St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-03-25

Every piece has its history, every arti-
Gle its story of association
The kitchen is specially interesting
with its beams of solid oak, blackened
by the smoke of years. The old fire.
place has been closed up, but on hooks
across the beams still rests the old
fiintlock which was brought from En-
gland by Jonathan Fairbanks. Cen
Grafton after generation, as they pass
ed away, instructed their successors to
keep the old family gun in the iron
rests put into the beam for it by its
original owner. The old iron lamp
still hangs here. 1t is sort of boat,
which, when it was used, was filed
with lard oil. The wick was cOiled
about in the oil, the end projecting
slightly about a small spout at one
side. The heavy old oaken chairs still
stand in this room, and the Oaken
tables and settle.
In the excepting room" or parlOr is
the closet where the old china is kept.
Here is one piece of cold Dutch delft"
that is literally worth more than its
weight in gold. 1t has been broken,
but was carefully mended, so not a
piece is lost, and it still retains its
quaint shape, of a nautilus shell, is
pure white, with raised shell like de-
sign about the edge, and it is very del
icate in texture. These dishes are very
rare. 1t is believed there are but
three in this country. One is in pos
session of John Quincy Adams; anoth-
er, it is supposed, has become the
property of collector, and this one at
the Fairbanks house. la this closet
fl.n lnff nd OnIN
which were once the delight of the
housekeeper's heart. One of them is
very old, and bears upon it the crest
of King Richard Ill. There is set of
blue and white plates, queer blue fig
ures on white ground. There is a
set of hand painted china that is said
to be very old, and some green ware
that is older still. Decanters of vari-
Gus sizes are reminders of the time
when "spirits" were as commonly seen
as tea and coffee are now; and there
are quaint little ine-glasses with
rather abOrtive attempts at engraving
on them. The tall .japanned coffee pot,
with the initials of John Fairbanks on
the side, keeps watch over all this
closet full of quaint old china, and, by
it's side, fat and comfortable, nestles
| Tile Olu pewter t0dpOb n
of it will go to the Vermont branch OF
the Fairbanks family, and so will much
of the furniture, but there will be then
treasure trove for collectors.
Next to this closet, the most fasci-
mating places in the house are two
chambers upstairs, where a great many
queer old things are preserved. In
one room, the room in which all the
Fairbanks children, for generations,
were born, is the little wooden cradle
in which they were all rocked. 1t is
by no means the luxurious affair of to-
day, but it is strong, and like every
thing else is made of white oak. In
this room is the old mahogany writing
desk, and in one of the pigeOn-hOles is
veritable inkhOrn, with the old quill
pen and the receptacle for ink under
meath, which could be closely covered
and carried in the pocket. In the old
chest are old laces and embrOideries,
old dresses made in the queer fashions
of 100 and $50 years ago. Rolls of old
rewards of merit, printed in quaint let
ters, with an eagle at the top, an
nounce that Nancy and Sally Fairbanks
are commended for ''goOd and amiable
scholarship" These bear the dates of
80 years ago, But it would require all
our space to tell of this old house. 1t
is genuine museum of curiOsities,
and every object has an association
with past that is full OF interest.