings OF farm usually are under
one roof and stand iu row, with their
gable ends facing the court. They are pe
cularly constructed economy of timber
and the exigeucics Of the climate furnish,
however, key 90 their architecture Or-
dinarly they are hut one story in height.
They are framed Of wood, and their gables
also are wooden their sides and backs
which usually slope TO the ground are com
monty of lava ami turf the roof always Is
matched with turf which quickly grows
together and forms a continuous covering.
through which wet and cold scarcely can
penetrate Seen from distance a group
of farm buildings bears the appearance of
an irregular grass grown hillock, upon
which, to heighten the illusion. sheep are
calmly grazing The farmhouse proper
consists Of two or three gables next 1t is
the hyre for the winter shelter Of the COWS,
if the farmer is sufficiently well to do To-
possess any, and next the smithy with its
forge and anvil the lcelander, in his isola-
ton. is thrown upon his own resources, and
Is obliged still TO exercise, upon occasion. q
calling that has descended to him from the
immemorial past Entering the house
through the low doorway in one of the ga
bles you find yourself in "a long straight
passage, through which, even in broad day
light. YOU must commonly grope your way.
The floor is sometimes of boards, sometimes
of earth on each side doors open into the
adjoining buildings, separated from each
other only 10y wooden partitions. Usually
the door on one side leads into the common
living room of the house, which occupies
the whole Of the building in which it is sit
uated. A quaint and picturesque interior
meets your eve 1t Is long low room,
lffvb aF atF bra
Above, the beams are visible, and have been
made the place of deposit for an indescriba
ble variety of household articles. Along
one side stands the low stationary bed which
serves also as a lounging place by day
some square wooden chests are ranged along
the opposite side at the end particularly
In winter, several women are cardlng and
and spinning wool This common room al
ways indicates the thrift or poverty of the
farmer Sometimes it is sCrupuluuslv neat
and orderly. and its furniture is good and
substantial, if not costly. Frequently, how
ever. everything about the place is of the
most primitive kind, and comfort conven
fence. and cleanliness are unknown. The
bed looks as if 1t were never made up and
dirt, tieas, children and dogs are distributed
in equal though inordinate, proportions.
II YOU enter the door on the opposite ST &C.
OF the hall way, you find a smaller ROOM
usually furnished with chairs and table.
and sometimes "a bed This. in the larger
houses, is the spare room of the house, and
after the various saddles and SUNDAY gar
ments placed here for safe keeping have
! been removed. 1t Is assigned ~ the chance
! guest II, instead Of turning 10 the right
or to the left, you continue your way along
the passage to the end. YOU arrive at the
/ kitchen, which usually Is IN a separate build
/ ing Its floor Is of earth In fireplace
| tiickers an uncertain fire of peat and over
| 1t hangs an iron pot from a crane Every
/ thing Is dark and smok e-begrimed, for much
| of the smoke does not escape through the
/ open chimney, and the only light is from
the fire Perhaps an old woman with her
black garments and her tasseed huta bends
over the kettle and stirs its contents The
unsteady light gives 1t all weird appear
ance, and you wonder if the crone Is mutter-
ing an incantation 1t is such an interior
as Gerard DOW would have loved to paint
Small as is the kitchen fire, it Is often the
only one IN the house for fuel in some parts
Of the island is exceedingly scarce, and must
be used with the strictest economy for cook
ing purposes alone 1t Is customary to close
the houses whe1 the cold winter weather
comes on. for then the atmosphere becomes
at least warmer than the outside air. if not
quite so well adapted for breathing purposes
The houses of the clergy often are better
than those described IN that they have
more rooms or better accommodations some
times. however. they are worse, or the
guest chamber already has been allotted.
and III that case You retire % the neIghhor-
ing church. -Octobfr atlantic