CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1904-05-19

at his feast from over on the river
bank, should be ready to have them
served to him. and the rows of foot
tracks, juvenile and canine. running all
about hinted of efforts to realize Oh
some such possibilities here. A wider.
whittier common on the east, with the
clumps Of white houses. smoking chin
neys and black cowsheds on its edge
and the steel blue sky dropping down
beyond, was a very picture Of the sea
son. Over large millpond on the west
glided the skaters, boys and girls. who
had themselves with shovel and broom
by hard, hot labor in brief hours after
school cleared of snow the scaut ways
they traversed. In one corner of this
millpond on the morrow. If the NOR
row chanced to be Sunday. in a pool
relieved Of ice for the occasion and
hedged about by throng of specta-
tors they would baptize the latest con-
verts OF the winter revivals.
Hither and thither. about and all
through the town. wound the deep
. trodden footpaths. so narrow that
when two people met one must needs
step out into the full depth of the
snow, for no provision of ordinance or
custom exacted of householders any
contribution in this sort to the public
convenience. and. except in small
patches at gateways and before the
doors and stores. the snow was left
lying until sun and travel dissolved it.
And since In Osceola the rubber boot
was as yet unknown and the rubber
shoe was disdained Of men as a wear
beneath their manhood one rarely fail
ed to find In the houses and the stores
Q man sitting with his feet fattened
against the hot stove. sizzling OF the
snow taps from his boot heels.
In milder seasons the prevailing form
Of social entertainment was evening
teas. but now there was apt to be a
round Of rather stately dinner parties.
The ladies came in carefully treasured
black silk gowns. Of the richest and
stiffest material, with wide collars of
white lace and lace edged white lawn
undersleeves. The men wore coats of
black broadcloth. no less carefully kept
and no less excellent in quality. and
high. stin collars, swathed in black
silk or satin neckerchiefs. The dinner,
cooked mainly by the hostess own
hand. was served In two courses, but
out Of Its abundance might easily have
furnished forth twelve or fifteen, of the
daintiness which courses acquire when
they are made a particular point Of.
Turkey and oysters, four or Eve vege-
tables. like number Of cooked fruits,
pickles sour and pickles sweet, coffee
and hot rolls. with a dessert of two
kinds Of pie, rich preserve served In
cream and a cake that was the chef
d9uvre OF the feast-these were the
least that decency would allow, and
the guest was expected not to elect be.
xv1sen them, but to eat somewhat of
all.
Ths company Came to table for these
dinners with d certain hesitation and
awkwardness, and for a little while
after they were seated conversation
rather Jagged. First there fell a sharp,
expectant silence until the minister, II
present, as he usually was, had invok-
ed blessing. Then as the host took
carving knife and fork In hand and
rose from his chair with a certain con.
fdence, every eye and all attention
were fixed intently on him and remain
ed so fixed while with single sturdy
stab he planted the fork immovably
astride the knob of the breastbone of
the turkey and with his keen knife
defdy un1ointed wings and legs, cut
away the white breast meat In thin.
wide slices and by bold stroke
through the bones and tissue OF either
flank and a nice. quick turn on the
handle of the fork triumphantly clear.
ed away the breastbone and exposed
to appetizing view n steaming. odorif.
erous mound of gray stuffing. with
this the company drew an audible
breath and settled back comfortably
In their seats. as when a midalr acrobat
concludes his feat without breaking his