The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-04-04


lurked in the dimples that nestled SO
costly on her soft cheeks, Would Har-
ry, could Harry relish now such vietuals
as these? A huge platter was brought
from the buttery to the board, old hearth
aud then the iron cover removed from
pot of ample dimeuisons. First, the
old lady took from it piece of salt pork
all dripping with fat; then followed a
mass of boiled cabbage; beets, ruddy
and so plump; carrots, golden as sun
shine, and potatoes bursting their brown
skins as though in haste to be eaten,
Mrs Lawrence expected, of course, each
would be placed on separate dish, the
water pressed from the cabbage and it
moulded into comely form, the beets
and carrots sliced and seasoned, and the
skins removed from the potatoes. But
not so. Proudly, as though it were the
dish of four and twenty black birds,
aud fit to set before king the good
mother carried it to the table and de-
posting it in the center, said pleasantly I:
There is real lold-fashioned dinner,
and hope it will taste. to Harry as it
used to- and she turned and went again
to the buttery to fill out the unoccu-
pied space. There wasa large plate Of
bread, which her daughter thought must
be some of that rye bread of which she
had so often heard her husband speak
in such high terms, for it was certain
ly different from any bread she had ever
seen; then there were pickels and apple
sauce, and some late cuoumbcrs sliced
in vinegar vith onions, and stewed pears
and sage cheese and doughnuts, and
lastly, fresh from the cellar, a ball OF
sweet. golden buttor.
haven't bit of pie or pudding in
the house, said the good mother, but
I only yesterday fried up great pan Of
doughnuts and I'm dreadful glad ont
now, for Harry, when he was boy,
used to say he could eat half peck
any time'
Harfy's wife compared the masses of
fried dough. each one as large az farm
er's fist and as brown, with the deli
cate, fairy-like crullers she had been
wont to set before him at tea, and woD-
dered mentally. if Harry, now that he
was man, would not prefer half peck
of hers. But shes said nothing, about
the dinner, we mean, and waited patient
ly till he should return, to see how he
could manage to dispose of the hearty
and beautiful meal.
He came in shortly and with him the
dear, old father, his wrinkled face mer-
ry with smiles. Very tenderly did he
drew the gentle, young wife to his heart,
and fervent and solemn was the bless
ing he invoked on hcr head. " You've
come to an humble home, but you're
welcome, ci.;ld, and glad, indeed, are
we to see you. But ocme, you must be
hungry, 1 know; sit by and take farm
er's fare. Are the men called, wife"
They are here and as she spoke
there was heard the stamping of heavy
boots and soon the splashing of water
in the shed, and in few moments the
three hired men entered, dividing their
glances between the beautiful yonng wife
aud the smoking platter. Without any
ceremony they all draw their chairs to
the table. When all was still, the aged
father reverently bowed his head and
asked blessing upon the food of which
they were now to partake, and then re-
turned thanks to Heaven that once again
their frst-born had been permitted to re-
turn to their lowly home. Tears were
streaming down bis checks as he con-
clnded; and so solemnly and impressive
| ly had he spoken, that for a few moments,
Mrs. Lawrence looked upon the table
with feeling of awe Its contents
seemed all to have been sanctified. Bnt
the spell was broken, when, after her
father-in-law had sliced up the huge
piece of pork, he said, pleasantly
+" Come, now, all help yourselves,
country fashion," and she saw the hired
,nen thrust their ungainly forks into the
dish and take thence a portion of each
and every thing, and then added to the
miscellaneous mass spoonful of apple
sauce, another of cucumber and onion, a
stewed pear, pickle and piece of
cheese. Coaid she possibly swallow
such mingled mess ? She tried it and
filled her plate as did the others, won
dering to herself what her husband would
do. being in his own home always so
particularly about a change of plate
AID there was merry twinkle in her
bright, biGe eye, when, instead Of help
ing himself at all. he said so his mother,
If you will give me bowl Of Eailk, it
will be all want this noon-I can new
er eat pork when have the headache
"Does your head ache badly ?" asked
his wife, mischievously, scarcely able to
refrain from laughing outright at this,
his frst get off from mothers cooking.
Not very" said he, but I am
afraid it will, and so shall keep on the
safe side.'
BY this time his mother had brought
him the milk, and it was sight to glad
den the heart of a Citizen an nure 40