Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-11-09

picture ofone of these scenes ofcomfor has late
ly fallen under my observation. What can be more
cheerful and pleasant than the view of a farmers
kitchen, taken during the evening meal of cool Au-
tumn day? 1t is picture of the calm happiness of
rural life.
The kitchen of the old farm house of New Eng
land is not the scullery, mere cooking place OF
some modern houscsa dirty hole or comfortless out
room or sort of human bake-oven where the cook is
almost as much cooked the food. No, it is room
perhaps "a feet long and 16 wide, we'll lighted warm,
near, and every way comfortable Upon one side
there is fine place large enough to roast a whole
OK in which great fire of logs sends up cheerful
blaze lighting up the whole room, its brightness
might be seen through the great uncurtaned win
dows like beacon light to the traveller as he
down the slope of yondcr hill two miles away and
makes him involuntarily thank God in anticipation,
for the good things spread out upon the great table
standing between 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
merS-thOugh in appearance there is nothing of the
winter of the old age abo"t her-her dress is gown
of homespun worsted, we'll fortified with fannels
from the mandatory, and bids defiance to the
Autumn winds of rigorous climate She wears
cap her 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 and idle moments with many
housewives and the shoes of stout leather made
for service, and the cap is mere ornaments snow
wreath among raven locks-and her face is the indi
Upon her right hand sits the farmer, dressed in
butternut-colored coat blue pants buff vest white
linen shrt-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,
Ebenezer, Abraham and Solomon all economical
names for they can be shortened in common use to
Jed. Eb. Alb and Sol Two of these the check
wooden winter frock of New England farmers-the
others in round iackets-they arc school boys.
Upon the left sits Mary, Adelinc and Mehctable pic
lures of rural beauty and health. The eldest is
dressed ups; she has been to town with her father,
she has gown of sboughten stuff around her neck
is a boa of colored lambs WOOL knit by her own
hands, fastened in the throat with grandmothers sill
yer brooch. The other two are in check WOODEN
spun wove, cOlorcd and made up under the same
roof
Further down the table are three athletic young
men, day laborers upon the farm-sons of neighbor-
ing farmers-one of whom is cycling the charms of
sweet Mary with an expression easily read by good
The group is completed by the
young with glowing eye which
speaks of an intellect that will tell upon the world
some day with much force as though he had not
been obliged to obtain his education by Summer labor
and Winter teaching. lie is oneof New Englands ri
sing sons The meal is for who toll. AT
end of the table stands pot of ample dimensions,
smoking from the great oven thanking the fire place.
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. a broad pewter plat
ter hold the remains of the boiled victuals" that
formed the dinner-beef pork, potatoes, cabbage,
beets and turnips- pile that might rival small
hay cock in size and shape-a plate of rye and Indi
an bread cold and another made ofrye flour are I'M
touched; for great loaf just drawn from the oven,
nice Drowned and hot is offered in great broken
pieces to tempt the appetite to one of the richest
pasts ever given to epicure. By the side of the
old lady stands black earthen teapot, the contents
of which freely 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
old foCIi lo6o
not forget that never failing accompaniment of the
evening meal at this of the year in New Eng
land, for it's New Englands proudest dsh the gold
en- pumpkin sweetest pie
God being thanked for his great bountes after the
close of this happy meal all draw in circle around
the great fire place. Father is finishing off
helve, Jed is mendng pair of boots and one of the
hired men upon the other side of the same bench is
repairing wagon harness-both the same tools.
The other two employed, sheling and
the other helping Mary peel pumpkins, which are cut
in slices and hung upon poles overhead. This is
Mary's accepted lover. Happy hearts and blessed
Mary, Alb and Sol, are engaged with the
school master around the big table, lighted with a
home made candle; they studying geography.
writing and Misunderstanding themselves for future
statesmen. Mother is making new coat for one of |
the boys, Ada is ironing at side table, and Hetty is
washing the supper dishes at another There are |
two other members of this happy family group-the
eat occupies the top of the bue-dye tub, which |
stands in the of the fire place. and Bose sleeps
quietly under the table
Directly, and before any sound is audible to hui
nan ear he gets up, walks out into the long entry
md gives loud sharp bark at the outside door, and |
stands waiting the approaching STEP Soon satisfied
hat the is friend, he retires again to his
'epose and three or four boys that look though |
hey might be brothers to those already described,
80 much they dressed alike, enter and draw "a
ound table with the others and the school master.
These are from ncighboring farm sons of widow,
Who have till now been much engaged with the
abors of the farm they have been unable to attend
he school in the day time, but determined to
ose of the evening opportunities to keep along
With their class. They will make honest, intelligent
Industrious farmers. The old folks welcome them
heartily, and the young all reeiced at their
trivial The old lady inquiries why in the world
heir mother did not come along; and Mary, the
ind hearted Mary, is sorry to hear that it is be-
ause Sarah is not well, and mother is very busy
n getting their clothes done SO they go to
chool as as they finish picking apples " JOHN
avs she, let us hurry and get through stent
nd we will go over to the widows and while / help
Ter with her sewing, you shall read for the
the case, says the father, laying down the axe
will finish your work" "And Mary, my dear girl,
on't go empty handed" says mother, g you know
rom experience how sweet little delieacies brought
" friendly hands to the side of a sick bed are to
he poor invalid
6 Hetty, my dear, if you have done your dishes,
ou must get your cards and make few rolls for
m quite out of grey yarn, and must have some
stockings in the work. Old man, don't cut that
umpkin too thick Ada, daughter, get plate of
oughnuts and some of those nice fall pippins and 4
ct them on the table guess these bows can cat AL