COUNTRY LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND 3 



5th. I split staves, mortised posts. Ruthy went to 

 Groton. 



6th. I and Ruthy went to meeting 1/2 the day 1/2 went 

 to funeral of Joel Willard's Child that was 

 drowneded. 



7th. I made a Curb to the well. Went to town Meet- 

 ing. 



8th. I partly made a yoak and it stormed. ' ' 



Later on, in the summer, his work changed, and was that of a 

 tiller of the soil about his business: 



" July 28th. I mow'd 1/2 the day, 1/2 plow'd hops. Abner 



mow'd all day. 

 29th. I plow'd and how'd hops 1/2 the day. I went and 



plow'd Abner 's Corn. Abner helpt me 1/2 



the day. 

 30th. I sow'd some turnips, it rain'd. I went to Davids 



(his brother). 

 31st. I helpt Father plow with my oxen and Vene helpt 



Drive. 

 August 1st. I was haying. Abner helpt me 1/2 the day. I 



carted my N to Capt. Edgarton's. 

 2nd. I was plowing my stubble, it rain'd and Clowdy. 

 3. I went to meeting. Esq. Tom (the minister's son) 



red the Discourse. 



And so it is a constant reiteration of plowing, mowing, raking, 

 hoeing, all done by hand or with the slow-paced oxen. How 

 many lessons in patience the farmer learned in those days, and 

 what a dignified ease there was about it all! There were no 

 complaints when the hay was all cut and the weather turned 

 bad, but a calm acceptance. In October preparations for the 

 winter were being made. 



" October 1 I began to draw and hew the timber for my hog- 

 pen. 



2nd. I drew and hew'd timber for the same Abner 

 helpt me. 



