SECTION I 



BOYHOOD AND YOUTH IN NEW YORK STATE 



I WAS born in the Roberts' farmhouse, on the 

 west bank of Cayuga Lake, July 24, 1833, 

 at sunrise of a fine harvest morning. At 

 that time and for several years subsequently it was 

 the custom of my father as of other heads of 

 families to go to the nearest village, Seneca 

 Falls, some days in advance of harvest and there 

 to trade farm products and to purchase supplies 

 enough to last for as much as six weeks, that is, 

 through harvest. There was always on hand an 

 abundance of pickled pork the great, de-ribbed 

 sides of the hogs killed the fall before, which had 

 been packed edgewise in concentric layers in huge 

 casks and left in the cellar covered with saturated 

 brine to which a little salt petre had been added. 

 But groceries, such as sugar, molasses, spices and a 

 keg of salt mackerel to break the monotony of 

 pork and chicken, were purchased in town; and 

 most important of all items was the keg of 

 whiskey, for few men would work in those days 



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