Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-02

some than any preparation Of Indian meal
1T noI,,,o,;rofe ia "a no f,lo

stick cnimHey. In Tue Hrepldce Tue Rye
rested, In lieu of andirons, on two chunks,
and here depended the iron crane on
which, by means of pot hooks, were hung
the kettles for boiling. The baking was
accomplished in deep Dutch ovens or IN
shallow skillets with lids. the glowing
Goals plying their heat above as Wen as
below. The hoecakes were cooked on
fiat disk of iron supported on legs over
Goals. The broiling was done-ahd capi-
tally done. too---on 4 gridiron laid on the
Goals :. sometimes the meat was placed inn
medjately on the Goals, from which the
ashes had been blown. Then there was
a triyet-a rim of iron on three legs few
inches high-which was the coffee pots
stool. Besides these there was meat
block. which also served, Aunt Cindy as
seat. Standing almost under the caves
was bench which she used for elevating
her portly figure when she was searching
the hewed log sleeper under the ratters
for spoons or forks; or papers OF spice,
each with the inevitable leak. Indeed,
these sleepers and the yellow clay Jambs
of the chimney-place answered the pur-
pose of shelves, closets, drawers. and all
those other things belonging to the class
called "kitchen conveniences." Those
lambs especially Aunt Cindy pronounced
.'mighty handy" There were the recep-
tacles OF the shovel and tongs. the kitchen
knife. the dish-cloth, the trivet, the coffee
pot. the rolling -pin. the cooks tobacco and
pipe, the gridiron. the pot-covers, and in
deed everything pertaining to kitchen fur
nifure to which they could afford lodg-
nent.
well, Cindy." said the Rev. Mr.. Bur
aiss, -.you are goin' to have chance to-
morrow to distinguish YOURSELF
~Gindy was tall and fieshy woman,
weighing SIT pounds. She was sitting on
the block which was seat or meat-slab as
the occasion demanded. She rose from
this block with heaving. labored motion,
which called to mind steamboat getting
under way. "Iis tolerbul distinguished
Already" she replied. Perhaps the speak
err found difficulty in raising and lower
Ing her astounding lower jaw and double
chin; her words had queer, smothered
sound, as though coming through hot
mush. "What's gwyne on tomorrow ?
she asked.
why, we air going to have fou' pre-
sidin' elduz yere to dinner tomorrow
yes. fou' presidin' elduz."
Good graciousr' exclaimed Aunt Gin
dY almost overwhelmed. "Mussy on us
Foul puzzidun' elduz! Reckon | hab to
stir my stumps tolerbul lively bout dat dar
dinner" and her eyes, hid away in rolls
Of fat like pin heads in cushion, began
TO twinkle in anticipation of culinary
triumph. But" she continued. clouding
again, 1--WE all amt got no little pig.
Can't git no dinner fit for shucks wdouten
a pig roas' whole, wild q red apple in its
m0uE Nus hab a pig somehows, to be
sartin.'' 'aa
''Oh, we can get pig" said Mr.. Bur-
giss assuredly; '.just SEN Tony over to
Brother Phillpots' early in the mawnin' to
borrer one. Tell him to tell Sister Phil
pots that III return it the fus' chance. An
now Cindy, my girl, jus do you bes' on
that dinner. Trus' in the Lord an fear
nothin'.'
ssDeed I'll do my very bes'. Puf1idin
dinner for fou' puzzidun' elduz is heaper
spoons bil'ty, but | recons yer'll fin ole
Ciudy kin tote IT, ,Jis' don't worrit you
'sef"
Aunt Cindv was an ardent Methodist.
That the path to Heaven lay through the
Methodist ''meetin'- house" she as earnest
Nv believed as that she had soul to save.
She would reluctantly grant that sinner
might "git religion elsewhere than a: a
Methodist protracted meeting or on Il
camp-oronnd, but in her heart of hearts
she did not believe the thing possible.
With her, any Methodist minister was an
object Of reverence Presiding Elder, as
being nearer God. of alteration. Accord
ing to her creed, "Jesus hes got hol' er
Gods han; de Bishop hoP er Jesus; de
puzzidn' elduz hol' err Bishops den comes
lie station-preachers an circult-riduz. and
eggsorters; den we pore mizzible sinners,
all in string, pullin' tor hebbn; an eff
we all hors on tell deaf payts dis immottle
frame, well git dar she's yer bon
When the Rev. Mr.. Burgess had left her,
Aunt Cindy lighted her cob pipe from the
hot embers and reseatcd herself on the
meat-block. as though she was settled for
life. She shut her eyes that she might
the better contemplate the morrow's
responsibilities, and was soon fast asleep,
her cob-pipe fallen and emptied into her
lap, and her copperas stripped apron slow
" burning under her nose. he fumes
finally woke her. ''Sakes er live ~ she
exclaimed, she exclaimed. rubbing out the |
fire between her broad fat hands with their |
cushion-like backs. "What in de worl ef
han't woked jst in time to put myself
out? Dat dar dinner for dem iou' puzzi-
dun elduzl Take kere, Cindy BURGESS"
she continued, apostrophizing herself:
yer can't be spawed yit-not by no
means
At this moment Mrs. Burgess entered.
Aunt Cindy retained possession of the
meat-block. She wished to conceal the
burns in her apron then she never rose
to her feet when she could help it, and she
did not hold her mistress In any great awe.
What yer come fer, Miss Rlthy?" she
demanded in challenging tone.
IL come to see bout the dinner to-mor-
row. How VAIN it is " and then the lady |
yawned.
Nov, look yere, Miss Rithy" (Zuretha
was Mrs. Burgess name); Eyer needn't |
come yere henderin' de cook wild you
nonscnse-talk bout dat dar dinner. Yer
don't know nothin at all, sca'cely. Jis'
go long, an don't go pestern' you'self
bout dar dinner. Yer better b'lieve Use |
gwyne ter fotch it out all right--dinner fer
fou' puzzidun elduz. De Lordn puflide
He'll hep me. Law Use seed &c circuit
rider go inter de pulpit not KNOWN muffin
'tall bout what he'se gwyne ter preach
jis leanin' on de Jordan Use seed him
4 .