The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-11-24

was preparing dinner in q
happy frame of mind.
The young folks had all gone to town.
to church, and were to return with the
guests. Margaret, the artist daughter,
had carried basket to sick neigh.
bOr So Cousin Esther laid the table
while the range was steaming and siz.
zling with the good things In the oven
and on top. There were to be twenty
eight guests ut table.
Cousin Esther brought large baskets
from the cellar loaded with preserves.
jams, jellies and pickles, great red ap-
Piles, cheese. cold boiled ham, pink
and delicious home raised and cured.
And there were big pitchers of milk
and thick cream. The ham was put at
one enapof the table. and the preserves
and pickles In pretty glass dishes were
set along in double lines The table
was stretched to its capacity and sup
plemented by two others. with the old
Avery silver ut the head
Cousin Esther thought that the best
oCSoIutiOn iot was uu uDuu-
dance of good and substantial food.
She provided neither soup nor fish. But
Margaret had taken pumpkin and
scOOped 1t out and filled 1t with late
flowers. bordered with richly tinted
fOliage. The dishes of jellies and the
pickles with their dull greens gave col.
or In contrast with the snowy cloth
The cheese was piled In generous
cubes. the butter, golden and sweet. In
fancy dishes. Piles of slices of bread
cut from firm. big white l0aves with
crisp crusts were put at intervals
along the whole length Of the table
and six distinct kinds of cake were
there. all frosted nnd uncut.
The dresser held the pies-mince, ap.
pie. cranberry, lemon and pumpkin. II
looked like bakers show window,
fanked by the big dishes of apples and
the milk and cream and the great
punch bowl which held the nuts
hickory nuts, wanuts and butternuts.
With quick. short steps Cousin Es
ther fairly few between the table,
range and "buttery" where all the
kitchen work was done save cooking
The kitchen was twenty feet square
and paneled and fioored with oak,
which Margaret had shellacked till II
shone. This room was both kitchen and
dining room and had southern windows
BY the time the table was set Mar.
garet returned from the sick neigh.
hpr,a nd hptt tt,a
| crispness Of the mountain mir along.
"Yes, mother; they were glad Of the
things. Anna can sit up But what a
, helpless thing man is! There would
have been no Thanksgiving there but
for you"
"But for you, you mean. Go and see
II the visitors are coming. hope they
won't be late to spoil all my cooking"
'ies; they are coming up the road
We have just time to dish up" Mar
garet Gonned her painters apron and
I flew to help.
Cousin Esther let her mash the tur'
nips. squash the potatoes and season
4 the boiled onions. Everything was put
! on the table except the pies Then
I came the crOwning gl0ries Of the feast
/ big chicken pie and pan Of baked
beans from one oven and from the
other u sparerib and monstrous tur-
; key brown an chestnut and emitting
/ appetizing odors.
The meats were set on the top Of the
range to keep hot. while the immense
roast Of beef was replaced In the oven
and the gravy was made. The vegeta
bles were dished. set ON the racks and
tea and coffee made, A plum pudding
had been baked In six quart pan, and
this was put In one oven TO heat, while
a perfect mountain Of foamy 'hard
sauce" was ready on the dresser.
Scarcely was this done when three
sleigh loads stopped at the gate, ant
Cousin Esther stood In the door with
Margaret to welcome her guests.
There was much laughing as sh,
hurried them In the removal OF thei
wraps to come to dinner. The tabl,
was 30 crowded with the meats an,
vegetables that not one Inch OF cl0tl
showed. Men were requested TO carv'