MEMORIES OF THE 



elevated oven, which consumed large quantities of it. How- 

 ever, when the girls took a notion or when we had company, an 

 extra fire was kept in the south room or parlor, and on state 

 occasions, like Thanksgiving or the arrival of very select com- 

 pan}^, in both. This old elevated-oven stove was a great heater 

 and wonderfully comfortable to put your wet feet and legs under 

 in slushy weather. Back and above it were the poles upon 

 which were slung the long strings of apples and pumpkins to 

 dry. 



The south room was the one most used as a sitting-room. 

 The little, square stove with crooked legs, in this room, was to 

 me a source of great annoyance, for, while consuming great 

 quantities of wood, it would not take a stick over ten inches 

 long, and very small at that; but around it we young folks and 

 our company spent many a happy evening, playing games, 

 singing songs, telling stories, guessing riddles, cracking butter- 

 nuts, eating popcorn and apples, or doing anything else that 

 pleased us, free from the supervision of the old people. 



Bernice Doane gave it the name of the "sparking stove." 

 He certainly had a right to name it, as he was the first to use it 

 in that capacity. It made untold trouble for the boys who had 

 to saw, split and bring in its little, short blocks. In those 

 times I hated the harmless little thing on account of the trouble 

 it made me through its diminutive size, but it went through 

 many a hard campaign, outlasting all other old, family stoves, 

 and came out victorious and sound, and is now on the retired 

 list, carefully stored in my garret, a souvenir of old times. 



The kitchen was the most pleasant and comfortable room in 

 the house, and it was always warm and light. It was the 

 universal assembly room, and the reception room into which 

 neighbors came who made a casual call. It would not have 



174 



