Year: 1867




-, 80 COS a. neat as the large, solid mansion OF
be ,cb and in its little strip of garden the hyacnths
o,d Ill Aoyers boomcd as well as in the pleasure
oo,,ds Of the latter Meadows like pale-efeen plush
5lonod smoothly down to the streams, turning their
edges under along their watery wndlngs ana drains
lr ~ neatly os if with rule and pencil carried all
,,nluS of moisture away from the slopes OF pasture
Not a stick stone, stump, or odd corner OF rough
earth was to be even the heaps OF manure ana
rubbish were either hidden, or gathered IN ordered
mounds which did not offend the eye. What pleased
me most was the general appearance OF thrift and
comfort among the people If there is realypoyerty
among Them they hide the evidence OF 1t as carefully
rs the rubbish of their fields


In the village of Atnau we halted before the inn of
the Golden Lamb, to make further inquiries Aprctty
maiden of l6 knew the family; they had two sons in
America they were at home and could easily ind
the house. Another half-mile, and the coachman
drew up between large dwelling-hOuse, and sub
stantia two-story cottage and barn. all under one
roof In front of the latter was little garden IN
which yiolets cowslips and dahodils were blooming
between beds of lettuce and onions This wos our
destination.


Iopened the door and found mysclfin passage be-
tween the dwelling-ro0ms on side and the stables
On the other. Here was confronted by friendly
old man. to whom had no sooner said: 81 am an
American and your works for me" than he Sezed
me by both hands and welcomed me with delight so
profound that it almost robbed him OF words lie
called younger to come, called his VIE, TOOK
the hand of mine, and ushered us INTO room IN
which carpenters were employed. and the sounds of
planning and hammering drowned our voices Inc
workmen were hurried away with familiar haste
the old wife made her appearance, and while she
greeted us her husband darted about the room IN
vain ATTEMPT TO arrange it and himself at the same
time. He pulled off his coat, but, before putting on
another noticed an unfinished door, which. with
great exertOns he dragged into the passage: then,
having assumed one sleeve of his Sunday coat, he
brought bottle of wine and plate of bread, for
getting the glasses Finally. when the preparations
appeared complete, and the continual, subdued
laughter of his satisfaction had almost ceased, he
shot OF again for bottle of an older vintage whne
we had some difficulty in restraining his wife from
making coffee In fact the complete Joy OF the good
people was the best refreshment they could have
given us.


The room was as picturesque as its occupants The
walls and ceiling were of wood fashioned into rude
panels and dark with age. On one side rose an an
tque stove of blue and white tiles. In tAree success
i've terraces or steps to hight of seven feet having
great seat like throne, at the top. This. we were
told. was for the purpose of warming and drying





The wooden chairs, of medieval pattern. rested on
three stout legs, and low broad bench ran around
the wall OF course, the parents apolcglzed for
everything in the quaint peculiar dialect of Thur
eau. which has some resemblance TO the AGemano
of the Black Forest. Personal news of the absent
always brings them much nearer than even their
letters and / could easily understand the salts
faction of this good old farmer and his wife
on getting such direct news Of their SON. An uncle
was Immediately sent for they would have in fact
kept us two or three days could have spared tho
time.


One thing must do for the son, i'll his letters had
wished it-I must see the vineyard. SO we walked
over the brow of the hill, among the vines whence
expended a fine CsicP (aasschr, rs the old man
said-nearly the whole Lake Of Constance. with the
shores of four lands Baden, Wurtemberg Bavaria.
and Austriaj beyond. The vines were in good condi-
ton but it was not to be expected that they would
soon again give such wine as in 1SG5-the year OF
years! In the stable were four cows, warmly and
comfortably kept The floor was OF stone, with
gutter to carry away the liquid manure With these
and his little meadow, and two acres OF vineyard the
old farmer manages to live in comfort and content
The simple primitive habits of the people diminish
te Of their needs: everything they produce
is turned TO the greatest possible service and not one
| thing is wasted-so they manage to be hapDy with
means which in some parts of the United States
would be considered desperate.


The afternoon passed away before we could satisfy
our hosts but we were not allowed to leave before
we had partaken of a cake peculiar to the ncghbor-
hOOd-a fat biscuit saturated with powdered sugar
and cinnamon II difficult 10 avoid drinking
more Of the strong vintage of 1865 than was really
necessary to Our health for the uncle had meanwhile
arrived and must also touch his glass 1 welcome.
But inky clouds were rising high between US and
IL
so, after giving as much news and as much cheer as
we could force upon the joyous agitation OF the
family, we set out Oh our return to ROmanshOrn


BT.