OLD HOMESTEAD 



been thought sociable or friendly to seat any of our near neigh- 

 bors or familiar friends who were making an informal call in any 

 other room than this. It was the room most used and useful, 

 and, before the fire-place was taken out, was really a cheerful 

 place where all could gather and have plenty of room. 



When her household work was over, mother was always 

 found here, in her wooden rocker in the corner by the old-fash- 

 ioned wooden clock, rapidly plying her knitting needles, which 

 she called ''resting." Father's place was the chimney corner, 

 so his candle could set on the mantle while he read his book or 

 paper, always reading aloud unless others were doing something 

 that would be interrupted. He was a good reader and it was a 

 pleasure to hear him. His reading of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," 

 first published in the National Era, his favorite abolition paper, 

 was a treat for any one. 



Those of us who wanted to read or study evenings gathered 

 around the big table, where there burned a candle, or, if three 

 or four of us, perhaps two, or a big whale-oil or camphene 

 lamp. If no one was using the light it was put out. Lights 

 were not burned except there was particular use for them. There 

 was plenty to use, nothing to waste. 



The big fire-place was a feature of the kitchen not easily 

 forgotten. It was kept in use many years after the adoption of 

 stoves. The stove was more economical of fuel, but could not 

 give the cheer and comfort of the fire-place. I still remember 

 the fire-place cooking. Big dinner pots, blubbering and wallop- 

 ing, hung on the swinging crane, with the old, black teakettle; 

 the open, tin bake-oven stood on its hind legs before the huge 

 fire, with the biscuit tins inclined toward the coals, and glowed 

 and glared, while the long-legged spider or skillet sputtered and 

 sizzled over a bed of coals close by the crane jamb. Fire-place 



175 



