60 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



more in diameter, and open in front. In the 

 funnel there hung joints of beef, mutton, and 

 pork, while sometimes a dozen hams were 

 smoking in the chimney at a time. A long 

 sooty chain ending in a crook went up from 

 the fire to a beam above, and this bore the 

 heavy iron pans of the period. Many of these 

 were supplied with a funnel, by which to let 

 the steam escape ; and, as there was nothing in 

 the shape of ovens, all food was cooked by their 

 aid. At all seasons of the year sooty water 

 trickled down the wide chimneys ; and the 

 members of the household sat and went about 

 their domestic duties with their heads covered. 



The second story of the house, called the loft, 

 was open to the rafters, and constituted the 

 sleeping apartment of the servants and children. 

 In most cases there was but one chamber, 

 undivided by partitions, and here the depen- 

 dents were lodged — the men at one end, the 

 women at the other. Beyond a rope stretched 

 across — upon which coats and gowns, articles 

 of both male and female attire, were hung pro- 

 miscuously — there was no division whatever. 

 In the houses of the tradesmen of the adjoining 

 provincial towns, where the custom was to 



