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middle of the table; two large fat wild turkeys were at either end, still steaming hot from the clay oven in which they had been roasted; between the venison and the turkeys were pumpkin, chicken and various other pies.
From the side table or puncheon, the bride’s mother assisted by the old ladies, was serving coffee ladled from a large sugar kettle which was hanging from the crane in the open fireplace. Maple sugar was used for sweetening and rich cream was plentiful.
In celebration of the wedding dancing continued for two days.
The infare or housewarming given by the newly married couple was no doubt a part of this revelry, for Edward Eggleston in “Roxy” says, “there could be no wedding in a Hoosier village without an infare on the following day.
In those days the faring into the house of the bridegrooms’ parents was observed with great rejoicing.”
For several days following the festivities attending Miss Chinn’s wedding we find no record in the diary. The entry which follows makes clear the reason. “My husband and I came home after daylight the second day, slept until afternoon and then went back and put in another night. I have been asked to a quilting party but have declined since I do not think it proper to go when I am so weary.”
Visiting one’s neighbors was the most frequent social pleasure, spending the day or going to dinner when the guest arrived in season to assist in the preparation of the meal and had no pressing engagement to call her away before she had helped wash the dishes and put the room to rights. The children were invariably included in these invitations for the mother of a family was nurse as well as cook, house maid and seamstress. A few days after Miss Chinn’s wedding our lady of the diary spends the day with Mrs. Hervey Bates, pre-
