American fiction -- 19th century; Historical fiction; Indians of North America -- Fiction
But in the case of Dorothy and Blossom, the change had never been of
this very broad character, and habit had long been preparing them for
scenes even more savage than that into which they were now cast. Both
were accustomed to work, as, blessed be God! the American woman
usually works; that is to say, within doors, and to render home neat,
comfortable, and welcome. As housewives, they were expert and willing,
considering the meagreness of their means; and le Bourdon told
the half-delighted, half-blushing Margery, ere the latter had been
twenty-four hours in his chiente, that nothing but the presence of such
a one as herself was wanting to render it an abode fit for a prince!
Then, the cooking was so much improved! Apart from cleanliness, the
venison was found to be more savory; the cakes were lighter; and the
pork less greasy. On this subject of grease, however, we could wish that
a sense of right would enable us to announce its utter extinction in
the American kitchen; or, if not absolutely its extinction, such a
subjection of the unctuous properties, as to bring them within the
limits of a reasonably accurate and healthful taste. To be frank,
Dorothy carried a somewhat heavy hand, in this respect; but pretty
Margery was much her superior. How this difference in domestic
discipline occurred, is more than we can say; but of its existence there
can be no doubt There are two very respectable sections of the civilized
world to which we should imagine no rational being would ever think of
resorting in order to acquire the art of cookery, and these are Germany
and the land of the Pilgrims. One hears, and reads in those elegant
specimens of the polite literature of the day, the letters from
Washington, and from various travellers, who go up and down this river
in steamboats, or along that railway, gratis, much in honor of the good
things left behind the several writers, in the “region of the kock”;
but, woe betide the wight who is silly enough to believe in all this
poetical imagery, and who travels in that direction, in the expectation
of finding a good table! It is extraordinary that such a marked
difference does exist, on an interest of this magnitude, among such
near neighbors; but, of the fact, we should think no intelligent and
experienced man can doubt. Believing as we do, that no small portion
of the elements of national character can be, and are, formed in the
kitchen, the circumstance may appear to us of more moment than to some
of our readers. The vacuum left in cookery, between Boston and Baltimore
for instance, is something like that which exists between Le Verrier's
new planet and the sun.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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