No. 112. J 27 



layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaflf."j^ 

 "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not 

 the bread of idleness." Or in the days when Homer made the 

 use of the distaff and loom the employment of royal women. 



" Alcandra consort of his high command 



A golden distaff gave to Helen's hand ; 



And that rich vase with living sculpture wrought, 



Which heaped with wool, the beauteous Philo brought. 



The silken fleece, impurpled for the loom. 



Recalled the hyacinth in vernal blocm." 



As the farmer was limited in his means for buying or selling, 

 he was compelled to cultivate a great variety of crops, and to 

 produce, as far as practicable, every article of food, clothing, furni- 

 ture or farming implement upon his own premises, and his estab- 

 lishment became an epitome of the agriculture and manufactures 

 of the country. 



Restricted markets and the consequent want of money, led to 

 a system of exchange of productions among the farmers them- 

 selves, or with the neighboring merchant. This system of " barter" 

 was a distinguishing feature of the day, and is in marked contrast 

 with the leading principle of what I have termed " commercial 

 farming." It not only affected the business affairs, but the social 

 condition of the people. Within a recent period, the land owners 

 of this county and of Western New-York received cattle in pay- 

 ment for their lands ; and the merchant gave his goods for the 

 produce of the country ; taking all that was brought to him. 

 Putting the different rolls of butter received by him from the 

 thrifty housewife into one cask until the whole presented hues 

 as various as the calicoes which he save in exchansfe. 



O' 



Labor among farmers was exchanged on the same principle. 

 When the axe had felled the forest, the single man could not 

 move the huge trunks of the gigantic trees, and a " logging bee" 

 called together the neighbors to aid him in the emergency, with the 

 tacit understanding that the favor was to be returned upon a like 

 occasion. 



The house and barn were raised in the same manner, and so 

 trong was the feeling of mutual dependence, that many who 



