Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1851-11-20
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1sflRFEOm The AmeIieangAgricuhuriSE
The Farmers Kitchen In New England.

The Farmers Kitchen In New England.
"A picture Of one Of these scenes of COM
fort, has lately fallen undeffmy obserya-
tom What can be more cheerful and
pleasant than the view Of a farmers kitch.
en- taken during the evening meal Of a
cool autumn day? LISA picture Of the
calm happiness of rural LIE. ,.,.ae
The kitchen of the old farmhouse of
New England is not the scullery, or mere
cooking place Of some modern houses
dirty hole or comfortless out.rc ON, or
sort of human bake-oven where the cook
is almost as much cooked as the food.
No, it is room perhaps "a feet long,
and l6) wide, well lighted, warm. neat,
and every way comfortable. Upon one
side there Is fireplace large enough to
roast whole OK, in which great fire Of
logs sends up a cheerful blaze. lighting
up the whole room, so its brightness
might be seen through the great incur,
tanned windows like beacon light to the
traveller as he comes down the slope Of
yonder hill two miles away, and makes
him involuntarily thank God, in anticipa,
lion, for the good things spread out upr
on the great table standing between the
window and the Ere.
Let us take note Of this old fashioned
meal. A: tie head Of the tatle sits a
matron Of some sixty summers--though
in appearance there is nothing Of the win
Ter Of old age about iher--her dress is a
gown OF homespun 1worsted. well FORTH
ed with flannels from the same manufac
tory, that bid defiance to the autumn
winds Of rigorous climate. She wears
"a cap on the head. and shoes and stock
ings upon the feet, that were made in
pursuance of the best medical receipt
ever wri,ten--" Keep the head cool and
and the feet dry and warm"-for the
stockings are the product Of busy fingers
at idle moments with many housewives.
and the shoes, ofetout leather, we're made
for service. and the cap is mere orna-
ment--a snow. wreath among raven locks
and her face is the indication of health
and happiness, Upon her right hand.
sta the farmer, dressed in butternut>
colored coat. blue pants, buff vest. white
linen shirt--every article home. made~-
stout boots and black silk cravat--for he
has been to town, and this is his holiday
suit. Below him sits Jedediah, Marvin.
Abran, and Solomon, all economical
'acnses. for they can be shortened IN COM
mon use to Jed, Mar, Alb, and Sol. Two
Of these wear the check. wooden winter
frock Of New England farmers. the oth>
ers are in round jackets they are school
boys, Upon the left sits Mary. Adeline,
and Mehitable, pictures of rural beauty
and health. The eldest is drest up. .
he has been to town with, father; she
has gown Of "boughten stuff" around
her neck is boa Of colored lambs wool,
kait by her own hands, fastened in the
throat with grandmother's silver brooch.
The other two are in check oolcn. spun.
wove, colored ard made up under the
same roof Further down the table are
three athletic young men, day labolers
upon the farm-sons Of neigbhoring far
mers ; one of whom is cycling the charms
Of The sweet face of Mary. with an ex-
preston easily by good physiog-
nomlst. The gloupe is completed BY the
school-master, q young man with glow
ing eye which speaks of an intellect that
will tell upon the world some day with
las much force as though he had not been
obliged to obtain his education by sum-
mer labor and winter teaching. He is
one Of New England's rising sons. The
meal is for men who toll. Al one end OF
The table slaRds a pot Of ample dimen-
sions smoking from the great oven. flank
ing the fireplace, Of that most excellent
OF New England cookeries. = Is s'' ~ ''
"a dish Of baked beans,"
crowned with great square piece Of salt,
fat perk, c,isped and rich. Lower down.
broad pewter platter holds the remains
Of the .'boiled victuals'' that formed the
dinner beef. pork, potatoes, cabbage. .ur-
nips and beets-a pile that might rival
small hay-cock in size and shape-a
plate Of rye and Indian bread, cold, and
another made Of rye -four, are untouched
for great loaf just drawn from the oven
nicely Drowned and hot, is offered in great
| broken pieces to tempt the appetite to
one Of the richest repasts ever given to
| an epicure. By The side Of the old lady
| stands black. earthen teapot, tie con-
tents OF which are freely offered, but on
ly accepted by two of them, as the rich,
new milk. or hearty old cider, is prefer
red as . beverage. morning. noon and
night, by those oId-fashioned hearty la
borers. We must not forget the never
failing accompaniment Of The evening
| meal a. this season of the year in New
England. for Ills New England's proudA
est dish. the golden pumpkin sweetest
!; pie.
| God being thanked for his great bonn-
ties after the close Of this happy meal,
all draw into circle around the great
fireplace. Father i finishing off an Ak.
1 helval led is nneRIdinu uaiF Of boots. and