The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-06-28

brought in from Old Mexico, where they
cost from SIS to $40. Some Of these
Mexican and many of the Indian ponies
are cream and fancy-colored. Some Of
the merchants have good mules from
Southern Texas worth 500 to $500 per
pair, and here, as elsewhere, dearer than
the corresponding class IT horses-Ion-
Dining in the Old Time and the
New:
From Rnral New Yorker.
1t was the home ofa well-to-do FARM
or. Five stout, athletic sons; and six
rosy-cheeked girls, the good man and
his wife composed the family: Three
of us cousins were invited to spend the
day. We had enjoyed pleasant fore
noon, going from the cheese room,
where we watched the process of whey
ing off the curd, scalding and sailing and
putting in the capacious hoop and from
there put into the press; when there
was nothing more to be seen there, we
went to the spinning room, where two
OF tie girls were doing their days work
at the old-fashioned wheel and another
was weaving cloth for the Winters wear
of the family, they were busy house,
hold, chat was fifty-fve years ago and
young people were brought up to workD
At just II o'clock the dinner horn blew
a tremendous blast and we
all made rush for the kitchen sink, so
as to get washed before the men came
+t,ol o,y F11I l0v<
table set in the middle of the kitchen;a
dishes were blue and white crockery.
There were 16 of us eat down to the hos
pital board. In the center of the table
was large pewter platter piled full OF
potatoes, boiled pork, salt beefand boil
ed cabbage. On the right of the platter
was large brown earthern pan full of
stewed green peas, and the Jumps of
golden butter were floating over the sur
face. They looked and smelled deli:i-
GUS. A tin dipper with long handle
lay on the edge of the pan for use.
There were six blue quart mugs set
around for drinking vessels; there
was a black quart bottle
of vinegar. two earthern salt
cellars, a tin pepper box, and mustard
pot with pewter spoon in it. There
was red tin bread dish with large slices
of brown bread and platter ofslices of
generous plate Of cheese and stack of
doughnuts. The knives and forks were
steel with buckhorn handles. There
was enough of everything, and every
thing was good. After the head of the
fie mlly pronounced blessing we all sat
down and helped ourselves to what we
wished that was not within arms length
the one nearest to the desired article
helped us. It was bountiful table and
we ate with relish. There was very
little conversation during the whole
meal. The father asked if the hay
would be ready to 60 in after dinner,
and the mother inquired how near done
the girls had. got their stints and how
much Betsy had woven that forenoon?
No one was let off FROM their tasks be-
cause there was company. When all
were through eating we rose from the
table and "thanks" were returned; then
each one carried their chair to their
places, and as sat mine down glanced
at the tall clock in the corner and it
lacked quarter Of one. When the clock
struck the table was all cleared off and
the boys were all off to work, and the
girls went to their wheels and loom and
we went to see the cheeses in the back
buttery. This dinner was at the table of
one of the first men in point of wealth,
influence and position in the county.
Fifty-fve years had rolled by, the broad
| acres of Judge Langden had descended
to his elder son. The old man
and his wife, laid peacefully side by
side in the village churchyard. The boys
and girls were all scattered in different
states of the Union, saving three who
had finished their life's work. BY virtue
of kinship was invited to visit the old
| homestead. I would never have rec
ognized the house. Inside and out it
was completely metamorphosed, and
had it not been for familiar look at the
| distant hills, seen through the window,
| I should have thought [ had gone to
the wrong place. Hardly had laid my
wraps aside when two dainty young
ladies entered the parlor. They were
deliberately dressed, and supposing them
| to be guests. l felt little ashamed of
| my cashmere and plain collar; but, no,
they were the daughters of the house
come in to receive an introduction
to their fathers cousin. Their
mother excused herself to see to the
| dinner, and they remained to entertain
me. Their father soon came in to greet
me, and the time few by quickly until
| the dinner was announced.
! Where shall l commence? The old
kitchen was the dining room; an extern
sion table, was spread with dalnask
cover, and silver and glass glittered all
over, silver knives and forks, casters,
salts, spoons, goblets and what not.
There were little bits of bread, little bits
of butter on little bits Of plates, and the
knives and forks and spoon were all
set up just so, with napkin top of them,
After we were seated the lady jingled
a bell, and in filed three servants. bear
ms plates of soup. Presently two young
| men came in and took their places at
the table; then lad came rushing in,
| and they we're introduced as the sons.
They kept up a stream of talk till tho
| tinkle of the bell summoned the SER
| wants to remove the plates and bring in
| the next course. It was splendid tur-
key, and it Looked and tasted nice; two
or three kinds of vegetables served as
| lance, and so had good appetite. i
was Just thinking about asking for ano-
Their slice of fowl when the bell jingled
| and the servants made dive and took
| my plate and knife and fork from
under my nose and bore them off into
the invisible regions. Then came sau-
Ger of pudding, then plates with pie of
| two or three kinds, with more silver
forks; then coffee in elegant cups, and
| two cake baskets with various kinds of
cake were passed around and
then put in the center Of the table.
There were lots of fixings that I had
never seen before, and have not the
least idea of what they were composed,
or what they were designed for. I be-
lieve the last course however, was tooth
picks. I was waiting for the lady to
| give the signal for rising when there
came rush, as of many feet, and dooS
| flew open and five children came boun&,
ing into the dining room, much to the
| disgust of the young ladies and gentle
men, who made prec1pitate retreat to
the parlor. I soon followed them, and
glancing at the little French clock OH
the marble mantel, saw that we had
passed two hours and half at the din
| ner table. My mind reverted to the
long years ago, and could but reflect
| upon the contrast of the two dinners,
and question whether the change is an
actual Improvement.
Young EnglishwOmen.
It is said that young Englisbwomen of
Sto,