The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-11-23
chambers Journal.l
A Tennessee Squire.

II guess you'll like to eat?" sal
Mrs. Harker after awhile-"Get din
ner ready, Susan" This to the daugh
ter.
During the conversation, which wa
not interrupted, [ observed how tn
meal was prepared; indeed, could no
help it, as it went on under my eyes
After throwing more wood on the fire
Miss Harker half-filled tin bow
with Indian meal; into it was dredget
some 'raising-powder;" water was ad
ded, and a paste made in a few min
utes. The pot on the hearth wa.
partly filled with hot ashes, and small
Jumps of dough placed on them; the
lid was put on, and the bread-bakine
was in process. A kettle was placed
on the fire, and while the water was
heating, the coffee was ground. AT.
terward, thick slices Of bacon were cut
from a rusty fitch, that looked like E
section from pine slab A huge
heavy frying-pan was filled with the
bacon, placed on the fire; and soon the
odors of the pan pervaded the room
efectually overwhelming the fra
GRANGE Of the azaleas and roses
Meantime, from hidden store-room
an up-piled dish of apple-jam was
brought, and strange-looking sub
stance resembling cream-cheese. A
few cracked cups. plates, and small
dishes, very heavy and thick, furnish
ed the table equipage.
The meal was soon prepared; and /
took the place assigned me by my
host, who Immediately sat down on
the one side of me, his son taking the
other. I waited for the ladies to take
their places; but they showed no dis
position to do so. Feeling uncomfort-
able, ventured to suggest that Mrs.
Harker should take my seat, which
seemed to surprise my friends. No;
the women would dine afterward.
The Squire did the honors Of the table
in generous fashion, piling my plate
with bacon, filling my dish with jam,
and pressing the hot cakes upon me.
Miss Harker supplied the coffee. Her
mother continued to smoke and talk
in the chimney-corner
The experience | had subsequently,
of Tennessee manners and customs
showed that the Squire's family was
much like others. In no instance did
mothers and young children sit down
with the father, elder boys, and my
SELF The old paternal system, which
has almost died out in Western Eu-
rope, fourishes in the American wilds.
No doubt, when strictly en- .famil7e,
the members of the household eat to-
gether; but before guests, mothers
and youngsters retire into that sub
lection out of which the face has slow
ly emerged. But there was no brutal
ignoring Of the feebler members of
the family, no attempt to pass them
by. Politeness toward the stranger
and the devotion of the host to his
guest, seemed to be the reason for this
arrangement. I must say, however,
that hospitality loses much Of its
charm when women and children be-
come servitors and spectators instead
of fellow -banquetors. And in the
settled parts Of America there is such
an equality in the family, that I found
the squatter's custom more singular
than if | had been in another country
[ had made acquaintance with
American pork" prior to meeting it
at my hosts table. It's harsh fibre,
its rancid fat, its want of all that is
gracious in looks and in flavor, and
particularly it's immense demands up
on gastric energy, were well known
to me- But it was the piece de resist
ance, and must be eaten. The cream
cheese turned out to be butter, such
as would have made an English dairy
maid stagger, and British butter-eaters
grateful for oleomargarine or other
product of the chemists workshop.
Out Of respect for it's author Miss
Harker, and at the pressing request of
her father, | strove to do it justice, but
failed totally after one trial Few
people in our Islands are condemned
to corn -bread;" and | sincerely con-
gratulate them. tits altogether want
ing in the charm and the sustenance
found in our staff Of life. Perhaps
were it fermented and baked like our
wheaton bread, it might be more agree
able and nourishing. The cakes pre-
pared by the hands of my young host
ess left much to be desired, not for
me, but for herself and family, who
had to eat them three times day for
life. The apple-jam was neither
sweet, sour, nor sayory-the COM
pletest neutrality in preserved fruits |
had ever tasted. Sugar is dear i'll the
United States, and many other plants
besides 'cane" are utilized for obtain
ing saccharine matter One Of these
is sorghum, much cultivated in the
South; and [ suppose my hostess had
preserved her apples by this means.
Coffee strong, fragrant, and abun-
dant, was the refreshing and inyigor-
Ating item in the dinner. It's excel
lence atoned for a multitude of culi-
nary foibles and failures; and though
unsupported by sugar, cream, OF milk.
it was tower of strength in itself.
Coffee plays an important prt in
frontier-life, and will advance in esti-
nation as whisky recedes. A genera
ton Of farmers, squatters, and pioneers
is growing up to whom alcohol Is OBJ
jectionable in any form. A solid rock
of opinion is rising against strong
drink in every part Of America, and |
found it nowhere more pronounced
than in the Tennessee Highlands.
| Coffno oives all the stimulant the eli