Chapter I: Preface

The incidents narrated in this book are based on fact, and, while not absolutely true in every particular, the characters are all drawn from real life. The photographs are true likenesses of the people they are supposed to represent, and while in some instances the correct names are not given (for reasons which the reader will readily understand), the various scenes, relics, etc., are true historically and geographically. The places described can be easily recognized by any one who has ever visited the section of Pennsylvania in which the plot (if it can really be called a plot) of the story is laid. Many of the recipes given Mary by Pennsylvania German housewives, noted for the excellence of their cooking, have never appeared in print.

THE AUTHOR.

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO MY FRIENDS WITH GRATITUDE FOR THEIR MANY HELPFUL KINDNESSES.

"HE WHO HAS A THOUSAND FRIENDS, HAS NEVER A ONE TO SPARE."

THE HOUSEKEEPER'S SYMPHONY

"To do the best that I can, from morn till night.
And pray for added strength with coming light;
To make the family income reach alway,
With some left over for a rainy day;
To do distasteful things with happy face,
To try and keep the odds and ends in place.
To smile instead of frown at Fate,
Which placed me in a family always late
For meals; to do the sewing, mending and
The thousand small things always near at hand,
And do them always with a cheerful heart,
Because in life they seem to be my part;
To know the place of everything and keep
It there, to think, to plan, to cook, to sweep,
To brew, to bake, to answer questions,
To be the mainspring of the family clock.
(Or that effect) and see that no tick, tock
Is out of time or tune, or soon or late,
This is the only symphony which I
Can ever hope to operate."

MARION WILEY.

CONTENTS

I Mary's Letter Received at Clear Spring Farm

II Mary's Arrival at the Farm

III Schuggenhaus Township

IV John Landis

V The Old Farm-House and Garden

VI Mary Confides in "Aunt Sarah" and Gives Her Views on Suffrage
for Women

VII Professor Schmidt

VIII Uses of An Old-Fashioned Wardrobe

IX Poetry and Pie

X Sibylla Linsabigler

XI New Colonial Rag Rugs

XII Mary Imitates Navajo Blankets

XIII "The Girls' Camp Fire" Organized by Mary

XIV Mary Makes "Violet and Rose Leaf" Beads

XV Mary and Elizabeth Visit Sadie Singmaster

XVI The Old Parlor Made Beautiful (Modernized)

XVII An Old Song Evening

XVIII A Visit to the "Pennsylvania Palisades"

XIX Mary Is Taught to Make Pastry, Patties and Rosenkuchcen

XX Old Potteries and Decorated Dishes

XXI The Value of Wholesome, Nutritious Food

XXII A Variety of Cakes Evolved From One Recipe

XXIII The Old "Taufschien"

XXIV The Old Store on the Ridge Road

XXV An Elbadritchel Hunt

XXVI The Old Shanghai Rooster

XXVII A "Potato Pretzel"

XXVIII Faithful Service

XXIX Mary, Ralph, Jake and Sibylla Visit the Allentown Fair

XXX Fritz Schmidt Explores Durham Cave

XXXI Mary's Marriage

ILLUSTRATIONS

Mary
Aunt Sarah
The Old Spring House
The Old Mill Wheel
The Old Mill
Old Corn Crib
The New Red Barn
The Old Farm-House
Ralph Jackson
Rocky Valley
Professor Schmidt
Frau Schmidt
Old Time Patch-Work Quilts
Old Time Patch-Work
Home-Made Rag Carpet
A Hit-and-Miss Rug
A Brown and Tan Rug
A Circular Rug
Imitation of Navajo Blankets
Rug With Design
Rug With Swastika in Centre
Home Manufactured Silk Prayer Rug
Elizabeth Schmidt--"Laughing Water"
Articles in the Old Parlor Before It Was Modernized
Other Articles in the Old Parlor Before It Was Modernized
Palisades, or Narrows of Nockamixon
The Canal at the Narrows
The Narrows, or Pennsylvania Palisades
Top Rock
Ringing Rocks of Bucks County, Pennsylvania
High Falls
Big Rock at Rocky Dale
The Old Towpath at the Narrows
Old Earthenware Dish
Igraffito Plate
Old Plates Fund in Aunt Sarah's Corner Cupboard
Old Style Lamps
Old Taufschien
The Old Store on Ridge Road
Catching Elbadritchels
Old Egg Basket at the Farm
A Potato Pretzel
Loaf of Rye Bread
A "Brod Corvel," or Bread Basket
Church Which Sheltered Liberty Bell in 1777-78
Liberty Bell Tablet
Durham Cave
The Woodland Stream
Polly Schmidt
An Old-Fashioned Bucks County Bake-Oven