The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-18
Separate Skirts.

many bouts hast thee made to-day
h'Wever?" The human part of the ma
chine must be always alert. The
horses may and do refresh themselves
with nap while they walk. They are
wakened from their dreams of a warm
stable and an extra feed by the crack
and the smart Of the whip, and the
voice oe the carter-boy crying in
would-be gruff tones. Pull up, Bull
ler'!" and poor Butler" responds with
alacrity to the call, knowing full well
that 'ff dwun't answer to his name
purity quick, he'll get another taste o.
the whip" Some ploughmen pace in
stolid silence; others-they are usually
those who have nat tempted fortune by
matrimony-whistle and sing. The
particular class of ditty these cheerful
spirits affect at different periods is de-
cided by current events of local or gen.
eral interest. Thus during the war
martial airs held the scale. About
Christmas time shepherds Watch
Their Flocks by Night" Herald An
gels Sing" and the Faithful are ex-
horted to come" in every field, so that
at last the passerby Is fair to soothe
his vexed ear with the thought that
this season once fed, will not return
until the hymns have had a chance Of
renewing their freshness, like clothes
that are put away for awhile. One
year revivalist hymns were the fash
ion, and the horses stepped out to the
tune os ITO the work, to the work,
there is labor for ALL" which somehow
seemed a gratuitous statement in the
mouths of these sons of toll. A syni-
cally minded employer, however, de-
clared that though them young chaps
are wonderful fond O. goin' to class am
singin', ITO the work. he did not
find he benefited much by their enthu-
siasm.
From time to time throughout the
morning short halts are made to scrape
the cIogged share. Occasionally. the
tedium is relieved by scud of rain,
when men and boys huddle under the
lee of the horses, that stand with droop-
ing heads and depressed mien as if
conscious of the unfairness of their
treatment. Or perhaps one of the lads
will be allowed to guide the plough in
order that he may get his hand in and
learn to drive a straight furrow. Very
apt pupils some Of these little fellows
are, and lad of fifteen may be seen
ploughing alongside his father, and
managing his two horses with the skill
Of a grown man. Eleven o'clock brings
a rest of half an hour, when what is
locally known as "nunchin'" Is brought
forth Nosebags are tied on, the teams
are left to take care of themselves, and
the carriers sit simply chatting in a
rustic row" while they discuss their
bread and cheese or bread and bacon
This Is their opportunity for talk.
Their topics of conversation cover no
wide range; their own and their neigh
bors' ailments, the 'guv'nor's" hunaor,
good or otherwise, the exceptional vices
of any one with whom the speaker hap
pens lately to have had slight differ
ence of opinion-these are chief themes,
which, being few in NUMBER are han
died with prudent economy. The meth
cd of conversation recalls that Of Sise-
ra's mother. A simple fact is stated,
such as that So and Sos 'missus never
eats nothing" BY process of expan-
SIOn IillS 10 PRESENTLY oCsii " SAo'fAAS
that the lady in question will fancy a
good many edibles provided. they be
sprung upon her as a surprise, or, &C.
cording to the vernacular, if they TEX
she unawar's." The interval Of nun
chin" is product of later, degenerate
days. Formerly the teams had no rest
throughout the morning, and the men
snatched their food as they could. The
master who found his horses idle
went on more'n anuff;" as an 'old-
fashioned" laborer remarked, with, a
remembrance untinged by regret, of
the time when men worked longer,
earned less, and lived harder than is
the case nowadays. At three o'clock
the ploughs are left in the furrow,' or
if the field is finished, are dragged
away to fresh ground ready for the
morrow.
The ploughman, it may be noticed,
seldom "homeward plods his weary
way" Feet that have toiled since
dawn are glad to rest when occasion al
lows, and almost any afternoon THE