Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
CHRISTMAS,

with Christmas in the near future, I 80
back In memory to the FIRST Christmas spent
in "Yankeedom." II was In 1S41 at the
home Of my uncle in the backwoods OF
Ohio.
Uncle's house, or cabin. was built OF
round logs Just as they were cut from the
forest. Not many settlers had attained to
the position OF a hewed log house. In one
end Of the cabin there was a large open
fireplace, with an iron bar extending from
one side OF 1t. To this bar, or crane, as 1t
was called. was attached chains and hooks
on which we're hung iron pots and kettles
used in cooking. Back in the fireplace there
we're two great iron "dog irons used for
supporting the logs OF wood OF which tho
fire was made. This one are answered the
double purpose of cooking and heating, there
being no other one in tho house. 1t rarely
went out at night. The chunks being COW
cred at bedtime with ashes, were usually
in good condition for starting the morn
ing fire.
In this far back time matches were al
most unknown to backwoods people, being
scarce and very high priced. II by bad
luck or Encouragement the Are did go out
! some members Of the family took a shovel
and went to the nearest neighbor and
begged a few live Goals for a starter. When
Inv NSba Ne1 aaAAk aaA ~ - 80 49,
knots to light the cabin at night a small
iron lamp with a cotton strip for a wick.
filled with lard or turkey oil, furnished
light. These lamps we're queer little things,
very small and fiat, holding not more than
two tablespoonsful OF melted lard or turkey
oil, and suspended by a chain attached to a
small nat iron bar that was sharp at one
end, that 1t might be conveniently inserted
in the cracks between the logs.
The day before Christmas uncle set out
to find a turkey for the next days feast.
Not to any market, or well-hlled coop
did he go, but into the dense forest that
surrounded his cabin. After a few hours
tramping through the deep snow he re.
turned with as fine a specimen Of wild tur-
key as ever gladdened a hunters heart.
Early on Christmas morning the turkey
was prepared and suspended by a strong
cord attached to the mantle shelf, so that
It hung In front and quite near the fire.
The heat soon set the turkey to revolving
and kept IL so until It was cooked brown
and tender, requiring no cave only an &C.
casional basting from the pan OF drlppings
below. In due time the vegetables, po-
~tatoes, turnips and beans, that were cook
ing in the pots suspended over the FIRE
and the nice brown ring Of sausage from the
uutCu oven on the neartD were lifted from
their respective places and transferred to
the table made ready for its savory bur-
den. The turkey was taken from its con-
s~picuous position, the gravy made and all
present invited by aunt to "set up" To
the already mentioned substantials were
added golden apple sauce, apple butter.
cucumber pickles, pumpkin pie, doughnuts
and wild grape preserves. Home made
bread, butter and biscuits, with sweet
cider, milk, coffee and real cream made
the meal one worth remembering. The
coffee served was a luxury, as It was only
used on very extra occasions, being 80
and 70 cents a pound. and the nearest place
OF obtaining IT fifteen miles distant.
Maple sugar Of home manufacture was
the sugar in general use in those days. II
there was loaf sugar in the house 1t was
kept for babies and sick folk, as 1t was
expensive. One pound OF It put up in cone
shaped. heavy, purple paper cost 81. Tho
table on which this dinner was served
was a stin home made affair and benches
OF the same workmanship were used for
seats, the split-bottomed chairs being too
low. There was no use for walters, every
thing being set on the table. Uncle "cut
up" the turkey and helped the plates as
they were passed to him. When IL was
blue U uebSeTJ aunt cut the pies and
handed them to the one nearest her and
they passed them to the next. The dough-
nuts and preserves were served in the
same manner. There were no change OF
plates and no dessert dishes. The coffee
cups had saucers which we're freely used
both for cooling and drinking the coffee
from. The steel table knives and forks
were very small, especially the two-tined
forks, so in eating many kinds of food It
was necessary to convey 1t to the mouth
with the knife.
I cannot do justice to this oldentime
Christmas feast without making mention
OF the table cloth, which added much to
its attractiveness and gave a delicate finish
OF refinement to the whole. II was not
satin damask nor even Irish linen, but
simple home made linen OF the huckaback
pattern, edged with knit lace, the work OF
my aunt and her daughter. with their own
hands they had assisted in the work OF
planting and pulling the fax, binding It
into sheaves, spreading It on the meadow
grass TO tender, gathering 1t in, breaking,
scutching, hackleing. spinning. then boil
ing and bleaching the thread. and afterward
weaving the linen and knitting the lace
that composed the table cloth that the
very daintest lady in our land would be
proud to own.
The plain way that my uncle and his
family lived in those days, away back in
the %forties," was a wonderful revelation to
me, a young girl. reared in a southern state
where there was no lack OF colored serv-
ants ever ready to do the bidding OF the
young missus." Since that far back day I
have dined at many fine tables in fine
houses with fine people, but to my notion
the excellence Of that dinner served so
plainly in a log cabin has not been eclipsed
by any modern style. As / write this sim
pie story l wonder II any who read 1t will
be carried back in memoir to the days
OF their youth and wonder, as I do, ARE
we any happier for all the fuss and worry
incident to our present way OF IIyIng?"