568 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Dec. 



liouaes ; but, alas ! she had but one pair of 

 hands and feet to accomplish all the daily 

 work, while Mrs. A. was blessed with two 

 daughters who had left school, and were wil- 

 ling and able to aid her. We wished that we 

 could inform Mr. D. wherein the secret of 

 high priced butter lay. Of course, it was in 

 superior cleanliness, but he also needed to 

 learn that one woman can never do the work 

 of three, and not leave a great deal undone ! 

 He could not do the work of two men on his 

 farm — could not mow and reap, sow and hold 

 the plough at once ; yet his wife was expected 

 to do more than this — to do more than mortal 

 ■woman could ever do well. We Itfc her with 

 a sore heart. 



At Mrs. A.'s all was bright and cheery. 

 She told us that all the product of the butter 

 belonged to her and the "giils." Mr. A. had 

 all the butter, cream and milk he desired ; the 

 family were well supplied wiih them, and then 

 the rest was sent to the city. A high price 

 ■was always obtained; and they enjo}ed the 

 money. Their hou?e and appearance testified 

 to the truth of the statement. Several of 

 Prang's delicious chromos hung on the walls. 

 Instructive books, entertaining magazines 

 and papers, were upon the table — among them 

 a copy cf one of the leading agricultural pa- 

 pers of the day. 



"I took that paper for 'father.^ Gave it 

 to him for a Christmas present. He sets lots 

 by it, I bhall allers take it," said Mrs. A. 



In this family the sons do not leave the 

 farm far the dazzling temptation of the city. 

 Dj you know the reason? Their home is 

 where the heart is, and they are allowed a 

 regular share in all the profits of farm and 

 dairy. Therein lies the secret. s. o j. 



For the New England Farmer,. 

 A HUSKING PARTY. 

 I have seen, in an old book, a picture rep- 

 resenting one of the time-honored institutions 

 of New England — the husking party. The 

 men, in high-collared coats, and bell-crowned 

 hats, form a circle around a miniature Monad- 

 cock of ears, which seem to retain their peril- 

 ous position with wonderful tenacity. I am 

 sure that anywhere but in a picture, there 

 would be a "land slide" among the ears. 

 Two square box lanterns cast a great deal of 

 light over the scene ; in fact it seems to be 

 nearly as light as day there. (By the way, 

 •we have one of those lanterns, which would 

 make quite a respectable "tiniment" for a 

 moderate sized family.) The countenance of 

 one of the workmen is overshadowed, not by 

 gritf or care, but by a suspicious looking 

 tumbler. It is presumable, however, that this 

 is all right, as we are told in the description, 

 that "while the sparkling cider is freely cir- 

 culated, the work goes bravely on." We are 

 also informed that "the bounteous banquet is 

 not unfrequently followed by a ball ; as most 



t)f the young men are accompanied by their 

 favorite lasses." 



Last evening I had the pleasure of at.';end- 

 ing a husking party. In the many years that 

 have elapsed since the above mentioned de- 

 scription was written, some changes have 

 taken place ; but the essentials, the work and 

 the banquet, remain (he same. The "hall" 

 was illuminated by kerosene instead of tallow, 

 and the corn, instead of being formed into 

 romantic mountain ranges, was thrown into 

 plain matter-of-fact baskets, and ultimately 

 deposited in the grain room. The lasses, 

 "favorite" and otherwise, instead of idling 

 away the time in the house, marched bravely 

 to the scene of action, and remained until the 

 work was done. Those interested miy be as- 

 sured that they accomplished their allotted 

 tasks in a very creditable manner. Fair hands 

 performed the unaccustomed labor with a skill 

 and celerity that would have astonished more 

 than one paterfamilias could he have wit- 

 nessed the performance. As it had rained 

 during the day, a part of the corn, which 

 should have been in the barn, was still in the 

 field, unfortunately for the display of our in- 

 dustry. Our task was therefore finished in 

 good season, and we adjourned to the house,, 

 where a bountiful supper, worthy even of the 

 culinary skill of our hostess, awaited us. This 

 received as much attention as was compatible 

 with the lateness of the hour. We then as- 

 sembled in the parlor, ranging ourselves 

 against the walls, like so many children at 

 their first party. You can imagine just how 

 we looked. In one corner was a group of 

 lads who evidently wished themselves tome- 

 where else. Young ladies, and ladies «o^ par- 

 ticularly young, (the subscriber belongs to 

 the latter class,) conversed in low tones with 

 their nearest neighbors. "Ah, passing few 

 are those" who have suflScient bravery to 

 commence a general conversation in a com- 

 pany of more than a dozen persons. Those 

 few are generally present however ; and their 

 endeavors in this case to "draw out" the 

 company, were highly praiseworthy, though 

 only partially succestful. The hour of de- 

 parture soon arrived, and bidding our friends 

 good night, we returned home. So ended the 

 husking party. Mattie. 



Marlboro', Oct. 13, 1870. 



Our Receipt for Curing Meat. — To one 

 gallon of water, take 1^ lbs. of salt, ^ lb. of 

 sugar, h oz. of saltpetre, ^ oz. of potash. In 

 this ratio the pickle to be increased to any 

 quantity desired. Let these be boiled to- 

 gether until the dirt from the sugar rises to the 

 top and is skimmed off. Then throw it into a 

 tub to cool, and when cool, pour it over your 

 beef or poik, to remain the usual time, say 

 four or five weeks. The meat must be well 

 covered with pickle, and should not be put 

 down until at least two days after killing, dur- 



