was in the large dining-room, and often, if a few more
friends came to stay or spend the evening, how quickly the
dinner-table was wheeled out of the large folding door, and
the whole party would be merrily waltzing round, or we
would have a sixteen set of lancers, or “ Sir Roger ” ; what
merry hearts they were !
People who live in the country are generally very fond
of dancing, for the mere exercise, I fancy. Most of the
old houses were built with a large hall. It was quite
an easy matter to get up a dance, for the hall floors
were generally polished and smooth, and often among
the farm labourers there would be some very musical ones
who could play the fiddle, or perhaps a friend playing the
concertina would supply the music. Naturally there was
not a very select or extensive programme; just the waltz,
polka, quadrille and lancers ; but the young people were
happy and enjoyed themselves. In the old days, when the
wealthy landowners had slaves, many of them had a band,
but .all these are things of the past. Now every country
district has its village, where stands the church, concert-
room, the doctor’s house, parsonage and local merchant ; a
town-hall soon follows, and a library, tennis courts, etc., and
local concerts and dances in the hall have taken the place
of the merry impromptu home parties of the days of forty
years ago.
How well I remember a country wedding in the dear
old home, of a favourite brother to a dear cousin. The
village church had not been built yet, so the marriage
ceremony was performed in our pretty bright drawing-room.
The wedding breakfast was served in the dining-room, and
14
MY OLD HOME
after the happy couple left, we wound up the festive day
with a little dance. I often wonder whether people had
more energy or strength in those days, for certainly nothing
seemed to be a trouble or worry then, though we did so
much of planning, arranging, and carrying things out our-
selves. Living many miles away from a town, everything
was cooked at home. There was the large oven (built into
the kitchen), which took a cartload of wood to heat ; by
wood I mean “ rhenoster bush,” which grows on the hills,
and strange to say, wherever land has been under culti-
vation, in a few years it is covered with this bush, which
makes excellent firewood, and was put round the kraals as
fences as. well. When this oven was heated twice a week
for baking all the bread required on the farm, we generally
made a supply of sponge- and tea-cakes at the same time,
and turn-overs for picnics. The lofts in the winter months
were well stocked with pears and quinces (apples did not
thrive so well, but the large calabash pear, baked in the
oven and served with sugar and cream, was delicious).
There was always nice fresh butter, and a well-stocked
poultry-yard, and with all these home supplies it never
seemed a difficulty to have friends staying in the house.
Page 8
Presented as published in 1902. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
was in the large dining-room, and often, if a few more friends came to stay or spend the evening, how quickly the dinner-table was wheeled out of the large folding door, and the whole party would be merrily waltzing round, or we would have a sixteen set of lancers, or “ Sir Roger ” ; what merry hearts they were !
People who live in the country are generally very fond of dancing, for the mere exercise, I fancy. Most of the old houses were built with a large hall. It was quite an easy matter to get up a dance, for the hall floors were generally polished and smooth, and often among the farm labourers there would be some very musical ones who could play the fiddle, or perhaps a friend playing the concertina would supply the music. Naturally there was not a very select or extensive programme; just the waltz, polka, quadrille and lancers ; but the young people were happy and enjoyed themselves. In the old days, when the wealthy landowners had slaves, many of them had a band, but .all these are things of the past. Now every country district has its village, where stands the church, concertroom, the doctor’s house, parsonage and local merchant ; a town-hall soon follows, and a library, tennis courts, etc., and local concerts and dances in the hall have taken the place of the merry impromptu home parties of the days of forty years ago.
How well I remember a country wedding in the dear old home, of a favourite brother to a dear cousin. The village church had not been built yet, so the marriage ceremony was performed in our pretty bright drawing-room. The wedding breakfast was served in the dining-room, and
after the happy couple left, we wound up the festive day with a little dance. I often wonder whether people had more energy or strength in those days, for certainly nothing seemed to be a trouble or worry then, though we did so much of planning, arranging, and carrying things out ourselves. Living many miles away from a town, everything was cooked at home. There was the large oven (built into the kitchen), which took a cartload of wood to heat ; by wood I mean “ rhenoster bush,” which grows on the hills, and strange to say, wherever land has been under cultivation, in a few years it is covered with this bush, which makes excellent firewood, and was put round the kraals as fences as. well. When this oven was heated twice a week for baking all the bread required on the farm, we generally made a supply of sponge- and tea-cakes at the same time, and turn-overs for picnics. The lofts in the winter months were well stocked with pears and quinces (apples did not thrive so well, but the large calabash pear, baked in the oven and served with sugar and cream, was delicious). There was always nice fresh butter, and a well-stocked poultry-yard, and with all these home supplies it never seemed a difficulty to have friends staying in the house.