Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-01-23
Hartford and Vernon Matters
OLnEN TINES.

OLDEN TIMES.
EDITOR CHRONICLE Some of us can
remember when this country had a new
and wild look. Nearly all lived in log
houses made of round logs, covered with
a kind of split cut single about four feet
long, and kept in place by weight poles
The chimney, on the inside or outside,
was at n end of the house, made of stones,
sticks and mud. Each house had about
two small windows, and two doors with
strings hanging out to lift the latch. Those
who made cheese, had a kind of back shed,
where could be- seen an Undesirable
cheese-press, brass kettle, tin pans, milk
pans, etc. All the cracks in the house
were filed with split-eut pieces of wood.
and mud. In a low loft, reached by
climbing up a ladder, the oldest children
slept, surrounded by drying corn, dried
apples, pumpkins, herbs for medicine and
so on. Below, IN one corner, was a loom,
and in the other was a bed, under which
was a trundle bed for the small children.
A table, chest and some coarse chairs or
stools completed the furniture. On some
wooden hooks overhead could be seen the
rife and powder-hOrn, and perhaps some
dried v%enison, called clerk" On one side
of the chimney, upon some shelves, resting
on wooden pins, were the dishes, under
which, on the floor were the pots and ket-
ties. The foundation Of the fires was q
back log just about as heavy as one man
could we'll handle, with a back stick on
the top. The fore stick was a good lift for
a stout boy, resting on hand-irons, and all
were adjusted by tongs, and a kind of half
and shovel, called slice. Bread,
pork, beans, etc, were baked In the So
called bake-kettle, with cast iron lids, on
which live Goals were placed with the
slice. The dinner was made ready, in not
a very small pot, hung on a crane over
the fire, made up of a piece of beef, or
pork, all sorts of vegetables and a huge
pudding tied up in a bag. Ashel Banning
"a fun making MANI used to tell about
their making the pudding so big, back in
old Ccnneciicut, hat the s'wimin" had to
call the men in about eleven o'clock to
turn it over in the pot with hand-spikes.
The foundation of the supper was the So
called ''cold v~ictuals," served with vine
gar and grated horse-raddish. This the
young folks could not stand, and would
get some bread and milk, (perhaps warm
from the cow into which they woald put
baked apples or black berries and e # with
a spoon At all our meals, Mr.. Editor,
good Yankee mothers gave us apple
Or pumpkin sass" sweet and nus cakes,
biscuit, apple or pumpkin pies, mince pies
stew-pies, sausage, and so on. Large fam
lilies had brick or clay ovens heated with
So called ovcn-woOd, the slice being a
great institution to take out the Goals, put
IN and take Out the bread, pies, etc.
Every house was q woollen and linen
1 can now in my imagination
almost hear the CHATTER Of tie loom in the
corner, kept in motion by some strong
armed woman who is throwing the MIN
bic shuttle from this to that side of the I
piece, or see some matron at the little
wheel making it fly with her foot at a
desperate rate, watching some little urchin
10 keep his fingers out of the flyers, while
and anon she dips her fore finger in a
little gourd of water to wet the fax or tow,
as she pulls it from the distaff, just before
her; or some young Miss, as she PAGES back
and forth at the big wheel, turning it with
little turned out stick, with a knob on
the end, and all the time singing Old
Hundred, or some other favorite tune,
while she picks up the nice white rolls
and makes them into the even spun thread.
If it be coloring day, all the pots and ket-
les are in use, and a great display of col
DTS, made from bark, leaves, and l don't
know what all. Mr.. EDITOR, 1 would
ike to-day O suit of such as we used to
make from our Merino sheep, with Ben
amin Allen, of Kinsman, to dress. In
Iced 1 used to think our girls handsome
when dressed in the plaid flannel they
used to make for women's wear.
ALMOST A FIRE.
Ore evening as some men we're passing
the new and. model residence of Osman
Hull, they saw it to be on fire in the roof,
near one of the chimneys. 1t is thought
that in fifteen minutes all would have
been lost. We understand that about
dollars will make all right again.
OYSTER UPPER
There is a story IN circulation out here,
Mr.. EDITOR, and we know that there is
ruth in it, to the effect, that some of the
overs and respeeters of the Gospel, went
one evening to the hotel of Lester Lane,