The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-01-07

Corner, was designated as the
Kitchen stove. 1t was thus differ
entiated from the other stoves in
Jour Maine farmhouse. There was
only one stove upstairs, a small
sheet-iron heater in my brothers
room. 1t consumed an amazing
amount of wood and gave out tor
rid waves of heat. In sub-zero
weather a fire in the heater made
the boys room a zone of comfort
in the otherwise frigid climate of
the second floor.
The sitting room stove was one
with a Grecian influence. On its
top was a tin urn and on the door
the figure of a Greek maiden
bending to light fagot of sticks.
Above the door were three dimin-
utive windows of isinglass that
gave a CHEEKY view of the blazing
logs inside the stove. The stove
rested upon a uncovered cork
mat that made an ideal place for
the warming of slippers at bed
time. The May housekeeping
meant the Punishment of both
mat and stove to the stable where
they remained until the chill
winds of November recalled them
from exile.
The Franklin fire-frame in the
parlor was more highly regarded.
1t always remained in it's place,
for Mother felt that it's brass
knobs and cleaning andirons
added dignity to her "best room,"
as she frequently called the parlor.
The kitchen stove had a fire
whatever the temperature; it was
never banished to the barn; nor
| was it cherished because of its
looks. In fact it was such famil-
lar object that we gave little
thought to its appearance though
we were conscious of the distinc-
tive features that gave it individ-
uality and made it differ from the
other kitchen ranges in the neigh
borhood. The elbowed pipe of our
stove was set high into the CHM
ney while at olives the pipe ran
directly back into a bricked up
fireplace. Our stove had a four
gallon water-tank, a feature that
we felt made it superior to Armies
tankless stove. Aunt Nellie's stove
had a cumbersome warmer above
the stove top but ours had handy
shelf that was just right for the
warming of our stocking caps and
the drying of wet mittens. All in
all, we felt we'll pleased with our
Home Clarion range.
My brother Otis expressed the
sentiment of the family when he
said, "The trumpet on the stove
door calls US to keep warm in win
ter and it calls US to eat three
times a day both in summer and
winter" Ben added a postscript
when he exclaimed, "And brother,
don't forget that the trumpet calls
us to fill the woodbox both night
and morning"
In the cold months of winter,
family life came to center more
and more around the Home Clar-
ion. We children dressed before its
enveloping warmth after dash
down the cold stairs and through
the chilled hall. We took to school
hand-warming baked potatoes
baked in the oven, while the fam
lily fortified itself with hearty
breakfast of bacon and eggs, bis
cult and preserves. On our return
from school we warmed our numb
ed fingers and toes at the stove
hearth. The more humble members
of the household enjoyed the beni-
sons of the kitchen range. Shep
and old Joe shared the warmth of
the narrow corridor behind the
stove; the hens ate corn warmed
by a long afternoons heating by
the opened oven door; Prince and
the cow drank water whose chill
had been tempered by the addition
Of tank water.
Occasionally the kitchen became
the evening living room. When
Father came in from the barn
with a steaming pail of milk on
his arm he would say, at looks
as though the mercury were going
| out of sight tonight; we had bet
ter gather around the kitchen fire
this evening" This welcome bid
ding always occasioned an after
supper hustle that complicated our
dish washing routine. The boys
piled the woodbox high with heavy
wood. Father brought extra chairs
from the sitting room; he moved
the kitchen table nearer the stove
and adjusted kerosene lamp at
either end of the table.
Before Mother seated herself in
her favorite low rocker she pinned
newspapers over the windows TO
protect her plants from the chill
of the frosty fronds already pat
terning the pane. I also had my
appointed task as we prepared to
stand siege against the cold. /