The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-24


tsThat smells like candles'' groaned Debby.
''Your of smell is all right answered Besey
tying a stout ribbon around one loop with jerk.
'tOh, didn't know mother going to dip candles
today"
'tIf you and Dory hadn't been crazy your
nuts you might have all winding the rods for
two days before muster
= Each candle rod between two and three feet
long The "wicking'' was cut off in lengths twice
long candle should be- Then it laid the rod,
exactly in the middle, and the two parts twisted
together It great deal of work to get half dozen
twisted each rod ready for the dipping
eyes, continued Betsey, ''you slipped nicely out
of all that wickng business Mother and Priscy and
have wound five hundred candles, and Priscy and
have got to and most of the day. Miss Debby
Dole is going to dip Candles
Debby did not feel just right. She had eaten great
deal of gingerbread apple boiled
nuts and other daintes the day before, and she had
worked hard for week in order to that precious II
cents Now she had got to put her old blue woolen
apron, hghnecked and 1ongsleeved and sit in the cold
back kitchen for hours dipping those nasty old candes
She shivered think of it, and turned in the bed
81 really do feel bad ., she whispered to herself,
"but if say anything they will think that am trying
to get out of dipping the candles-and then beside,
mother will give me pycra'
Every household Birchmont gathered it's store of
herbs in sickness, spring and summer and
pycra was of all that Debby hated worst From
certain pole kitchen at this moment hung dry
ing to be put away in certain chest after Thanksgiv
ing great of fevebush for fevers goldhread
for throat; boneset, for blousness and saffron
bloodroot sage NORWOOD and many other herbs sup
posed all sorts of disorders Hops, W1ntergreen
cumfrey sassafras princess pine and dried pumpkin
used not only for medicine but for favorng the root
beer, which every family constantly kept on hand
Debby felt that it choice with her between
pycra the candles She chose the candles, and
emily appeared down in the Kitchen where cheerful
blaze in the fireplace frightened the dense darkness of
early morning shedding far more light upon the cell
ing than did the two candles upon the table, which
set neatly at side of the room
Of Mrs. Dole it might truly be said, She rlseth
yet night and gveth meat to her household and
a portion to her maidens' For it was only
o clock and she had been up for hour The
Rem h3db
the chores at the barn. with Dorys help; and be-
fore going there the Squire had uncovered the great
back log which had been buried in ashes the night be-
fore and was now a Of glowing Goals. AS there
were matches in those days and often took
time to raise spark with the flint and finder, every
family tried keep the Goals alive in the big fireplace
from night to another Here and there alright
to be found. Every town had it's furnace
where iron kettles and utensils made, some
times the man .ran'' this had skill enough
stove; or at what seemed reckless price,
sometimes imported from the CITY, But in most of the
the great kitchen fireplace with perhaps three
other epaces other parts Of the house and those
seldom ighted) was the only available for heat.
ing or for cooking
Potatoes were not much raised in those days and
were chiefly in the making Of starch Tea and coffee
were regarded Injuries Corn meal mush smooth,
thoroy cooked delicious largely eaten with milk for
breakfast
day or two before "muster'' every well-to-do
family usually slaughtered sheep beef'' or pig
sheep had been killed by the Squire that there
meat this morning for breakfast
Debby did not eat much Of the good breakfast, which
was accompanied by johnny-cake whats the matter
Debbyf' asked Aunt spiddy, who had recovered from
her hurt sufficiently to be about again usual
ssNothing,'' said Debby, family, and with visions
Of pycra, SO to speak, burning her tongue.
ishe knows she has got to dip Candles commented
Betsey heartlessly.
Now, Betsey kind girl generally, but in large
families it often the that those nearest of age
are rudest to other. Betsey and Debby were not
unfrequently odds, while Priscy and Debby al
ways most afectionate.
ssDebby doesn It mind, - said Prscy .tDebby is a
worker You spent II cents yesterday while Dory and
Debby made it You had better not talk, Betsey Doe''
Debby smiled family, but she pretty pale Mrs.
thought that only natural after all the excite
ment, however, and, breakfast over the
dipping began.
Out in the large back kitchen, pretty nearly Of
chairs in the house gathered The rods
laid these As as they had been dipped
80 ;ss=