Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-04-17

ct also belongs to this period, and my
first Impressions of it are still fresh.
The three rows OF three on the back
seams were looked upon by the West
ern Side boys as rather too "airy' for
one of their number, so l had to fight
the style into favor; and when they
said, Button, button, who's got the
button?" / generally managed to but
ton their lips.
On one occasion, when my parents
went to New London to attend meet
ing of the Baptist Association, / was
sent down the river" to while away
the tedious hours of separation by
working on my uncle Reuben's farm.
/ have a very distinct recollection of
the fact that during my stay upon the
farm the most important industry was
picking up apples to supply the cider
press that stood near the house on
the north side. To vary this, how
ever, we had a slight dash of churn-
ing to attend to before breakfast. My
I term of service was two nights and
not quite three days. At the end of
that time l remember suggesting to
Uncle Reuben that as Pa and Ma had
by that time got back from the Asso-
citation they would like to see me, and
Uncle Reuben said he>thoupht so, too,
and this without the slightest sign of
sadness, SO / put on my hat and sho s.
the only baggage had brought,
save and except what I already had
on, and with one very large sized
Rhode Island pippin, think it was,
started for home and the scenes of
my former usefulness. My welcome
home was not so enthusiastic as
had anticipated. for the days of alb
sence long and dreary'' that I had
passed seemed to have been anything
but "long and dreary" to those who
had remained at home.
In 1928 there was a Temperance So
ciety organized in my native town,
and it was decided at one of the meet
ings that its object could be best pro-
ance tracts. The tract entitled "The
Well-conducted Farm" was the first
one decided upon for distribution
among the families, and a Baptist
minister was appointed to do the dis
tributing. But instead Of doing 1t
himself, he pressed me into the ser
vice, and 1 found myself up against
no fool of job, as 1.-THE Well-con-
Quoted Farm" was a farm conducted
on the temperance plan, and most of
the farms in those days were conducted
otherwise. Many of the farmers, on
receiving the tract. would give me to
understand that it was an insult to
them and they would have none OF 1t.
I, however, faithfully served the tract
on all those who would receive it, and
1t didn't cost them a cent. Nor did
ever receive accent for my services,
which gave me such an unfavorable
opinion of the temperance movement
have never gotten over It from that
day to this, and only think of it.
that was more than three quarters of
a century ago, when two-tined forks
were used and people ate with their
knives; when delicate little cup-plates
were the ornaments Of the table. and
society slipped it's tea and coffee from
saucers without any breach Of table
etiquette. I remember the famous
Jack Downing, in, one Of his humor-
Gus letters, telling of his struggles
with a three-tined fork when at the
Astor House in New York ne saw one
for the first time. TITS wonderful
what changes time hath wrought. In
those days of the long ago people were
more interested in what they were
going to have to eat and drink than
in how they were to eat and drink
what was set before them. Nor did