2 4                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-

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