Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-07-29
OId-mshlorcd Cemror,.

Cur ancestors were a frugal. selfdenv;ng
people, Injured to hardships nom The crsdl,e,
tuey were content to be almost wi,hou, ,bs Inv
uries of life, but they enjoyed some of ls com
forts, TO which many OF us are strangers. (old.
fashioned comforts, we may say y and a,1ono
these the old Fireplace, as il used 10 he termed.
held no mean rank. How viyidly the picture
of one of those spacious kitchens of the olden
time comes TO our mind, with It's plain furn-
ture and sapded floor, innocent of paint, but as
white as the neatest Of housewives could make
it! In one corner stood the clock, its very face
wearing an aspect OF good cheer, and seeming
to smile beniggantly upon a miniature moon
over its head, which, tradition said. had at re-
mote period followed the rising and setting of
its great prototype in the heavens, though its
days of active service were oog ago over
But the crowning glory of that kitchen was
not its white sanded flood nor the high desk
with its pigeon holes and secret drawers, which
no venturesome youngser ever dared to in
wade; nor yet the old clock ticking so musical
ly in the corner; but it was the old fashioned
Fireplace, with its blazing embers huge back
logs and iron fre-dogs, that shed glory over
the whole room, gilded the plain and hotnely
furniture with its light, and rendered the place
type of true New England in "ye olden
times"
Never were there such apples as those which
swung around and around upon sttngs before
the bright fire of a winters evening, never such
baked potatoes as those buried deep in the
ashes upon the hearth, never such cornstalks as
those which caught golden hue from the blaz-
ing embers, or turkey like those turned upon
spit, filing the room with savory odors so sug-
geslive of dainty repast.
Before the fire was the wooden settle, and
lere the children were wont TO sit in the long
evening, telling stories, cracking nuts, coming
'heir lessons for the morrow, or listening in ST.
lence 10 the words of wisdom that tell from the
lips OF their superiors, and anon gazing in ST.
lence into the bright fire, and conjuring up all
sorts of grotesque and ianciful images from
among the burning Goals. No fabied genii,
with their magic lamps of enchuntment could
build such gorgeous palaces, or create such
gems as the child could discern amid the blaz-
iugembers of the old fashioned fireplace.
And we must not neglect the chimney corner,
where sat our grandfather in his accustomed
seat, his hair silvered with the the SHOWS Of
many winters--a venerable man, 10 whom old
age had come "frostly but kindly" and whose
last days were like those of an Indian summer,
creme and beautiful, even till the stars appear
ed in heaven.
How pure was the air in those DAYS! The
huge fireplace, with its brisk draught, carried
off the impurities of the atmosphere, and left
he air pure, life-giving and heahfrl. Now
we crouch around no, cooking.stpves, nn,l think
it strange that we feel so stupid and drowsy Of
an evening or we huddle about air-tight stoves
and wonder that the air seems burned and i'm
pure; or we sit down in chill, rooms heated by
a furnace, and marvel that with all oui costly
furniture soft carpets. bright mirrors and dam
ask curtains, they are cherries places-so un-
ike ourideas Of New England home.
Ala! that with all the so-caled improve
men,s of our advanced civilization, the fire
should be permitted TO go out forever in our
old-lushioned fre-places, thus buryng in the
| ashes Of the past so many means of health,
home comfort, good cheer and happiress.-
! Scientific american.