Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-03-03

lamD WOOL, knit Oy ncr own ndnus,
fastened in front with grandmother's
silver broach. The other two are in
check woolen, spun, wove, colored,
and made up under the same roof.
Further down the table are three
athletic young men, day laborers-
sons Of neighboring farmers. One of
them is eyeing sweet Mary with an ex-
preston easily read by good physi-
ognomist. The group is completed by
the school-teacher. young man with
a glowing eye which speaks of intellect
that will tell upon the world some day
with as much force as though he had
not been obliged to obtain his educa-
ton by summer labor and winter teach
ing. He is one Of New England's
rising sons.
And now for the supper.
On the table stands a pct, of
ample dimensions, smoking from the
oven hanking the FIRE place, of that
most excellent of New England cooke
ries, "dish Of baked beans" crowned
with a great square piece of salt fat
pork, crisp and rich. Lower down a
broad pewter platter holds the remains
Of the "boiled victuals" that formed
the dinner-beef, pork, potatoes, beets
cabbage and turneps-apile that might
rival small hay-stack in size and
shape; plate ofrye and Indian bread,
cold, and another made of rye flower,
are untouched, for great loaf just
drawn from the oven, nicely Drowned
and hot, is offered in greet broken pie
ces to tempt the APPETITE to one of the
richest repasts ever given to an epicure
By the side of the old lady stands a
black earthen teapot, the contents OF
which are freely offered, but accepted
by only two of them, as the rich new
milk, or pure cold water, is preferred
as beverage by those hardy laborers.
We must not forget the never-failing
accompaniment to the evening meal al
this season of the year, for il is 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 form into a circle around the
great fireplace. Father is finishing
off an axhelve; Jed is mending apalI
of boots, and one of the hired men on
the other side Of the same bench is
repairing the wagon harnesS-both use
the same tools. The other two arc
employed, one shelling corn, and the
other helping Mary to peel pumpkins
which are cut in slices and hung upon
poles overhead. This is Mary's accep
ted lover. Happy hearts and blessed
industry Lizzie, Alb, and Sol are en-,
gagged around the biz table, studying
geography, writing, spelling and arith,
metic-preparing themselves for future
usefulness. Mother is making a new
coat for one of the boys, and Ada is
ironing at a side table. There are
two other members Of this happy fam.
lily group-the cat occupies the top oil
the dye-tub in one corner of the fire
place, and old Bose sleeps quietly un-
der the table.
Directly Bose gets up and walks out
into the entry and gives a loud. sharp
bark at the outside door, and stands
waiting the approaching step. Soon
satisfied that The new com,rsa are friends
he retires again to his repose, and two
or three boys dressed much like those
already described, enter and seat them.
selves around the table with the others
and the sehoolmaster These are the
sons Of a widow living near by. They
have been so busily engaged on the
farm that they could not attend school
in the daytime. but are determined mol
TO lose any OF the evening opportunities
10 keep with the class.
The old folks welcome them hearti.
ly and the young ones are all rejoiced
at their arrival. The old lady inquiries
why their mother did Mt come will
them; and kind hearted Mary is Sc
sorry TO hear that it's because Sarah i,
not SO we'll; and then she proposes tC
John that they shall 60 over to tn,
widows; and John readily agrees to go
and the old lady, as matter of course
sends some little delicaeies to the inval
id Sarah. ada, get some doughnut
and some of those nice fall pippins,
guess the boys can eat a few while they
are cyphering Sol get another candle
I'm sure such good boys ought TO hav'
as much light as they want"
Thus l have given you slight out
line of a farmers house such as it use,
to be, and such as it ought to be now
How do you like the picture?