The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-30
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A NEW ENGLAND KITCHEN.


Nothing can be more true to nature than the
following sketch of a New England kitchen in
the country, says the New York Tribune.
With the exception of the cider, which has
gone out of date since the advent of cold
waterism, the following picture has the homely
fidelity of a Dutch painting.
FARMERS KITCHEN IN NEW ENGLAND.
A picture of one of these scenes of comfort
has lately fallen under my observation. What
can be more cheerful and pleasant than the
view of farmers kitchen, taken during the
evening meal of a cool autumn day? 1t is a
picture of the calm happiness of rural life
The kitchen of the old farmhouse of New
England is not the scullery, or mere cooking
place of some modern houses-a dirty hole or
comfortless out-room, 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 Is 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 o cheerful
blaze lighting up the whole room, so that its
brightness might be seen through the great un-
curtained windows like beacon light to the trav-
eller as he comes down the slope of yonder hill
two miles away, and makes him inyoluntarily
thank God, in anticipation, for the good things
spread out upon the great table standing be-
tween the window and the fire.
Let us take note of this old-fashioned meal.
At the head Of the table sits matron of some
go surnmcrs-though in appearance there y
nothing fltAAaxi4tss OF old sgaahontaher her
dress . ge & ecmes r. ~ for
that bid defiance to the attSdnn Us q Pig
orous climate, She wears 4 on thu Read,
and shoes and stockings upon the feet, that were
made in pursuance of the best medical recpe
ever written" Keep the head cool and the feet
dry and warm for the stockings are the pro-
duct of busy fingers at idle moments with many
housewives, and the shoes, of stout leather, were
made for service, and the cap is a mere orna-
ment---a snow-wreath among raven locks-and
her face is the indication of health and happ-
ness.
Upon her right hand sits the farmer, dressed
in butternut-colored coat, blue pants, buff
vest white linen shirt-cvery 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, Abram,
and Solomon, all economical names, for they can
be shortened in common use to Jed Mary, Alb,
and Sol Two of these wear the check woollen
winter frock of New England farmers-the
Others are in round jackcts-they are school
boys Upon the left sits Mary, Adeline, and
MehetabeI, pictures of rural beauty and health.
| The eldest is drest up' she has been to town
with father; she has gown of boughten
| stuff, around her neck is boa of colored
lambs wool, knit by her own hands fastened
| in the throat with grandmother's silver brooch
The other two arc in check-woolen, spun, wove
colored, and made up, under the same roof
| Further down the table are three athletic
young men, day -laborers upon the farnl-sons
| of neghboring farmers-one Of whom is cycling
| the charms of the sweet face Of Mary with an
expression easily read by good physiognomist
| The group is completed by the schoolmaster
| a young man with glowing eye, which speaks
of an intellect that will tell upon the world
some day with as much force as though he had
not been obliged to obtain his education by
summer labor and winter teaching He is one
of New Englands rising sons. The meal is
for men who toll. At one end of the table
stands pot of ample dimensions smoking from
the great oven thanking the fireplace, of that
most excellent of New England cookeries
| "A dish of baked beans
crowned with a great square piece of salt fat
pork, crisped and rich Lower down, broad
pewter platter holds the remains of the "boiled
victualsp that formed the dinner-beef pork.
potatoes cabbage, beets and turnips-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 flour, are untouched
for great loaf Just drawn from the oven. nice
ly Drowned and hot, is offered in great broken
pieces to tempt the appetite TO one Of the richest
repasts ever given to an epcure. BY the side
OF the old lady stands black, earthen tea
pot the contents of which are freely offered,
but only accepted by two of them, as the rich.
new milk, or hearty old cider is preferred ms a
beverage, morning noon and night by those old
fashioned hearty laborers. We must not forget
the nevcr-taling accompaniment Of the evening
meal at this season of theyc in New England,
for tbs New England's proudest DISH the golden
pumpkin sweetest pie.
God being thanked for his great bounties
after the close of this happy meal, all draw into
circle around the great fireplace Father is
finishing Oft an axe-hclve, Jed is mendinc pair
OF boots and one Of the hired men upon the
other side OF the same bench is repairing a
wagon harness-both Use the same tools. The
other two are employed, one shelling corn and
the other helping Mary peel pumpkins, which
are cut in slices and hung upon poles overhead
This is Mays accepted lover. Happy hearts
and blessed industry Mary, Alb, and Sol, are
engaged with the schoomaster around the big
table, lighted by homemade candle they are
studying geography writing and arithmetic
httng themselves for future statesmen. Mother
Is making new coat for one of the boys Ada
Is ironing at a side table. and Hitty is washing
| the supper dishes at another There are two
other members of this happy family group--the
cat occupies the top Of the biuc-dye sub, which
stands in one corner Of the fireplace and ina
Bose sleeps quietly under the table: Directly
and before any sound is audible 70 human ear,
he gets up, walks out into the long entry, and
gives loud. sharp bark at the outside door, and
Soon satisfied that the new conner is TREND,