. Ruth of Boston; a story of the Massachusetts Bay colony . t is reckoned that the best of spinners can dono more than two skeins. 126 RUTH OF BOSTON Of course the skeins must be bleached, otherwisethe cloth made from them would look as if woven oftow, and this portion of the work mother is alwaysvery careful to look after herself. The skeins must stay in warm water for at leastfour days, and be wrung out dry every hour or two,when the water is to be changed. Then they are washedin a brook or river until there is no longer any dust ordirt remaining, after which they are bricked, which is the s
. Ruth of Boston; a story of the Massachusetts Bay colony . t is reckoned that the best of spinners can dono more than two skeins. 126 RUTH OF BOSTON Of course the skeins must be bleached, otherwisethe cloth made from them would look as if woven oftow, and this portion of the work mother is alwaysvery careful to look after herself. The skeins must stay in warm water for at leastfour days, and be wrung out dry every hour or two,when the water is to be changed. Then they are washedin a brook or river until there is no longer any dust ordirt remaining, after which they are bricked, which is the same as if I had saidbleached, with ashes andhot water, over and overagain, and afterwardleft to remain in clearwater a full week. Then comes morerinsing, beating, wash-ing, drying, and wind-ing on bobbins; so thatit may be handy forthe loom. The chief men made a law thatall boys and girls betaught to spin flax, and a certain sum of money wasset aside to be given those who made the best linenthat had been raised, spun, and woven within the WHAT WE GIRLS DO AT HOME 127 I am told that in some of the villages nearabout, themen who make the laws have ordered that every familyshall spin so many pounds of flax each year, or pay avery large amount of money as a fine for neglectingto do so. It is not needed I should set down how flax is spun,for there is but one way to spin that I know of, whetherthe material be wool, cotton, or flax. But I would I might be able so to set it down, thatwhosoever reads could understand, how my mother wovethis linen thread into cloth; but it would require moreof words than I have patience to write. If there be any who have the desire to know howthe linen for their tables, or for their clothing, is made,I would advise that the matter be studied as one woulda lesson in school, for it is most interesting, and fatherholds to it that every child should be able to make allof that which he wears. WHAT WE GIRLS DO AT HOME In this town of Boston,
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