The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-05-09
THE AVAILABLE SKILLET.
A SKETCH OF WESTERN LIFE.

THE AVAILABLE SKILLET.
"A SKETCH OF WESTERN LIFE.
In the winter of 1872, business led
me to journey in north western Mis-
souri,, then sparsely settled and from
tier country. Taverns, there were
none; and their substitutes "stands," in
the phrase of the country, poor and far
between. Iurged my weary horse for
ward, over the broad prairie, covered
with snow and mud, during several
hours, heading toward distant grove,
and musing all the time. The timber
once reached. | may find alodging place
for the night, thought ]. ] soon did
reach the grove, and in it found single
log cabin, surrounded by low fence
rails, worm laid. The cabin was ten
anted by young married woman and
her two children. The husband was
from home. '
As / rode up to the door, the woman
came unhesitatlngly forward, and to
my inquiry, "Can be accommodated
with entertainment for the night?" an
swered, "Ireckon so. We never turns
anybody away, whether friends or foes;
they are all made comfortable at our
house,. The strange, traveller would
find cold lodging on this road, if we
didn't keep him-it's so far between the
stands. He is gone 40 miles to mill,
but will be home tomorrow. | will
do my best, so you may as well come
in." thanked the kind-hearted lady,
and accepted her invitation.
Truth prompts me to say, that. rot
withstanding the settlers were then gen.
orally very poor, and very illiterate and
possessed Of only few comforts or
even convemences, a more open heart
ed, generously disposed, and less sus-
pecting people, | never found. To me.
yankee-educated, such welcome to the
firesides Of private families. as was eve-
rywhere given to a perfect stranger,
was unaccountable.
This woman, to the eye, was rather
attractive for the country; and, by her
men showed that she was, or felt her.
self to be, one of the supper ten thous-
and"-a fact soon found corroborated.
Her husband was candidate for sheriff.
The rude, long pen, was the whole
house, parlor, bedroom. kitchen, pan
try, all in one. Having asked for sup
per, | took my seat at respectful dis
tance from the fire, with nothing to
divert my attention from the cooking
operations, and very curious to see
how place Of so little promise ''could
make me comfortable"
The first motion toward my supper,
was the lady's bringing forth skillet,
which was good enough of its kind
Into this skillet handful of coffee was
put; and then the parching, browning
smoking operation was commenced
The skillet being placed in the blaze oi
the fire, the process was soon over; and
if the coffee failed in being we'll parch.
ed, the deficiency was made up-it was
well smoked. The vessel was now du.
ly cleansed, filled with water, and plac,
ed over the fire to boil, while my host
ess briskly ground the coffee. Soon
the boiling water from the skillet was
poured upon the Toured coffee, and
the skillet set to boil upon the Goals,
By this time my curiosity had become
excited by the double and singular use
Of the skillet; and watched with great
| ly increased interest. Next the skillet
was turned into an oven, and three
bullet shaped badgers (loaves) of corr
meal set a-baking. My hostess ther
took seat to entertain me by her con
versation. On my remarking upon hel
flew conveniences, she answered:
ayes, stranger, that's all truth; bu
we do so much better than when We
first came here-it seems, really, quite
| like living. Then we pounded our corr
in hollow stump, and baked our breac
on a chip; but some folks like johnny
cake best; but when he brought me
this new skillet from Fort Usage, ] fel
lmy fortune was made; because coult
now have such good bread and coult
almost use the skillet for a Thousand
things beside baking. Yes, stranger
you may think it queer, but when h