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HISTORY
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
CHAPTER IX.-OLD CUSTOMS, ETC.
This may be the place to give
some of the old customs and habits common then, but now more or less
obsolete. Indians, wild animals, such as wolves, bears and deer,
were abundant everywhere. The woods were full of birds of great
variety, squirrels, foxes, groundhogs, etc. Beavers, minks and
other furbearing animals were plentiful.
With the Indians the settlers lived in peace
and friendship and carried on considerable trade.
Wolves and bears were dangerous to hogs, sheep
and calves, bears also to human beings.
Big game disappeared gradually as the woods
became more and more restricted and the settlers found more time for
hunting. With the large game the Indians also disappeared and retired
northward.
A peculiar phenomenon in the 50's and early
80's was the appearance of immense flocks of the wild, wandering
pigeon, who came flying in such numbers that they obscured the sun.
Gradually they came less numerously until they became extinct, it
seems, all over the continent.
Beech nuts were so plentiful that the farmers
drove the hogs into the woods for fattening. This pork was rather
oily.
Hospitality was the most prominent social
virtue among the settlers. Everybody was welcome at their table.
Beggars who then were quite numerous plied a profitable trade and
were received just as hospitably as anybody else.
Honesty was also a prominent virtue. Tools,
etc., could be left anywhere with no danger of disappearing. A
man's word was as good as his bond. Sometimes a borrower of money
was given the promissory note with the intimation that he might forget
the date when it fell due. Credit was always extended to the
poor, industrious newcomer.
Few houses had locks. Yet things were safe.
Building houses, barns, logging, harvesting and
other large works were generally performed by "Bees," at which all the
neighbors met and helped. After the day's work a dance followed,
at which someone played the violin, cornet, clarionet or accordion.
Making maple sugar was a great and paying
industry. The quantities made and marketed, as given by the
Census, almost passes belief.
Almost at every cross road there were a few
houses, occupied by laborers and craftsmen. The latter,
especially the tailor and the shoemaker, came to the settlers' house to
make clothes and shoes for the whole family. Flax and wool the
farmer had from the field and his flock of sheep. The wool was
sent to the carding mill and then spun, dyed and made ready at home for
the weaver at the corner. Then the cloth was sent to the fulling
mill, when it came into the hands of the tailor. These clothes
were almost indestructible by wear and neat enough.
The farmer sent the hides of his calves, etc.,
to the tanner, a year later he received half of it back, ready for the
shoemaker, the other half belonged to the tanner for his pay.
Beside the saw mill of every village, there
were a distillery, a blacksmith and wagoner, often a potter and an
ashery and many other little customs fac-