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[Newspaper written by sisters Harriet Kellogg (Dunham) and Amelia Kellogg containing news of the family farm ("Tuckahannock") in upstate New York for friends and family in New York City, 1848] | ||
| Our Home | ||
| Tuss & Lil1 | Office Ned's Home | |
| Vol. I | Tuckahannock, Saturday Nov 11. 1848. | No IV |
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"Who does the best his circumstance allows Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more." __________________________ [image] Sketch--No. IThe Barn standing in the Orchard. View from the Parlor window on the western side.
See, winter comes, to rule the varied year, On Sunday morning the ground & every tree were covered with snow. The roofs of the barns, the fences, logs and ancient boxes chancing to be upon the premises bore their weight of whiteness. "See the snow!" was the cry-- & "Shall we have sleighing?" followed. The trees were partly stripped of their leaves--yet some still |
were robed in their autumnal garb. On these the snow lay heavily and one could discern the red and the yellow leaves pointing through it. No wind blew--no human being passed--the sky was leaden--this was winter in the country--snow far and wide, on hilltop, on tree and roof--no friendly brick houses to break the whiteness, no passers by to track the road, no sound of bells, no rolling of wheels-- Yes: this must be winter in the country. The little snow birds, brown and chirping hopped on low bushes underneath the windows or flew in scattered flocks across the sky. Winter in the country has this beauty which I never discerned in the city winter. The little birds, merry and full of motion are good company--at least for November. One may be contented--yet an old saying is a wise one "Don't crow till you're out of the woods." So one may as well not say that winter in the country is not unendurable on the contrary has very many beauties, until April & May close its sojourn in our Northern fields. |
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Peculiar Contrasts. In a former number of our paper two of our visitors sat for the Fashions. |
mansion, had, the night before required the aid of three of his fellows to establish him safely in his buggy on his return home from Jacksonville. This news has rapidly spread thro' the habitations of the region--while those concerned in the transaction at Jacksonville rest in pleasing ignorance of the fact that any but themselves are acquainted with their performances. These are the peculiar contrasts of our Town--contrasts not altogether unknown in city life, but there more easily hidden from the eyes of the ladies at least. It may be no disadvantage for the fairer portion of human society to learn thus in strong contrast the gentleman chatting with ladies in the parlor, & the gentleman carousing with his gentlemen associates in his hours of recreation. The Old Settlement must, from this account, be ready to congratulate the members of the Colony upon the society offered them. But it is probable that admittance into the circle of the Tuckahannock Home will not long be found desirable by such individuals as shall see fit to continue in practices so uncongenial. |
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N.B. On Thursday November 9th-- the thermometer stood at 31° at 12 o'clock. On Friday night, Nov 10th at 10 o'clock at 24°. On Saturday morning a cry was heard from the Master's apartment "The creek is frozen over!" -- This at first was not believed by the Housekeeper, but observation with a quizzing glass! showed the assertion to be correct. But such observation was not easy, for Jack Frost had so thoroughly curtained the window that until warmth and friction had been applied not even the most curious eyes could obtain view of externals. The Creek was ice-bound ---but in the afternoon its surface was rippled by the merry on-flowing although near the banks the ice rested about an inch thick. Familiar Dialogues. In the early morning the master calls out from his apartment "My stars! it's seven o'clock!" A voice from the next room replies "Impossible!" You're a recumbent!" --Short pause--a howl heard outside of the door--Master exclaims, "Is that that abominable dog?" The voice says, "Certainly!" Master in wrath asserts-- "I'll go out and cut off its ears!" Voice again in reply "Satanly, Sir, Satanly!" |
The wise heads in this neighborhood predict a "hard winter" --judging from the abundance of acorns and beech nuts.
The literary circle of Tuckahannock has completed the perusal of Paradise Lost & is now entertaining itself with Miss Bremer's "Diary." This Lady's admirable development of character as it displays itself in home-life & in society elicits frequent remarks & is highly appreciated by reader & audience. The Critic would enlarge upon some ideas presented in the last books of Paradise Lost--but, owing to her peculiar taste, she was so well pleased to leave Milton's Eden & Edenic joys & stand with Adam & Eve beyond the gate, that she cares not now to return and review their state as Milton draws it, nor the thoughts and sentiments advanced by Angel, man, or woman. She would rather, with Elizabeth Barrett, hear over the closed gate the "chorus of Eden spirits" & of the "Love-angels," the "Wail of Organic & Inorganic Nature"--majestic in their truthfulness & in their foreshadowing of the future Harmony--than, with Milton, listen to long-drawn dialogues founded on saw-dust ethics. Yet she would not have it supposed that her mind is incapable of receiving impressions of sublimity & beauty nor that the broad-winged imaginative & conceptive power of Milton is undiscerned. Nov. 9. |
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The Mill has this week been in a state of rest as respects the effecting of work, but the scutching knives and some of the machinery have been differently arranged--more conveniently the Master thinks. The vat was covered on Saturday of last just in time to protect it from the snow which fell all that night & the following day. Snow has fallen occasionally in small quantities through the whole of this week. The creek was frozen quite across on the morning of the 11th, but thawed somewhat in the course of the day. The vat was frozen over the top about half an inch thick which made it advisable to heat the boiler lest the plaster should be materially injured. No flax received this week although tidings have reached the Proprietor of some to be brought in. On Saturday afternoon the Master & Police officer Larry proceeded with Dick to Frog's Point for the purpose of apprehending barrels & boxes supposed to be there. He returned disappointed, yet in high spirits--will go again on Monday. |
Dedicated to Mother-- Published by request "Domestic Adam"! Paradise Lost! Monday Nov 6. of this day the Housekeeper can give no account--neither of Tuesday--but on Wednesday Biddy made 3 loaves of Bread by the tolerable aid of milk-rising. Apples and apple sauce are in high repute. Should this be doubted inquiries may be made into the "Master's" taste. Two innocent inhabitants of the poultry coop after residing there for about a week were submitted to Biddy's destructive mercies. All mention of eggs is carefully avoided by the Colony. It being a subject particularly exciting to the feelings of the Master as well as of all engaged in the mysteries of cooking. On Friday 10 apple pies were baked & one Breadpudding made by the Lady Fraiziska. Also several pans of apples. On Saturday Biddy made & baked biscuits. The Housekeeper is in daily hopes of the advent of yeast cakes, notice of whose departure from the Old Settlement has awakened interest in the whole colony. Saturday Aft. |
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General note:
For the most part, transcripts retain the author's original spelling, abbreviations, underlining, capitalization, and punctuation (or lack thereof). Transcriber's comments, changes or additions are in brackets. 1. "Tuss & Lil" are believed to be Harriet Kellogg (Dunham) and her sister Amelia Kellogg
©2002 Sophia Smith Collection | |