The returns enabled him to pay his
taxes, the interest on the debt, and perhaps something over.
Until the introduction of the cotton and woolen manufactures, and
indeed, until the building of railways, the farmers of Massachusetts
had only limited means of comfort. Their houses were destitute of
furniture, except of the plainest sort. Of upholstered furniture they
had none. Except a few school books for the children and the family
Bible there was no reading matter, unless in favored neighborhoods, a
weekly paper carried the news to two or three families that were joint
subscribers. The mails were infrequent, and the postage on letters,
based on the pieces of paper instead of weight, varied from six and one
fourth cents for all distances within thirty miles to twenty-five cents
for distances of four hundred miles or more. Intermediate rates were
ten, twelve and a half, and eighteen and three fourths cents. These
rates existed when mechanics could command only one dollar a day, and
when ordinary laborers could earn only fifty cents or seventy-five
cents--except in the haying season, when good mowers could command one
dollar. Servant girls and nurses received from one dollar to one
dollar and fifty cents per week. At the same time every variety of
clothing was much more expensive than it now is, unless shoes and hats
are exceptions.
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