HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MEDFORD, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, IN 1630, TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1855.
Charles Brooks, Ed.

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[465] comes the huge stone pot of beans, with its top covered by a thick slice of pork; and beside it the Indian pudding, in a broad, deep, earthen bowl. The oven's mouth is stopped with a piece of plank, and the crevices are plastered up with clay. Two o'clock witnesses all things in trim order; and the mother is ready to do a little weaving, the elder daughter a little mending, and the child steals out for a little play with her pet lamb. A female neighbor has just come through the woods to invite her friends to a “quilting,” which is to begin at one o'clock next Wednesday. The joy of such an event makes the bright eyes of the daughter laugh at every corner. The whole heavens, to her, are now spangled with rainbows. To refuse such an invitation is unheard of. The visitor has left; and the girl of sixteen is plying her mother with questions about who will be at the quilting, not daring to ask about one whom she most hopes may drop in during the evening. So engrossed have become the minds of the mother and daughter, that they have half forgotten that supper must be had. They now hasten to their work, and have all things ready in due season. As soon as the brothers enter the house, the sister announces the great quilting-party; and the fond father smiles at the exuberant joy of that darling creature, who is just budding into womanhood. Earlier than usual is all labor and worldly care to cease; for it is Saturday night. The sabbath is at hand; and therefore they would shake off the dust of earth from their sandals, and prepare their hearts for that day which God has prepared for them. Every thing is ready. The sun goes down; and their sabbath has begun. The family soon gather about their domestic altar; and the pious father reads the Sacred Scriptures, and then offers his Saturday-evening prayer. It is not long before the weary inmates of that house begin to think of rest. The weekly ablutions, required on this evening, are gone through by all the younger members of the circle; after which they all retire,--the father to count up the gains of the week, the mother to plan for the good of her children, the boys to travel in the land of nod, and the daughter to guess whom she will meet at the quilting.

Here let us say a word about the mother's duties, which were as important, and oftentimes more onerous, than the father's. Sick or well, the cooking and washing must be done; and “hired help” could not be had. Moreover, the butter and cheese must be made, the cloth must be woven,