The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-10-30

WedtneT UT stOFfus, tne neiBnUOTuoOu II
all one family, and they suffer for one
another.
Many of the men wear red flannel
shirts and all of them wide straw hats,
and the field scene Is tropical and foreign,
with the big red thrasher belchng clouds
of smoke, and the mystic stair climbing,
climbing, and the work all done In secret.
The wagons drive a-field, load up from
the shocks and return to the machine.
The rick of golden straw increases to n
yellow hillock, and the children climb mp
to the base. How hot II is! The men
drink gallons of liquids and keep wet
sponges In their hats.
The women would be anxious for the
men if they had time. The long after
noon Is too short to prepare supper for
twenty famished men and half as many
women and children. The soap kettle
just holds the carcass of sheep, the
wash boiler Is filed with chickens and a
big sirloin is in the oven. There is n
| bushel of potatoes TO peel. beans and
corn to prepare, cold slaw TO make, toma-
toes TO peel. A harvest supper table Is n
| thing to remember when seen by one
bred in n city where portions are cal
| culated so exactly.
III there Is n long vernnda TO the farm
house the table is spread there-the eS-
tension pulled TO its full length and
pieccd out at the ends with tables from
the kitchen. Perhaps the white table
cloths will not cover the board, and tur-
key red cloths make brilliant squares at
either end.
At intervals are stacks of white and
brown bread, rolls of butter, pitchers of
milk, dashes of apple sauce, picked beets
and jam. Platters of chicken cut in
| pieces, sliced ham and beef and mutton,
and bowls of vegetables are placed con
veniently for the men to help themselves
as quickly as possible. Plates, knives,
forks, spoons and glasses are ut each
| mans place.
When the o'clock whistle blows there
Is a flutter of excitement In the house.
The girls run for the butter and cream
and milk. and some middle-aged woman.
an ola ana tried hand at making coffee
by the gallon, begins the important con-
coction Everything is ready by the
time the men have unhitchcd the horses
and flocked up to wash at the pump. As
fast as they finish they stand around the
the yard tanning themselves with their
big straw hats.
The girls in pink and blue ginghams
and white aprons give n last touch to
their bangs aud flutter around the porch,
|
neer. who has the controlli interest
in the thrasher. He is usual. n stranger,
and Is considered a capitalist. Jennies
fellow is dying to go into the house, but
is afraid of being chaffed.
When they do come in there is pre-
cious little standing on ceremony. The
oldest privileged neighbor sinks into n
seat at the end of the table and starts
the conversational ball to rolling with the
remark: "Mrs Smith, l just took the
liberty of informing the company that
they wouldn't get no better grub any
where than they get right here, nor pret-
tier girls to wait on 'em. For these and
all other blessings the Lord makes us
truly thankful. That will do for bless
ing. Pitch in, boys"
In ten minutes the bread plates are
empty and are filed again with hot bis
cults. Coffee cups are filed and replen-
ished, and the meat platters make several
journeys to the kitchen. A dozen apple
and custard and berry pies disappear like
snow before the sun. Then comes water
melon and cake, and IL there is an ice.
house on the farm the feast is topped off
with ice cream. and the hostess gets three
cheers and tiger after the men go back
TO the yard.
"Where on earth did they put all that
foodI" is the admiring plant of the won.
on. who manage to find enough 70 satisfy
themselves and the children from the
remnants of the feast The farmer
waits for his wife at the kitchen door and
whispers to her that il present prices keep
up there will be nearly $1,000 In the
bank. and winds nm with: "You are 90.
ing TO have n black cashmere dress and a
new cloak if it takes the whole pile. Yes,
Jennie can have music lessons. too"
Unless it is a large farm a few hours
in tho morning will finish the work. There
will be breakfast to get only for the ma.
chine men, who will sleep in the barn
lofts on the newly thrashed straw after
an evening on the vine-clad porch. The
women are washing dishes in the kitch.
en-, but they subdue the catter if there
are songs, and. after awhile the harvest
moon comes up, and the katydids begin
their mutual recriminations.
1t takes a week TO restore the house Ia
its ordinary aspect. In tho meantime the
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