Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-11-13
A New England Kitchen.

With the exception of the cider, which has
gone ont of date since the advent Of cold-water-
ism, the following picture has the homely fidel-
ity Of Dutch painting.
FARMERS KITCHEN IN NEW ENGLAND
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 cool autumn day, 1t is
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 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
cheerful blaze, lighting up the whole room, so
that its brightness might be seen through the
great uncurtained 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 anticipation, for
the many good things spread out upon the
great table standing between the window and
the fire.
Let us take notes of the old fashioned meal
At the head of the table sits lnatron of some
60 summers-though in appearance there i.
nothing of the winter of old age about her =
her dress is gown Of homespun worsted, well
fortified with fannels from the same manufac-
tory, that bid defiance TO the autumn winds of
a rigorous climate. She wears cap on the
head, and shoes and stockings upon the feet,
that were made in pursuance of the best medi
cal recipe ever written" Keep the head cool
and the feet dry and warm''-for the stockings
are the product 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 ornament-a snow-white wreath among
raven locks-and her face is the indication of
health and happiness.
Upon her right hand sits the farmer, dressed
in a 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, 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
woolen winter frock of New England farmers
the others are in round jackets-they are
school boys. Upon the left sits Mary, Sally,
Adeline, Mehetable, pictures of rural beauty
and health. The eldest is "drest up;" she
has been To town with father; she has gown
Of bouehten stuff around her neck is a boa
of colored lambs wool, knit by her own hands,
fastened in the throat with grandmother's silver
brooch. The other two are in check wooden,
spun, wove, colored, and made up, under the
same roof. Further down the table are three
athletic young men, day-laborers upon the
farm-sons of neighboring farmers-one of
whom is eyeing the charms of the sweet face
of Mary with an expression easily read by
good physiognomist. The group is completed
BY the schoomaster, young man with glow
ing eye, which speaks of an intellect that will
tell upon the werld some day with as much
force as though he had not been obliged to OBJ
tain his education by summer labor and winter
teaching. He is one of New England's rising
sons. The meal is for men who toll. At one
end of the table stands a pot of ample dimen-
sions, smoking from the great oven fanking
the fireplace, of that most excellent of New
England cookeries,
a dish Of baked beans,"
crowned with great square piece of salt, fat
pork, crisped and rich. Lower down, broad
pewter platter holds the remains of the I" boil
ed victnals - 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-four, are un-
touched; for great loaf just drawn from the
oven, nicely brown 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 teapot, the contents of which are free
ly offered, but only accepted by two Of them,
as the rich, new milk, or hearty old cider, is
preferred as beverage, morning, noon, and
night, by those old-fashioned hearty laborers.
We must not forget the never-failing accompa-
niment of the evening meal at this season of
the year in New England, for it is New Eng
land's proudest dish, the golden pumpkin
sweetest pie.
God being thanked for his great bounties-
after the close of this happy meal, all draw in
to circle around the great fireplace. Father
is finishing off an axe-helve, Jed is mending a
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 OH poles overhead
This is Mary's accepted lover. Happy hearts
and blessed industry! Mary, Alb, and Sol are
engaged with the schoolmaster around the big
table, lighted by homemade candle; they
are studying geography, writing and arithme
tic-ftting themselves for future statesmen
Mother is making new coat for one of th'
boys, Ada is ironing at side-table, and HIT,
is washing the supper dishes at another