Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-10-05
Supper ut a New England sSQuiItlng
Bee"

The afternoon passed much as the morn
ing-the usual conversation, varied by
occasional remarks upon the weather, which
continued s'soft" and threatening for the
homeward flight of the bees. Needles,
however, few as activelyas tongues, and by
five O'Clock three quilts, including the
famous album quilt. and four comforters
lay completed upon the floor of the guest.
chamber; the frames were rapidly dismem-
bered and taken to the garnet, the room
cleared of litter, and the ladies requested
to amuse themselves for half an hour,
when supper would be served. Com
plying with this invitation, the elders,
after smoothing their black silk or alpaca
dresses. and adjusting their cap-ribbons, re-
paired in squads of two or three to the east
room to pay their respects to the patriarch.
while the younger women, sitter devoting a
little more time and pains to the renova-
ton of their toilets, collected in groups,
gossiping in low voices and with much
suppressed giggle, or hanging around the
| window to watch the arrival of the gentle
men who had been invited for the supper
and evening frolic offered to the bees by
way OF recompense for the tolls Of the day
This supper, as it was justly styled for
certainly it was neither breakfast, dinner,
nor tea-was feast such IS never perhaps
is spread out of New England, and, alas !
is rarely seen in these degenerate days,
even in that favored region.
IT was spread upon two extempore tables
extending tho length of the dining. room,
and crowded upon both sides with plates
for Miss Rachel strongly condemned
the inhospitable fashion of .sstand-up
teas" and declared that, ii she was to
/ have anything to eat, she also
wished comfortable place to eat
it in, or wanting that, had rather go I'M.
fed. Upon these tables, then, were set the
dishes, including an enormous round OF
spiced beef at either end, roasted turkeys
and geese as central ornaments, aud such
trif1es as roasted and boiled fowls, hams
tongues, headcheese, and smoked beef be-
tween. Varying these meats were plates o
smoking hot fried doughnuts, hot biscuit
brown bread, dipped toast, and short
cakes, and to succeed them upon the hil
OF fare came pies OF every imaginable varie
ty, cake of every hue and description
sweet-meats, pickles, cheese, custards
and fruits.
At smaller table across the head of the
room stood Miss Barstow and Beatrice
pouring cups OF coffee and tea, which
Nancy smilingly distributed; while DIR
|
tlemen, waited upon the fair guests at TIL,
table, carving the pieces de resistance, ant
urging them upon the delicate creatures
whose creed OF manners peremptorily in
culcated resistance to all such overtures
however much exhausted nature Nigh
crave support. This point, however. DO
ing thoroughly understood among the 10
cund SWANS of these shy Daphnes, wa
easily disposed OF, and somewhat in thi
fashion:
Have piece of turkey, Miss Welch !?
''No; I'm obliged to you, Mr.. Shnell
can't get through what I've got on m,
plate"
''You ha'n't got nothing but a piece O
bread, as ! see. Better have some turkey
it's first-rate."
'La no, couldn't eat it if I was t
take it."
''Well, if you don't, maybe It'll eat yo
for one of you's got to suffer, and there i
is
SO my Mr.. Shnell what he you dc
ing? Well, then, shall leave it on m
plate"
Which she did not do.-Mrs. j. @. Aus
lin, in Hearth and Home.