The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-09-15

In summer nearly all retired to rest at earl
dark, without Lighting a candle except upor
extraordinary occasions. Homemade sof
soap was used for washing hands, face ane
everything else. Families in ordinary cir.
cumsRnces ate their meals on trencherl
wooden plates), As I grew older our fam.
lily and others got an e~xtravagant streak, dis.
carded trenchers and rose to til.
dignity of pewter plates and leader
spoons. Tin peddlers, who travelled through
the country with their wagons, supplied
these and other luxuries. Our food con.
sisted chiefly of boiled and baked beans
bean porriage, coareerye bread, apple sauce
hasty pudding, eaten in milk, of which WI
all had plenty. The older portions Of The
family ate meat twice q day. had plenty 81
vegetables, fish of their own catching, &C.
casionally big CLAIMS, which were cheap il
those days, and shad in their season-these
were brought from Norwalk and Bridge.
port by fish and clam peddlers. Uncle
Caleb Morgan, of Wolfpits or Puppytown
was our only butcher. He peddled his
meat through Bethel once q
week. 1t consisted mostly Of
Of veal, mutton or fresh pork, seldom
bringing more than one kind at q time,
Probably he did not have beef .oftenerthar
once a month. Many families kept sheep,
pigs and poultry, and onesor more cows.
They had plenty Of plain substantial food.
Droves Of hogs ran at large in the streets
of Bethel.
Our dinners several times each weekco
sisted Of 'spot luck" which was corned
beef, salt pork and vegetables, all boiled
together n the same big pot hanging from
the crane, which was supplied with iron
hooks and traEmels, andsWung in and on,
Of the huge Fireplace. In the same poi
with the salt pork, salt beef. potatoes, tur-
nip, parsnips, beets. carrots.
VI . placed an Indian pudding,
consisting Of plain Indian meal mix.
ed with water, pretty thick, sailed, and pour
ed into q homemade linen bag which was
tied at the top. When dinner was ready
the pudding wal first taken from the pot,
slipped out Of the bag and eatenwith mo-
lasses. Then followed the pot luck" I
confess i like to this day the old-fashioned
boiled dinner but doubt whether I should
relish q sweetened desert before my meat.
Rows Of sausages called links, " hung in
the garnet, were dried, and lasted all vim
ter.
There were but few wagons or carriages
in Bethel when / was q boy. Our grists of
grain were taken to the mill in bags on
horseback, and the women rode to church
on Sundays and around the country on
week days on horseback, usually on q
cushion called q pillion, fastened behind
the snddle, the husband, father, brother OF
lover riding in front on the saddle. The
country doctor visited his patients on horse
back, carrying his s~addls-bags, containing
calomel, jjalap, Epson salts, faucets and a
turnkey those being the principal aids
in re~lievingthe sick. Nearly every person,
six or well, was bled every spring.
Everybody had barrels OF cider in their
cellars, and drank cider spirits called
ssgumption..' Professors Of religion and
the clergy all drank liquor. They drank it
in all the hat and comb shops. The farm.
ers had il at haying and harvest times.
Every sort Of excuse was made for being
treated. a new journeyman must give a
pint or quart OF rum to pay for his footing.
lf q man had q new coat he must sponge,
it by treating. Even ut funerals the clergy,
mourners and friends drank LIQUOR.
AZ public vendues the a~uctioneer
held . bottle Of liquor in his band, and
when the bidding Jagged he would cry: "A
dram to the next bidder" The bid would
be raised a cent, and the bidder would take.