The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-06-02
A Boer Homestead.

Let us visit one OF the hOmesteads IN
the gardens. The white-walled house,
although but one storied, is well elevated,
and its roof is iron. Outside shutters OF
a pleasant green flank the two windows,
and the door between them is green and
paneled There is, indeed. some pre-
tense to architecture, and the whole is
well kept and substantial. The stoop is
high and approached by steps. The
water course beneath it is masoned out
with solid stone and bridged with the
same. material Leafy trees of divers
sorts shade the place and the stable and
outhouses in its rear. We enter voor-
huis, or front room, very lofty and but
slightly furnished. Its walls are lined
by benches, and q table stands in the
middle. There are pictures, it may be
very Quaint and old world; scenes in the
life of the prodigal son, or INNINGS of
the manger at Bethlehem, or the cross
on Calvary. A new piano may be noted
and q good harmonium, and pious books
with Dutch titles lie scattered about.
And there are flowers on the table, and
on mantelpiece photographs and albums,
for there are daughters in the house.
In some place of honor lies great old
Bible, a massive folio bound in leather
and with brass clasps; it is printed in
foreign-looking type, on ancient-looking
paper, and full of the strangest pictures
that ever delighted the antiquary or
mystified the child A companionable
book upon dull occasion, but disap-
pointing, inasmuch as its date discovers
it to have been printed but the other
day. Spittoons stud this chambers floor,
for it is the great reception-room, and
visitors sit round it and smoke their
pipes at and seasons of conference and
waiting; and many such times there be.
AT. the back Of this voorhuis is the dim
| ing-room, entered by large and even
handsome folding doors. In both apart
ments the walls are painted light blue,
or green, or mauve; in both the ceiling
is raftered and wooden, vanished and
dark. The. great feature Of. the. dining
room, apart from the usual furnishings,
is small table near the window, with a
| chair on either side. Upon this table
stands coffee-urn, with chafng- dish
beneath it; and the day has scarcely
turned before this urn begins to steam
and to bubble. On its dexter side il
seated the lady of the house, who pourf
out coffee for all corners, and, with feet
well planted one box-ike foot-stool,
rules and manages her household
Children play around her, colored girl
sits watchfuI at her feet, and at favorable
moments her lord and master occupies
the corresponding chair, utters famihal
maxims and remarks, and his friend, sit
ting hard by, carries oman intermittent
conversation between wary mouth fuls b
the scalding bevsEaes; ! He is = well
built man, not unlike tlB English farmel
of our early days, but more sallow ant
less CHEEKY, more Puritanical and staid
His ancestors came from France anl
Holland, but in this wonderful climate
of the Cape. perchance for animal lif'
the finest under the sun, their offspring
have developed into race SUI generis
nobly grown and quite unlike hetypica
Hollander, or Frenchman. We 'convers,
in Dutch, the only language he cares Il
speak, although his children are ap
scholars in the English tongue, and b.
and by he takes us into his garden.
COEtsanDor0rU ReuieD.