ANOTHER TALE OF ARCADY. 63 



candlestick, which was thrust at convenient 

 height into one of the holes. 



In the warm, though smoky retreat of the 

 settle-nook, the family spent the long winter 

 evenings in knitting, spinning flax, carding 

 wool, and other home industries. Conver- 

 sation at such times, especially that of the 

 elders, had but one result — perpetuating the 

 credulity of the times. The talk constantly 

 ran on apparitions, omens, workers in witch- 

 craft, and more innocent fairy tale. 



But at the beginning of the new era these 

 things obtained less countenance, and a general 

 change for the better began. Provincial news- 

 papers were started and wonderfully enlarged 

 the narrow world of their country readers. 

 Innovation came steadily from the South, and 

 the rude artisans were ousted. Old handicrafts 

 were subdivided; the cabinet-maker invaded 

 the province of the carpenter ; the worker in 

 metals that of the maker of wooden platters ; and 

 the great army of itinerants rapidly declined. 

 The transformation during the period indicated 

 exceeded that of any century that had preceded 

 it in the North. 



