Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-25


fCopyrioht, 1919, bv Mrs. NJ. A. Wilson. All
rights reScrpCdJ
''The declining year grows gray and
dull,
Father Time hcralds November,
leak and sere.
While we, from our sumptuous harv-
est store,
With God all praising, draw our
Thanksgiving cheer"
THANKSGIVING dinner, real meal
i in Vermont farmhouse, many miles
from the great highways of travel, is
treat indeed As Thanksgiving came
so soon after the signing of the armi-
stice, last year, it had a much clearer
meaning to me than in other years and
so, when an invitation came to me
when l was instructing navy boys i'll
cooking on Commonwealth Pier, in
Boston, to visit this staid and primitive
New England countryside, l gladly
availed myself of the opportunity.
In northern Vcrmont-just forty six
miles from good sized city, to be
exact-I was met at the station by
Grandfathcr Perkins on the Monday be-
fore Thanksgiving and driven over to
the farmhouse For, as you can i'm
agine, stipulated that l wanted to see
and help in the actual New England
preparations for this great and strictly
all American holiday.
Direct descendants of n family that
came over in the Mayfower, this family
has had possession of this one farm
since the early pioneer days. The house
Is gabled and is built in bungalow style
with dormer windows. The whole aspect
of the house is rambling BECAUSE of the
many additions that have been made to
it. It is built on the side of hill and
Is amply protected and shaded by giant
spruce trees.
Grandma Perkins, Aunt Matilda and
Patience with Cousin Hetty were all
awaiting me with n warm welcome. And
after a short rest we had tea, typical
New England supper.
People about this part of the coun-
try all take great pride in their cook
ing and housewifely chores. SO, after
tea, in order that no precious time
should be lost, l was given an oppor-
tupity to visit the preserving closet, the
storeroom and the buttery, as it was
called
These frugal, God fearing housewives
together with many of their kith and
kin, who took active part in the war.
took great pride in displaying many
varieties of preserves, jams and Jeilles
Hi InuUp 10 cOnlOTul u IHe thlCNS VI thN
food administration in order to save
sugar, by using maple sugar and honey.
Many quaint relics of days gone by
abound throughout the house. and |
assure you that every piece of turni-
ture in that house came from over yon-
der with the exception of the modern
farm appliances and q few chairs and
settees that do duty on the verandas.
Early the next morning Aunt Pa
thence called me, so that we might all
have an early breakfast and then start
the actual preparations of the delicious
old time favOrites. Breakfast by can
delight is very quaint, indeed. for these
good folks are partial to the mellow
glow of the bayberry candle, with its
soft, clear, translucent light, and the
delightful tang of the sea and meadow.
The preparation and making of the
mince for the pies and then the cakes
and cranberry jelly was so very entic-
ing that the time passed with unbeliev-
able swiftness and it was with dis
tinct shock that l realized Thursday
was Thanksgiving.
Grandma Perkins, serene and peace
fully smiling, with the true air of au
thority of an old and experienced New
England housewife, planned the menu,
while we were washing and drying
closet full of the tflinnest and daintiest
of china dishes; these dishes were of
egg shell china with band of gold just
the width of grandma 5 wedding ring
for decoration.
While we were doing the dishes and
arranging them in piles for quick serv-
ice, the question of the various dishes
was discussed and many delicacies were
recalled. Twenty five were expected
aud thirty were planned for. And, as
Cousin Hetty, said you jest never can
tell who or how many Brother Silas 9
daughter Hope would pack in the car
and then jest delight in bringing them
in on US"
Cousin Hetty opened the large dining
room, swept and busted it and then
large armfuls of balsam pine, cedar and
spruce, redolent with their spicy odors,
were used to give a touch of color to
the room. In a solemn row, like senti-
nels, or the mantelpiece in the dining
room, stood delicate green bayberry
candles in their pewter candle sticks.
The two square extension tables were
filed to capacity with their extra leaves;
they were placed in the center of the
room and covered with padding made
in the day of long ago.
Next a real old time damask cloth,
full eight yards long, was brought from
its resting place in the old horsehair
trunk in the garret, taken from It's blue
cambric wrapper and laid carefully,
covering this wonderful table. Then
Grandma Perkins came in with her
smoothing iron, just so warm, and
gently pressed out the wrinkles and
made the cloth lie perfectly smooth and
fiat on the table.
Four dozen napkins, carving cloth |
and a beautifully handworked center
piece to match the tablecloth were also
brought forth from the dim recesses of
The blue cambric.
The china and accessories were all
lllaced in their positions like an army
awaiting orders; genuine horn handles
aud steel knives and forks, together
With coin silver spoons, were soon in
position. The cutglass cruets, spar
king in their pristine glory, were placed
at the proper distances and then the
whole table was covered with three clean
old sheets to prevent the dust gather
ing. Then we retired in order to rise
at the early hour of A a. IN. on Thanks
giving Day to prepare for the feast.
A nd now NOT to keen Won in sus