Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-04-07
HOMESPUN PEOPLE,;
Their Ways and Manners.

custom. equally lamentable, viewed either
from a hyglenic or an intellectual point OF
view. lLIs Is the visiting practice" OF
our rural districts, where eating beyond
measure and gossip without NIT are the
order of tine day.
1t begins In the fall after the farmer has
husked his corn and killed his pigs, and
his wife has m lie and stuffed her sausage,
pressed her headcheese, and picked her
"sonSe."
There is now nothing pressing to he
done, though all can find plenty to do, es-
pccially the wife. But having worked hard
all the year. they feel entitled to a little
recreation, and so some fine cold morning
Mrs. OidtoNn says to her husband;
"toDe, Samuel, hitch up the team and
let's 80 visit NJ to-day
"Wcll, don't care if We do Samuel
responds, W ping the last drop of sirup
from his plate with the remains of pan
cake. "But wheiel II We go?'
swell, there is Ran Jones folks; we owe
them visit. They were here last FeDru-
ary. and Mrs. Jones asks me every time
She sees NE when I'm going TO pay back
her visit. And there's Uncle Sis folks.
It's shame we Laint been there. Mercy
we've got places enough to go. This al
ways stayin TO home and workin like q
slave | don think much of.
Il was think n I'd like to go and see
Lev Smaiey. He's leen gettin' some new
cattle and d like to take a look at 'em be-
fore Luy this spring"
well, l don't owe Lev's wife visit.
but she's always askin' me to come. /
b'pose we III ght as we'll 20. One thing,
she always has lots of good things to eat. d"
We will suppose that tbs happens on
Vely cold morning, as 1t often does, for
then the Preparations ore more numerous
and interesting.
The buffalo robes have to be brought in
and placed on chairs around the stove 10
warm. Two or three bricks are put in the
oven to keep the Ieet warm during the ride.
And cNon the Lorses' headstalls have TO
come from the barn to the kitchen stove to
haze the frost avn ont of the bits" else
the horses mouths would stick to them
Ike damp fin ger to frosty doorlatch.
From pegs Ill the spare room are brought
out the best greatcoat, the broadcloth SUIT,
the black silk dress, tie blanket shawl and
heavy cloak. From various snug corners
come Mr.. O.'s fur ppct, or long knit com
forter. Mrs. o. s cloud and huge pairs
of thick WOODEN mitttens lined with can
ton flannel.
Now comes the time of dressing, which,
owing to infrcquent pract &C, is sorely try
ing to their tempers. This is especially
the case with Mr.. o. The drafted" col
lar is too much for his stiff fingers and
Mrs. O. has TO OPP in the midst of her
hair Dire ssng, tuck the end of tho untin-
ished coil in her mouth, and take the col
lar in hand.
Then the master OF the house struggles
into his ov, rcOat. winds several yards of
comforter around his neck and departs for
the barn. Mrs. o. proceeds to epve!op
herself in cloak, shawl, nubia, etc., aud
by the time the horses prance up to the
door is helpless and uncomfortable as were
the fat HanSers in King Naldemar's ban
quet-roon.
The warm hicks and robes are now
hustled into The sleigh, the animated bum
dies roll in upon them and are tucked up
by the hired man. Then Off 90 the horses
and the children are left with chattering
teeth watching the fast disappearing forms
of their parents.
Meanwhile at another fam house, FIVE or
six miles away, Mrs. Stanley is exclaiming,
There! We're going TO have company to-
day, sure. I've dropped the dishcloth."
Better bake up another batch of mince
pies, hadn't you! Them you made last
week must be most gone" suggests Mr.. S..
wi ose staff OF life" is that great indigesti
ble-pie.
son, there's seven left yet, and two Gus
tard pics. But | might make some pound
cake"
MA! somebody's drivin' in, " announces
young Smalley an hour or two afterward
Why, its Sam Oldtown's folks, as true
as live" cxclaims MIR. S., and he dives
into lis coat and cap.
swell! WE'LL" eXclaims Mrs. S. from
the doorway as the sleigh drives up. so
you've come at last. told Lev this morn
ing we Were going to have company, for ]
dropped the dishclo,h."
Mrs. o., assisted by her husband, now
rolls out of the sleigh, pulls up her
CLOUD" and meets tie hearty SIN ck of her
hostess with one equally hearty. The men
81 AXE hands with n hearty well, how goe
it," and then The visiting begins.
In the house thc wouen relate to each
other all their personal experiences since
last they me.-what aches and pains they
have suffered, how many times the children
have had colds, how many cans of pre-
serves they done up" last fall, how many
pickles hey "laid down, where they bough
tier last new calico dresses. how much
they paid yard, aud whether they fade or
don fade. AT the barn the mel are dis
cuss ng s ock, not that kind that drives
Vail street into panics, but the fat, sleek
cattle and frol cSoIne colts that grace the
barn. yard.
] tue time III y reach the house n fire
has been started in the pallor, and dish OF
AZ pies has been brougt from the cellar,
as p, elude to the business of TIL day. and
the women. havin5 finished wi h their owu
personal matters, ready to take up those
OF their nelS hborS.
Before much progress Las been made in
this direction, however, Mrs. S. must leave
TO see about dIuner, for, notwithstanding
the fact that there are three or four kinds
of cake in the cellar, besides cook es and
doughnuts, two kinds of pie and no end of
cold meats, preserves and pickles, she
must spend three hours or more in boiling,
baking and stewing before there is any,
thing "tit to eat" In vain Mrs. o. begs her
not 10 make fuss. Her reputation as
cook is at stake, and cannot be sacrificed
oven at the solicitations of a friend.
And now the duty of entertaining the
company devolves upon Mr.. S., but it can
not be truthfully said that he is equal to its
performance. He can talk with Mr.. o.
about the crops and the markets, but can
not handle domestic economy and other
subjects of interest to Mrs. o. So she
knits or sews, and listens when she feels
disposed.
At last the event of the day is at hand.
Dinner is announced. In sober expectancy
Tine COMPANY march ont To tha fable