The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-28

a clasp knife and give the last artistic
pat to the corn "pone" In the low
Dutch oven. a stir to the pot and a
glance to the kettle. Those were not
the days Of stoves and ranges, but the
days Of big open fireplaces-the big
ger the better-the days Of the Dutch
oven, the swinging crane, the big
hanging pot. the little stapling pot on
three legs. the tin kitchen, the cav
ernous brick oven and other contriv-
ances. conveniences and inconven-
fences that marked the time of inno-
cence and youth.
| Nothing ever failed under Granny's
hands. Her wheat bread was alwa -
sweet and light. her corn bread al
ways baked to a rich nutty brown her
birds always cooked to a delicate turn.
her venison to the queens taste She
roasted turkey better than anybody
else; her Irish potatoes, always mea.y
and white, were our gradnmother's
\ "0'.'@ anu Piiue' NO one ever ala
make such hashes. We can taste
them now. The rich brown crust and
the hash never too dry or too moist.
Shall we ever taste the like again?
Never. no, never. Her broiled steaks
were never too we'll, but always
quickly done. Her steak smothered
In onions, the art learned from
Frenchman, was a chef d'euvre. And
gracious! the jellies and mince pies,
the cakes and plum puddings, with
great Jumps Of fat as big as my two
| thumbs"
| Oh, the Christmas times, when the
Kitchen was full, and all were hurry
ing in hot haste, the beating and
pounding and stirring and cooking,
the raisins and currants and citron,
the wines and spices and lemons, the
almonds and mince meat and rose
water!
How good 1t all smelt and how good
1t all tasted! we were in everybody's
way. under everybody's feet. at every
body's elbow, but we could not keep
out Of the way. for we wanted to see
and to taste. Everybody was cross,
but Granny. She never was cross.
With her 1t was "lubbee de COW, lub-
bee de calf" She had loved the
grandmother and the mother and the
children could do no wrong.
She would shy us of into the COR
ner Of the big fireplace that could ac-
commOdate us In safety as we'll as
the fire and all that was cooking, and
she would slip our little cakes in egg
shells on the Goals to cook or she
would give us sip Of the jelly that
was dripping from the great long jel-
ly bag In corner, or she woulo i've
us pan To scrape OF. In shor she
would do anything and every Ing
that we wanted her 10 do--an, ing
FOR "de ch'iluns." Hut OF a.. de
chilluns" "de chile" was her favorite.
He was little and yellow and skinny.
He always had an extra indulgence
from Granny. And when Granny
would return from her day of. taken
during Christmas week and come
home laden with q wonderful menag-
erie done In ginger bread, for which
she had spent her little savings. "de
chile" was given the finest OF all the
dusky animals. be It elephant or
dromedary or camel or pig or what
other specimen 1t might be of the
lineA descendants that had come
down In q straight unbrokenu line
from the nttest survivor. rescued in
Noah's ark.
Those were happy days and Granny
was very large factor In our hap
piness. Heaven bless her! Heaven
has blessed her! But the days are
gone and Granny Is gone-gone with
the dear "Old South" nc yer, never to
come again. There can never, never
be another Granny to spoil the "chil-
iun." and for the "chilluns" to love.
1t is many. many years since the
great heart ceased to beat and the
good spirit took It's flight for the fair
Beulah land. But de chile" does not
forget her. She Is In tha heaven
where she would be. and no. one has
brighter crown in that better land.
Where loyal hearts are true,
Stand ever In the light,
all rapture through an. through,
In Gods most holy sight"
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