Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-02-01
Sranafather'S Kitchen,

One of the most interesting visions
OF our childhood are those of our visits
to the kitchen of our grandfather.
The scenes OF youth and early child.
hood are never more wildly impressed
than when we make our first visit from
home, which is likely to beto the home
of our grandparents. The child escapes
from the restraint of parents, and is
pleased with the kind words and indul-
genco of grandfather and grandmoth-
er. We remember such visits half Il
century ago. The old kitchen ID still a
vivid picture, and even. more so than
that of our own home. 1t was n long
room, ceiled up on the walls and over
head with pine boards painted red,
which had assumed o darisened hue in
the lapse Of time. A long box which
answered for seat ana place of de-
post run along the wall of the room.
at the end OF the box were the drcssers,
which wero open shelves on which
were displayed the pewter plates well
secured, and other dishes set up edge
wise. No cupboard-doors were regarded
US necessary ut that time. On the OF
posite end Of the room was closet, in
which was huge mea!-chest, divided
off Cor holding Indian or rye meal and
wheat flour; for barreled -four was a
thing unknown in those days, as every
body was expected to raise his own
wheat. The rows of cheese on the
shelves rendered the room fragrant with
tn cir odor.
The fire place was large enough to
hold wood four feet in length. with a
brick oven by its side, and q place sunk
into the jamb where the inkstand was
put to keep It from freezing. The
sandirons were of huge proportions,
with the figure of dogs head upon
them. They were made Of wrought
iron. 1t was not till generation later
they were made CT cast iron. BY tho
side of the fireplace stood the settle,
which was u circular wooden bench
with q high wooden buck. This was
drawn near to tile fire, where the child
rem could sit and enjoy the warmth
Of the fire, as the heat was reflected
upon the back Of the settle. Many n
ffolic, and many courtship did the
old settle witness in those days. BY
the fireplace lay pile of wood with
which to build the fire in the morning.
1t was granafather's special duty at
night to cut a backlog about eighteen
or twenty inches through, and walk i.
on end into the kitchen, to have ready
IN the morning, A fore-stick foot
through, q back-stick and wood of in.
termediate size, and kindling wood,
were made ready the night beforehand.
The custom did not much prevail of
cutting up. the years stock Of wood
beforehand. The fire in the morning
was rousing one, carrying up chimney
enormous quantities of heat, and
throwing out into the room enormous
quantities Of heat, by which the whole
room was kept aglow. A hugo bed
OF Goals was formed, in which the pota-
toes for breakfast were placed to roast,
and on which was placed hugh skill
let in which was frie,. some pork. The
bed Of Goals served another purpose.
A cake made of Indian, rye, or wheat
fear, was rolled out and spread on a
board called trenchcr, and set up TO
the iircto bake. a huge crane swung
over the fire, with the pendent trammel
and hooks, on which was hung the big
brass kettle on washing days. On 60
Ing to bed at night the backlog for the
day was so far consumed as to be cover
ed up with ashes for the night, so as to
leave good bed of Goals for the next
morning. A flint and finder box were
kept in every house, and in case of d
failure in that, recourse was had to q |
neighbor's house for 4 coal of fire.
There was real Music in one of those
eld-fashioned fires. The bass roaring
of the flames, the swapping of the wood
and the Kissing of the sap as it oozed
out Of the ends of the green logs, kept I
everything cheerful. Now and then a
huge piece of coal would snap out into
the room, which mast be cared for, lest
the floor be burned.
The floor was made OF clear spruce
boards and implanted. Occasionally ii
was covered with coating of pure
white sand, which was trod upon the
floor for the purpose OF securing it and
il white. The neatness of q
house wife was judged by the white
ness Of her floor. The large and small
syiGnins- wheel, the clock reel, and the
E.r.,i tlffer found a nlnna in the itch