Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1873-11-05
A Thanksgiving Feast Of the Ty.
rOIese.

Autumn had stepped IN with the
the month OF September. The harvest
was carried, and, according to ar
an old custom, the village held thanks
giving service before the sowing OF the
seed-ccrn began and whilst all were
generous 70 their relations. none showed
greater hospitality than the worthy
Hofbauer, who expected not only all
his own connexions, but also those OF
his dead wife, to share in the annual
jubilee.
Arduous were now the labors of the
womankind preparatory to the feast.
Nanni No. and Nanni No. 2 of the es-
tablishment might be met carrying
pounds and pounds of fresh meat into
the cellar. In the stube sat Kathi,
seated on one of the wooden settees
which surrounded the room, her good
old face bent silently over paste board
placed on one of the square tables at
which the large family took their meals.
This was more convenient than in the
ge,ooiJe, or huge pantry, which was
half buried in provender: besides, kathi
thought, it struck damp. But Model
might be found there, with quiet-smile
on her dear ruddy face, whilst her
healthy bare brown arm moved back
ward and forward with marvellous agility
in the beating of eggs. Let us step into
the gewolbe, Kathi's domain proper. 1t
is marvellous place. Look Mt the
y-painted chests of the lowest deco
rative style of art, choking with flour
and buckwheat meal look at the racks
full of heavy, hinty household bread ;
at the pyramid of obiong bladder-like
pastry, called krapje,i, which covers the
table at the smoked tongues, pig
cheeks, feet and bologna sausage hang
ing from the ceiling. Light and air are
admitted by large open window, but
the atmosphere is SO impregnated with
the odor of cummin (the favorite spice
of the Tyrol, found in bread, in dishes
of vegetables, in puddings and pastry
that any sense of great freshness is ex-
cluded. Rudely-made presses contain
lint and linen for accidents or sprains,
whilst endless lotions and remedies are
carefully preserved in q long range
of little drawers-cloves, ginger, dried
hyssop, fennel, anis and sage, all excel
lent remedies for keeping the cold ont
of the stomach, to say nothing of a
discreet bottle of schnapps for the
same purpose. There is many another
herb, dried by the careful kathi be-
tween the two Lady Days, NIary's as
cension and Mary's birthday, which
may usefully be employed for man or
beast-mullein, very amulet against
every kind of cough and sore-throat !;
pIantain, wormwood, red and white
mugwort; nor are the scrapings of
hartshorn bought from a mountain
huntsman forgotten, At this moment,
however, no one is dreaming for an in
slant of being i'll /: that might happen
after. but must not precede the feast.
Kathi and Model, experienced cooks
and housewives, work steadily on, with
out feeling the least anxiety for the sue
cess of their stupendous efforts. They
are only amazed that we should be sur
prised at the quantity of their work
that they can remain, in fact, so cool in
the midst of their hundred and one
boilings, singings, choppings, and fry
ings. Kathi certainly wipes the per-
spiration off her brow, but Model can
not even allow herself leisure for the
act The dinner would not be in time
if they stopped to enter the chapel, even
for RosenkranZ. Sc all the womankind
repeat their Hail Marys hurrying back
ward and forward. Then Model retires
to snatch few hours of rest, wakes
with start, and is again alert at mid
night, when, attended, rather than
aided, by two maids in waking stupe-
faction, the baking, boiling and steam
ing receive a continuous impetus. kathi
reappearing at four for the last trium-
phant efforts.
In good time the Hofbauer and Anton
are equipped in their gala attire for
church, Model and the maids, in spite
of their nocturnal labors, following
them briskly; so that they have not
only said their prayers and endeavored
to understand the sermon, but actually
joined in a procession before the guests
arrive. The sweet notes of a process
sional hymn still float on the silent,
balmy air as the sound of advancing
wheels is heard. Then several one
horse gigs are seen approaching, and
the geese hiss drowsily at the happy
faced JdUers and JaHerins, and their
focks of healthy. chubby children
stuffed in before and behind and SO
they drive carefully into the large yard,
where Onkel Johann, acting as hostler,
proudly though bashfully receives them.
There is sober gayety and rejoicing
about the elders, a suppressed merri-
ment about the youngsters. They do
not expect much waiting upon before
the feast. They know that strong but
silent friendship exists between them all
and their host-that they are ready to
help each other in any possible emer-
gency without making fuss about it.
So the Hofbauer can walk back leisurly
from church, and Kathi can attend to
her onerous duties in the kitchen, with
out a single visitor feeling slighted.
Soon the crowd of simple guests is
seated at table in the large sitting-room
which We have vacated for the occasion.
The Hofbauer stands at a side-table and
carves, and Anton in his long white
apron and bib waits as a serving man.
Onkel Johann, however, sits at table.
The aunt and Model are busy dishing
below they will have their share of
good things when they go to the return
feasts. OF pickings and leayings there
are none: it would be an insult to
send away half-emptied plate; and
for the same reason no dish is un-
touched, though it is banquet that
might even satiate work house. Soup,
sausage, roast veal, baked apples and
stewed prunes stewed liver, fried liver,
millet pudding; boiled beef with
horseradish and beef-root hung beef
cabbage dished with tongue and pork |;
noodles and then a second soup to
wash down what has gone before, but
followed by more substantials in the
form of liver-cake, in which that ingre-
dient has been baked with breadcrumbs,
eggs, onions and raisins. Then come
batter dumplings, one sort of knodel
sprinkled with poppy-seeds, roast beef
with salad, and finally coffee.
There is little talking only clatter
of plates, dishes, knives and forks as
the honest guests deliberately but per-
sistently vanquish each stage of the
feast.-Lippincotfs Magazine.