1882.] FARM LIFE. 277 



there was a young lady married October 9, 1817, to a young man 

 in Woodbury, that was born in Newtown; she was 23 years old 

 when married, and her bridal tour was from her' father's house in 

 Bethlehem, to her husband's father's in "Woodbury, a distance of 

 five miles, and this was made on horseback, riding on a pillion 

 behind her husband, who had six acres of land set off to him as 

 his portion, on the opposide side of the road, and a little below his 

 father's house; there was no building on it, and this six acres of 

 land was their all, for every young man was poor in those days, 

 and how to get a house on the lot, would have puzzled a young 

 farmer of to-day. But the young wife undertook, as her part, the 

 spinning of tow, and weaving of bagging and selling it, until she 

 had an amount sufficient to buy the nails and glass for the house ; 

 and nails were no small item in those days, as they were all 

 wrought, and cost from twelve to sixteen cents per pound. They 

 moved into the house soon as the first floor was laid, before the 

 doors were hung, and finished it as means and opportunity af- 

 forded. Now, where is the young lady of to-day, that would vol- 

 unteer to do what that young wife undertook, and that was only a 

 small part of the battle of life ; she raised three sons and a daugh- 

 ter ; the sons are now some of the best business men in the State, 

 men of integrity and worth, always on the right side of every 

 good cause, and have honored our legislative halls and senate 

 chambers. And the position of the farmer's wife is an envia- 

 able one, the cares and duties of home are her pride ; with a heart 

 full of love and sympathy for the suflering ones of earth, she rises 

 in her digiiity above the trifling things of this world, she is an 

 help-meet to the farmer ; the first chosen of God ; and she carries 

 a sway in the world that no devotee or slave to fashion can put 

 down ; and still those dignified mothers and daughters rode to 

 meeting on horseback on a pillion behind their husbands, fathers, 

 and brothers, over the hills, in an old pent highway, shut up be- 

 tween farms, and then they went into a great cold meeting-house, 

 the largest building in the parish, if they were able to have any, 

 for all went to meeting in those days, all paid liberally for the sup- 

 port of the Gospel, and reverenced the Sabbath and the sanctuary. 

 These old-time farmers and their families had very few of the con- 

 veniences of life, no wagons or carriages, no sewing-machines to 

 help make up the home-spun garments of the family, no musical 

 instruments of pleasure. I can remember when musical instru- 

 ments were first introduced. A sturdy farmer in our town had 



