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and for the first few days his meals would be brought to him; then, when
he felt ready to confess, and "confessed," he would be allowed to eat with
the others. He found that the group arose at 4:30 or 5:00 in the summer
(5:30 in winter), knelt for a moment in silent prayer, then set two chairs
back to back, laid pillows on seats of chairs, stripped bed, folded sheets,
etc, neatly and laid piece by piece across the back of the chairs to air.
There were 4 - 8 people to a room and all were out of the bedroom in 10 to
15 minutes. The sisters made all beds and cleaned the rooms, hanging the
chairs on the pegboards, moving out the beds (all were on large wooden
rollers). The brethren started their work for the day, milking the cows,
feeding the horses. The bell for breakfast rang 1 1/2 hours after arising.
Brethren and sisters assembled--each group separately--and processed to
table, each in line as they would sit at table, the brethren first, then the
sisters--all in solemn silence. They sat separately on opposite sides of
the dining room. All stood until everyone was in place, the Elder gave a
signal and everyone knelt for two minutes, than at another signal all arose
and sat and began to eat. A helping of each food was between every four
persons. There was no talking during meals, and at the end all again knelt
in silent prayer and then all marched away. After breakfast everyone went
to their assigned work. The sisters were assigned house chores a month
at a time--cooking, washing and ironing. The sisters also had charge of
preserving, butter and cheese making, mending, spinning, the education of
the children, tailoring, bonnet and hat making, and basket making.