The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1905-07-05
OLD
GREENFIELD
DAYS.

early days was VIM. Rhodes, a
bachelor past middle life. He came
from Pennsylvania and was a typi-
cal teacher of olden time. He knew
only the English branches, but these
he could teach better than is usual
| ly done at the present time. His
summers were usually devoted to
farm work with some of his friends
in the neighborhood Darius Pal
mer also taught here in the early
days to the great satisfaction of
all; a man Of native growth and
| spotless reputation, with a sincere
relish for learning which made him
almost one with the pupils in study.
Space almost fOrbids the mention
of any of long list of lady teachers
of varying excellence who graced
with their presence the summer
terms during those far away days.
The home life in those days is
best understood by examples of
families None have left pleas
anter impression in person and sur
roundings than that of Isaac Palmer,
brother of the teacher and for ma
nv years the town supervisor. They
lived between the river and the
bold south bluff on a large farm of
wonderfully diversified resources.
They had besides the usual grain
products, honey, maple sugar of
home make, apples at time when
apple growing in Wisconsin was a
problem almost unsolved. Album
dance of everything to eat ard
wear and mostly of home produc-
ton, best describes the Palmer
home. In those days deer were
plentiful on the hills and venison
was a common food here in the win
ter time. But [ must not omit the
description of the pater and mater
familias of this typical Greenfield
home Of the early day. He was
tall and lauky, a regular old Abe
Lincoln of man, but he was man
lyevery inch, else he could not have
represented the town so long as
it's supervisor. He was public spirit
ed. interested in education, indus
trious to a fault which brought on
| maladies almost too great TO bear.
He could Law a wall of masonry as
well as make all the butter on the
farm to the great relief of his faith
full spouse. In sickness among poor
or we'll to do, he was willing
watcher and nurse. He was tenn
perate in his habits at time when
Roper's distillery over the bluffs
near Merrimack furnished the
doubtful help in haying time and
harvest to many of the field workers
in exchange for a few bushels OF
rye or corn. But the wife of this
man was a Jewel of the first water
Her heart was boundless. Not a
child in the neighborhood but found
her good company. She never grew
cid. Of a strong frame, brunette,
she had a pleasant eye that helped
ont the most winning expression
YOU ever meet, she went about her
dailv tasks, a veritable helpmeet.
They were New England people
and of course must have all the
latest improvements. But what
vexations they cccasioned. How
she shed bitter tears more than
once in trying to operate the latest
| Singer sewing machine. None OF
the neighborhood gossip was ever
traced to her door which | aver
| covers about all that can be SAID III
praise of any of her sex.
In those days strictly housekeep-
ing was not all of a housewife
sphere of activity; the ordinary
farm was almost a manufacturing
plant which required attention to
many details. Had the agricultural
society offered prizes for the best
housekeeping, this good woman
would scarcely have entered the
competition for she was too candIo
to appear different than she was
There were many others though
| who would have puzzled the judge
in making the award, and which
would doubtless have been dlvloeo
between several; it might nave