The record-union., 1894-12-19

strings of red peppers hung to the old
raIters, and little three-cornered cherry
cupboard held the "best' china plates,
standing on edge. Now and then a wasp,
Iured by the heat and light, will crawl
slowly from an auger hole III the white
washed walks. You see all this, and ever
ana anon catch a bit OF childish laughter
from the children who are having their
games In another room. You see all
tnls, yet are hardly conscious of it as you
listen to the mother as she talks to you
from her favorite place in the corner near
the fireplace.
1t dawns on you as you look at her that
she Is different type OF women from
the OLD ladies you are used to seeing.
her soft gray hair IS banded smoothly
Dack from her forehead, and a snowy
kerchlef lies in soft folds across her
bosom, and black silk apron partly COW
ers her dress, which is oil brown merino.
The shining needles flash in the fire.
light as they go in and out of the bright
red yarn that is fast growing into tiny
sock for the very latest grand child.
In the meantime the girls are not idle.
The long, white secured tables have been
pulled out to the middle of the room and
the very best tablecloth spun and woven
by her own hands and laid on the grass
TO bleach in the spring rains and SUM is
next spread upon the table; then, while
some OF them set the dishes, others 90 to
the cellar, and, from the hanging shelves,
bring the mlnce and pumpkin pies ald
loaYeS OF homemade bread ana rolls OF
butter: jars OF preserves are opened and
glass dish of the old-fashioned apple
butter is not forgotten. Tho honey is cut
from the frames and great pitchers of
cream are added to the rest, and ever and
anon as the oven door is opened the
saVory odor OF roast pig and turkey
speak loudly to the hungry guests. ou
can hear the hum of the voices and see
the happy faces of the daughters as they
prepare the meal and fit so swiftly over
the floor that echoed in the past TO each
faitering baby footstep. The meal is
soon ready and all are seated. a short
silence and all heads bend low while the
old gray-haired father asks blessing on
all. How from the heart it seems TO
come
Alter full justice has been done and
you eat as YOU never eat before. you
once more join the circle by the fire while
the little folk are gathered in. They are
soon led. linen comes the clearing away of
the dishes, and the floor is swept clean,
when you are startled by the sound OF
the violin. 'Tis one of the sons-iu-la law,
ana you are goiug to see a tavorite coun-
try dance, and ii is not long before they
form ''set," and all enter with zest you
little dream of as the head couple dance
clear down the line and back again, and
whirl, in the ''Old Virginia Reel" and
the very ratters ring with their merri-
ment.
This closes the merry-making for the
evening; and as the fire burns low you
Will ali kneel, while the father prayS for
all beneath his root, and does not forget
the Wayward boy who left home to come
To California in the early days, and never
let them know of his whereabouts. After
you arise you will sing with their old
oId-time custom, Praise God to whom
all blessings tioW." The goodnight will
be said, and you will be ushered up to an
upper guest cham Der with its bare pol
lshed floor and with strip of rag carpet
laid by the bed. The bedstead is of
cherry, high posted and of no modern
make with ''slats," but is Corded" Great
soft feather beds and pillows are piled
high upon it, and fresh linen taken from
the old cedar chest, scented with Iaven-
der or rosemary, and blue and white
coverlet spun and woven by the mother
IN her youth adorn the bed wherein you
are to sleep.
The wind howls dismally and your
teeth is chattering with the cold as you
hastily dlsrobe, and you think you will
never get warm, but you sink down in
the soft, downy, scented pillows, and be-
fore you know it you are asleep, from
which L would fain transport you back
to your own sunny cline, where even
your trees seem to he always lifting their
extended palms" heavenward, calling
down a blessing upon all.