160 
RURAL HOURS. 
were done at home. They must have been notable women, those 
six step-daughters ; we heard some great accounts of day's spin- 
ning and weaving done by them. The presses and cupboards of 
the house were still full to overflowing with blankets, Avhite and 
colored flannels, colored twilled coverlets for bedding, besides 
sheets, table-cloths, and patched bed-quilts, all their own work. 
In fact, almost all the clothing of the family, for both men and 
women, and everything in the shape of bedding and toweling used 
by the household, was home-made. Very few dry-goods were 
purchased by them ; hats and shoes, some light materials for 
caps and collars, a little ribbon, and a printed calico now and 
then, seemed to be all they bought. Nor was this considered at 
all remarkable ; such is the common way of living in many farm- 
ers' families. It has been calculated that a young Avoman who 
knows how to spin and weave can dress herself with ease and 
comfort, as regards everything necessary, for twelve dollars a 
year, including the cost of the raw materials ; the actual allow- 
ance for clothing made by the authorities of this county, to farm- 
ers' daughters, while the property remained undivided, has been 
fifteen dollars, and the estimate is said to have included every- 
thing necessary for comfort, both winter and summer clothing. 
The wives and daughters of our farmers are very often notable, 
frugal women-:— perhaps one may say that they are usually so 
until they go from home. With the young girls about our vil- 
lages, the case is very different; these are often wildly extrava- 
gant in their dress, and just as restless in following the fashions 
as the richest fine lady in the land. They often spend all they 
earn in finery. 
Very pretty woolen shawls were sliown us, made by our friend's 
