The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-01-28

, strong, but SpOtleSsly clean and orderly.
Only the linen was as fine as hands could
| make it. We stopped on the porch, where
soft white roller towels hung above wide
trough, hewed from tulip tree, ia which
were wide, shallow gourds for wash
basins, and other smaller gourds contained
soap. Pure, clear, cold water came from
the well near by, drawn up by bucket
hanging from q sweep. How delicious on
hot day was the cool water that came
from the moss-covered bucket dipping far
down into the limestone OF Father Nell
Lots well. Every man was expected to
thoroughly cleanse his face and hands of
the CRIME of the roads and the fields and
brush the dust from his clothes, before he
entered the tidy kitchen where the meals
were served. Father Melilot and opened
our collars and washed, conlbed and
brushed deliberately, and like gentleman
Capt. Bib followed our example to some
extent. Lieut.. Hunloke would not. He
strobe st,lleniy around, muttering sarcastic
comments on Dutch ideas and manners,
and punching with the end of his saber
scabbard, at the thinking between the
stones. He wanted something to drink,
and after mentioning this once on twice in
low tone, stopped in front of Father
Melilot, who was combing out his snowy
cascade OF a beard, and demanded:
Say, old man, wish you'd hand out
some good liquor, ii you've got any
Presently, my son; presently replied
the old man calmly, going on with his
combing.
when he had finished he stepped to the
door and ushered us in with:
Enter in peace, and welcome, in God s
name
In the center Of stone-doored kitchen.
clean as a dairy, stood table covered with
a. cloth of white linen, and smoking with
good things served from the iron kettles
and ovens in the wide, high fireplace at one
end. Never have seen so inviting place
to eat and such delicious things to eat as
in Father MeIilot's kitchen, as managed
by his daughter, Frow Mendel. 1t was all
that the inner man could wish.
Father Melilot, as the first act of hos
pitality, took from the sideboard q pie
rhorie old German decanter, which his
grandfather had brought with him, and
poured into little glass for each of MS,
as an appetizer, dram of peach brandy.
distilled in the diminutiye still which
served the whole settlement, and which
had riaened in his cool stone cellar for a
quarter of century. 1t was clear,
smooth and oily. / took but a sip, for
believed little in appetizers, and still less
in dram-drinking, but | always followed
customs, if | could without too much vio-
lence, and a small drink of liquor at noon
and again before going to bed was one
of their ancient customs. Capt. Bibb
drank his dram decorously, and praised the
quality of the fine old liquor
Lieut. .Hunloke tasted his, looked sur
prised, guiped the rest down, and ex-
claimed:
Great snakes, old man, but that's
splendid stuff. Here, give me another,
and see that you fill her up full this time.
"This was an inexcusable breach of
Wartburg manners. re join the head of
the house-the host-in small dram be-
fore sitting down to dinner, besides being
regarded as a requirement of health, was
may, to demand another, and more of it
stamped one as wine-bibber and a
drunkard, besides grossly disrespectful to
the host. Without word er q look, bow
ever, to express his feelings, Father Nell
lot filed mp the glass again, Lieut.. Hun
loke not letting him stop until the brim
was reached. Hunloke tossed this of at
a single gulp, and held out his glass for
more. But Father Melilot set the ocean
ter away this time. grayely remarking:
That is stronger than thou deemest
Wait till thou has eaten before drinking
more
%, doa't think that any Of your Dutch
HQuO- can down me- answered Lieut.
Hunloke with coarse laugh. BE careful
OF that to these s0ft-pates round here; I'm
a man OF the world, tempered like spring
steel
We drew over the smooth stones of
the floor the heavy hickory -bottomed
chairs, and rs we seated ourselves aronnd
the table, Father MeiiI0t bowed his pa
triarehal head for long, feryent thanks
giving Cor the meat set before us, and
them his feelings getting uppermost, he
went on with an appeal to the Almighty
10 sEert any troubles from Hia chosen
people IN the nsantaiaz and to give them
wia1s1 to net accosling to His laws II
wa Q long greee to say before meat, even.
foc Father Melilst, who usually in his,
prayers strOve to cover every point.
Capt. Blbbs - nsxt mes and i coald net
help n0ticiae .hin ssewing restiye. Lieut.
HunlskA fe1f 4uaAe1r Rsses n the usilnt &c
ssnsarking in sufRcieatiy
elfskinee,s 1tess II eAnst let aach gOoa stuif
% that stay - Tar away from me- took
The oeeauteFs tl1ed his glass again, drank
= - snd nleeed the-deeaAtsr by his plate.
. pe4n6d.1e mo evea worse than his fmparl
oa1ce-to E1aesfe MaHeyaf.
= 1Athss5 8eli,pt at lsnsth Antshed hisI