270 Farmers' Miscellany. [Oct., 



They were industrious and steady lads, and looked forward to a 

 life of independence to be secured by the labor of their hands. 



During the progress of their apprenticeship, the village of 

 Carlton made great advancement in civilization and refinement. 

 In several parlours Turkey carpets took the place of those of do- 

 mestic manufacture, and cane-bottom chairs, of Windsor ones. 



" Mother," said little Susan, " does it hurt boughten carpets 

 to keep the rooms shut up? " 



" No, dear, vi^hat makes you ask such a question? " 



" Because Mrs. B.'s front door is always open now, and it 

 did'nt use to be before she got her new carpet." 



Mrs. B.'s front door opened into her parlour, and the house 

 stood so near the street as to enable every passer by to see the 

 new carpet. 



There was a great rage for " boughten " things in general, as 

 well as carpets in particular in Carlton. A stray magazine by 

 some means found its way into the village, and led to divers 

 efforts to realize the picturesque ideas bodied forth by the speci- 

 men of the fine arts it contained, in the shape of a fashion plate. 

 Ere long there was an influx of young men with broadcloth coats, 

 who sat all day in Dr. Bollman's office learning to be doctors. 

 A considerable part of the process seemed to consist in making 

 tooth-picks of gcose-quills. It soon began to be regarded as 

 ungenteel for farmer's daughters to practice the art of milking: 

 those who were constrained to adhere to it, changed the hour of 

 practice to after dark. The word servant began to be used in 

 the village vocabulary, though its use was chiefly confined to 

 those house-keepers who had always done their own work, and 

 whose circumstances excluded all idea of change in that respect. 



Thus the village was improving in refinement, and the ap- 

 prentices were improving in the art of making and mending 

 wagons. When the term of their apprenticeship had expired, 

 they were well acquainted with the business at their calling. 



Just at this time their master died, and the village was without 

 a wheelwright. The young men concluded to remain and open 



