2 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



In our great-grandfathers' time, however, this was no experi- 

 ment, curious and interesting, but a fact to be reckoned with 

 from day to day throughout their lives. 



The village store sold the few luxuries of life white and 

 brown sugar, salt, West Indian goods, such as molasses and 

 spices, and, most of all, New England rum. 



Nearly every town boasted a foundry, where articles were 

 made by hand, which would be far beyond the ability of our 

 modern blacksmith. Here were made the plows and scythes, if 

 the foundry was equipped with a trip hammer; shovels and hoes 

 'for outside work, nails for the carpenter, from the great iron 

 spike to the shingle nail. The tools the carpenter used also came 

 from the hands of the local blacksmith. In many country towns, 

 old garrets will yield great chisels, primitive axes, and wrought 

 iron bit-stocks, all made by hand and testifying to the excellence 

 of workmanship by their age and condition. The household 

 utensils, too, were his work, the fire dogs, toasting racks, hobs, 

 iron. kettles, skillets, and an endless array of less common things; 

 and all this in addition to the shoeing of horses and oxen. 



From 1799 to 1853, without a break, a good man of a 

 Massachusetts town kept a line-a-day diary, and from that I am 

 going to quote, from the four seasons of the 3 r ear, to show the 

 dull routine of work in which the lives of our grandfathers and 

 great-grandfathers were passed; how it lacked the diversified 

 interests which we consider necessary to our happiness to-day, 

 and yet how little the unrest of modern times enters into any of 

 its spirit. 



Take these short sketches of the life of James Parker, known 

 as ' ' Captain James, ' ' a young and newly married man in 1806 : 



" April 1st. I cut Hop-poles at the South End. 



2nd. I wrought for Ivory Longley, cart wood. Mr. 

 Edgarton Departed this life. 



3d. Fast Day. I and Ruthy (his wife) went to Mr. 

 Harkness (his wife's father). James came 

 home with us. 



4th. I and Ruth}' went to the Funeral of Mr. Edgarton. 

 Buryed in Mason order. The day was pleas- 

 ant. A great collection of People. 



