Sec. It.] FARM-HOUSES. 285 



fire-place large eiioiigli to roast a whole ox, in whicli a great fire of Ion's Bunds 

 up a clieerful blaze, lighting up the whole room so its brightness might be 

 6een through its great uncurtained windows, like a beacon light to the 

 traveller as he comes down tiie slope of yonder hill two niilos awav, and 

 makes him involuntarily thaidi God, in anticipation, for the good thiu"^ 

 spread out upon tlie great table standing between the window and the fire. 



Lot us take note of the ohl-fashioned meal. At the head of the tal)le sits 

 a matron of some sixty summers — though in appearance there is nothin" of 

 tiie winter of old age about her. Her dress is a gown of home-spun worsted, 

 well fortified with flannels from the same manufactory, that bid defiance to 

 tlie Autumn winds of a rigorous climate. The small, neat cap of white gauze, 

 and the shoes and stockings of this woman, were made in pursuance of the 

 best medical recipe ever written : "Keep the head cool, and tlie feet dry and 

 w-arm ;"' fur the stockings are the product of busy fingei-s at moments idle 

 with many housewives, and the shoes of stout leather were made for service, 

 and the cap is a mere ornament — a snow-wreath among raven locks — and 

 her face is the indication uf liealtii and ha|)]iincss. 



Upon her right hand sits the farmer, dressed in a butternut-colored coat, 

 blue pants, buff vest, white linen shirt — every article home made — stout 

 boots and black silk cravat — for he has been to town, and tliis is his holiday 

 suit. Below him sit Jedediah, Ebenczer, Abram, and 8iili>mon, all economi- 

 cal names, for they can be shortened in common use to Jed, Eb, Ab, and Sol. 

 Two of these wear the check woollen winter frocks of New England farmers 

 — the others are in round jackets; tliey are schoolboys. Upon the left sit 

 Mary, Adeline, and Mchitable, pictures of real beauty and health. Tlie 

 eldest is " dressed up ;" she has been to town with her father ; she has a 

 gown of " boughten stuff";" around her neck is a bow of colored lamb's wool, 

 knitted by her own hands, fastened in the throat by grandmother's silver 

 lirooL-li. Tlie other two are in check woolen, which was spun, woven, and 

 colored, and made up under the same root". 



Further down the table are three athletic young men, day laborers on the 

 farm — sons of neighboring farmers — one of whom is eyeing tlie charms of 

 sweet Mary with an /expression easily read by a good physiognomist. Tiie 

 group is completed by the schoolmaster, a young man witii a glowing eye 

 wliicli speaks of intellect that will tell upon the world some day with oa 

 much force as though ho had not beim obliged to obtain his eilucation by 

 summer labor and winter teaching. Jle is one of New England's rising 

 sons. 



'llio meal is for men who toil. At one end of tlio table stands a ]<ot, of 

 ample dimensions, smoking i'rom the oven tlaiiking the fire-place, of the most 

 excellent of New England cookeries, " a disli of bakeil beuns," crowned with 

 a great square ]iiece of salt fat pork, crisped anil rich. Lower down a broad 

 ))owter platter hoiils the remains of the " boiled victuals" fiiat former! tlio 

 dinner — beef, jiork, j>otatoes, cabbage, beets an<i turni|is^a ])ile that migiit 

 rival a small hay-coek in size and siiapi; — a plate of ryo and iudiuii bread, 



