FEINBERG/WHITMAN LITERARY FILE Prose "Brooklynana: Inkling of a Breuklyn Farm and Farm Life, 1620-64" (undated) S.MS.draft (DCN 3) Box 36 Folder 1 944 Brooklyniana: prose. A.MS. (14p 16 x 12 1/2 cm., some smaller.) Written in ink on pale pink pieces of paper, cut or torn from larger sheets, 69, 83, 77, 76, 81, 64, 48, 86, 21, 77, 37, 48, 111, 36=914 words: [1] [Picture of] Inkling of [A]a Breuklyn Farm and Farm Life, 1620-'64 [The] Soil [oil] here was rich, well watered, and diversified with pleasant hills and woods; and there was plenty of clear land, from the previous habit [of] the aborigines had, of annually burning the brush. [and] The farm, [was] divided into fields, [and] was fenced with rails, [and] or sometimes [turf] stone, or earth and turf.--Wheat, [2] rye, / barley, and all the culinary roots were cultivated. [apples] Orchards of apples, pears, plums, peaches, and other fruits, were easily raised, and in the woods and swamps there was no lack of wild fruits, grapes, blackberries, whortle=berries, and many more.--The farm had plenty of cows, oxen, hogs, sheep, &c., but few horses.--The barn[s were] was large and well=[constructed.]roofed. The house[s were] was at first of logs, well=roofed also. comfortable [3] and roomy enough, but of rude appearance, with / few windows, [over] 945 (and those with little panes of green glass,) an ample chimney, a large oven projecting outside the walls,--and a cellar underneath. Grass, [and] clover, cabbage, and perhaps a few flowers, from seeds brought from Holland, [lay] grew in the patch [in front].--around.--The site[s] chosen was always fine,--and the ample eaves sheltered the front stoop, which had wide seats at the side, and one or two large rude stone slabs, or door-stones.-- / [4] For eating at meals, There were ample stores of provisions, plain but wholesome, bread, meat, vegetables--(of course none of the modern drinks, coffee, confectionary, and niceties)--The furniture inside was primitive--there were no carpets. [There] The owner himself shared in the work of the the fields, and in the improvements of the farm; his sons, daughters, and even the wife, assisted.--He had perhaps a few slaves, [of] blacks; for slavery was at once introduced here.-- / [5] Some of the farmer=emigrants being wealthy a number of the early Breuklyn farms were on a large scale. [for the farmer=emigrants were being wealthy.]-- In their labor they employed among the rest, red men and women.--Imaging the great hall, or the kitchen of such a farmer, lit by a huge fire, of a winter [night the] evening, after the day's work was done---the flames crackling and roaring up the [6] chimeny--the [rude b] rude bare floor underfoot / and the beams and [more] 946 Brooklyniana: 2 rafters [and be] overhead--the [black labor] groups--the farmer, [and] his wife and their [large] grown and ungrown [children] daughters and sons-- the farm servants, blacks, aborigines--the plentiful meal--the talk, not in English but Dutch--and the patois of the aborigines-- [the] a [squ] squaw [or two] assisting at the work of clearing away the supper= [7] table-- / Ready money [was not] went a great ways; there was not much of it in use--payments were frequently made in in tobacco, and other produce.-- They employed herdsmen who [drop] drove the cattle to pasture, tended them during the day, and saw them safely back at night.-- / [8] The family of this farm lived a life of labor, not without enjoyment, and not without higher cultivation.--For Books, study, religious meditations, poetry, history, were also a part of [this] their lives. They visited [ea] at times from one to another [a great deal;] of their neighbors; [and t] they took [direct] personal interest in the political management of the colony, and [int] in its ecclesiastical affairs,--and an eager interest in the great dramas now being played [9] in Europe.--Every Sunday they all / went to church, listened to the Dominie, and sometimes afterwards [h] had a meeting to settle [some] town business Private and public.-- In all their doings these early [over] settlers they seem to have continued a-eertain the grand and simple air character-seem conscientiousness which is the character of the Hollandese.--For history offers no characters greater than the Dut-ch.--They have ever been a manly, prudent, hereie race, fond of liberty, hospitable, friendly, heroic, and learned.-- / The young men hunted the animals, the bear, panther, wolf, fox raccoon and beaver, for their furs, which brought a good price.-- / The English element in the settlement, and first half century, of Breuklyn, was important, and was looked upon with great favor by the Dutch. Many of the laws, and customs, and amusements, show the English influence strong.-- / There was some excitement too; ships large or small frequently arrived, traders, privateersmen, government vessels--and the skipp-ers and sailors afforded news--and in the fort was a body of soldi-ers.--There were also public houses, races, dances, and other amusements.--rereations--recreations, some after the English fashion.-- The abor wars with the aborigines gave a chance to the turbu-lent to enlist in them. Deer hunting was a great p sport in its season; and there were pently were wild=fowl, turkey, &c. in plenty--and no end of fish in the waters.-- ----------- The farmer and his family knew the use of arms, especially the Brooklyniana: 3 948 old=fashioned gun--they were not without had need of some stood in some caution against of aborigines.-- ------------- There were town-meetings, and all the affairs were managed democratically.--There were jury=trials; the jury consisted of seven persons, and a majority decided.--Several patents, (deeds of land) were granted to blacks.-- / [14]the men and boys arranging some evening work, or to some homely amusement--the laughter, fun, simplicity--all that made up the peculiarities of that time, two hundred years ago, so differ and different from those times.-- / thinking of A. Breuklyn Farm and Farm life 1620-64' Soil here was rich, well watered, and diversified with pleasant hills and woods; and there was plenty of clear land, from the previous habit of the aboriginies had, of animall, firing the brush. The farm, guided into fields, was fenced with rails or sometimes stone or Earth and Turf, Wheat, rye, (and Those with little panes of green glass,) few windows, ^ [?] can ample charming, and a large oven, projects outside the walls, - and a cellar underneath,- Grass, and Clover, Cabbage, and perhaps a few flowers, from seeds bought form Holland, grew in the patch drought- The sites chosen was always fine, - and the ample caves, sheltered the frown stoop, which had wide seats at the side, and one of two large ride stone slabs, or door stones. Barley, and all the culinary roots were cultivated, - apples Orchards of apples , pears, plums, peaches, and other fruits were easily raised; and [?] the woods and swamps,There was no lack of wild fruits, grapes, blackberries whistle: berries and may more.- The farm had plenty of Cows, oxen hogs, sheep, vc, but four horses.- The farms was large and well = roofed.- The houses was ar first well=roofed also rooms enough of logs, Comfortable, ^but of rude appearance, with For eating at meals, There were ample stores of provisions, plain but wholesome, bread, meat, vegetables -- (of course none of the modern drinks, coffee, confectionary and niceties) -- The furniture visible was primitive -- there were no carpets. -- [There] The owner himself shared in the work of the fields, and in the improvements of the farm; his sons, daughters, and even the wife, assisted. -- He had perhaps a few slaves, [of] blacks; for slavery was at once introduced here. -- Some of the farmer=emigrants be wealthy a number of the early Breuklyn farms were on a large scale; — [for the farmer=emigrants were being wealthy] .— In their labor they employed among the rest, red men and women. — Imagine the great hall, or the kitchen of such a farmer, lit by a huge fire, of a winter [night — the] evening, after the day's work was done — the flames crackling and roaring up the chimney — the [rude of] rude bare floor under and the beams and rafters [and be] overhead — the [black labor] groups — the farmer, [and] his wife and their [large] grown and ungrown [children] daughters and sons — the farm servants, blacks, aborigines — the plentiful meal — the talk, not in English but Dutch — and the patois of the aborigines — [the] a squaw [or two] assisting at the work of clearing away the supper=table — Ready Money went a great ways; There was not much of it in use — payments were frequently "made in" in tobacco, and other product. They employed herdsmen who drove the cattle to pasture, tended them during the day, and saw them safely back at night. The family of this farm lived a life of labor, not without enjoyment, and not without higher cultivation. For Books, study, religious meditations, poetry, history, were also a part of their lives. They visited of their neighbors at times from one to another; they took personal interest in the political management of the colony, and in its ecclesiastial affairs, and an eager interest in the great drawing now Sea Island of Europe. went to church, listened to the Dominie, and sometimes afterward [I] had a meeting to settle [some] town business. - Private and public In all their doings these early settler [they] seem to have continued [a certain] the grand and simple [air character seems] conscientiousness which is the character of the Hollandese. - For history offers no characters greater than the Dutch. - They have ever been a manly, prudent, [heroic] race, fond of liberty, hospitable, friendly, heroic, and learned. - The young men hunted [the animals,] the bear, panther, wolf, fox, raccoon and beaver, for their furs, which brought a good price. - The English element in the settlement and first half century, of Breuklyn, was important, and was looked upon with great favor by the Dutch.— Many of the laws, [and] customs, and amusements show the English influence strong.— There was some excitement too; ships large or small frequently arrived, (traders, privateersmen, government vessels — and the skippers and sailors afforded news — and in the fort was a body of soldiers. — There were also public houses races, dances, and other [amusements] recreations, some after the English fashion.— The wars with the aborigines gave a chance to the turbulent to enlist in them. Deer hunting was a great sport in its season; and there [were plenty] were wild=fowl, turkeys, &c. in plenty — and no end of fish in the waters. — The farmer and his family knew the use of arms, especially the old=fashioned guns — they [had need of some] [were not without] stood in some caution [against] of the aborigines. — There were town=meetings and all the affairs were managed democratically. — There were jury= trials; the jury consisted of seven persons, and a majority decides. — Several patents (deeds of law) were granted to blacks. — the men and boys arranging some evening work, or some homely amusement—the laughter, fun, simplicity— all that made up the peculiarities of that time, two hundred years ago, [so differ and] different from these times.— Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.