Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/199

Rh, no play going on, no laughing. Those of us who were old enough took the Testament, or learned the catechism or a hymn, and read in the Testament or Primer to father or mother; in the morning for breakfast, we had bread and milk; when this failed, bean and corn porridge was the substitute. Sometime after the Revolutionary war, for Sunday morning, tea and toast were used. As we lived at a distance from meeting, those who walked set out pretty soon after nine o'clock, and those who rode on horseback were obliged to start soon after. The roads and pole bridges were very bad, and the horse always carried double, and often a child in the mothers lap, and sometimes another on the pommel of the saddle before the father. All went to meeting, except some one to keep house and take care of the children who could not take care of themselves. The one that staid at home was instructed when to put the pudding, pork, and vegetables into the pot for supper after meeting. Those who went to meeting used to put into their pockets for dinner, some short-cake, or doughnuts and cheese. We used to get home from meeting at four o'clock, often much later. Immediately the women set the table and the men took care of the horses, and in winter, the cattle &c. In the short days it would often be sundown before, or soon after we got home. The sled with oxen was often used for meeting when the snow was deep, or by those who did not keep a horse. After supper the children and younger part of the family were called together and read in the Testament and Primer, and if there was time, said their catechism (the Assembly's), and some short hymns and prayers. No work was performed except what was deemed absolutely necessary, the dishes for breakfast and supper being left unwashed until Monday. Every person in the town, able to go to meeting, went, and if there were any absent it was noticed, and it was supposed that sickness was the reason. If any one was absent three or four Sundays, tithing-man would make them a visit; this, however was a rare case. The Sabbath was not unpleasant to me, early habit I suppose, rendered the restraint by no means irksome; I do not recollect feeling gloomy, or disposed to play, or wishing Sunday was gone, or would not come. Now what more shall I say? a word about schools. These were poor enough, we used to read, spell, write and cipher, after a sort. Our teachers were not taught. The Primer, Dilworth's Spelling Book, and the Bible, were the books. No arithmetic, the ciphering being from the master's manuscript. My father became sensible that the schools were useless, and in the winter of 1782, hired Mr. John Abbot, who was then a sophomore in college, to teach a month or five weeks in his vacation, and invited the district to send their children gratis. This gave a new complexion to the schools in the South District, and for a number of years after qualified teachers were employed about eight weeks in winter, usually scholars from college. Soon after the improvement in the South District, some of the other districts followed in the same course. To this impulse, I think, we may impute the advance of Wilton before the neighboring towns in education, good morals and sound theology. I venerate my father and mother, more than for anything else, for their anxiety and sacrifice to give their children the best education, literary and religious, in their power."

The inhabitants of Wilton have ever been characterized as a peaceful, religious and law-abiding people. Her ministers and teachers have always had the good of all at heart, and their labors have not been in vain. Many years of toil, of suffering and misfortune were required in the formation of the present prosperous and happy town, and the battles with fire and water were of themselves, sufficient to deaden the ambition of mankind. But the Wiltonians recognize no disaster as very overwhelming, and as each catastrophe has come upon them, they have bravely put the shoulder to the wheel, and fairly insisted upon the high position they occupy to-day.