d the May
pole. Turkey shooting was a favorite amusement, which usually took
place on the Common. New Year's Day was devoted to the interchange of
visits. Every door was thrown open, and all guests were welcome,
friends as well as strangers, as at a Presidential levee. This custom
of olden time has passed down to us from our worthy Dutch
predecessors. Dinner parties were unknown. But tea-parties, with the
ladies, were very common.

"To take tea out," writes Mr. William L. Stone, in his interesting
History of New York,

"was a Dutch institution, and one of great importance. The
matrons, arrayed in their best petticoats and linsey
jackets, home-spun by their own wheels, would proceed on the
intended afternoon visit. They wore capacious pockets, with
scissors, pin-cushion and keys hanging from their girdle,
outside of their dress; and reaching the neighbor's house
the visitors industriously used knitting needles and tongues
at the same time. The village gossip was talked over;
neighbors' affairs settled, and the stockings finished by
tea-time, when the important meal appeared on the table,
precisely at six o'clock.

"This was always the occasion for the display of the family
plate, with the Lilliputian cups, of rare old family china,
out of which the guests sipped the fragrant herb. A large
lump of loaf sugar invariably accompanied each cup, on a
little plate, and the delightful beverage was sweetened by
an occasional nibble, amid the more solid articles of
waffles and Dutch doughnuts. The pleasant visit finished,
the visitors donning cloaks and hoods, as bonnets were
unknown, proceeded homeward in time for milking and other
necessary household duties.

"The kitchen fire-places were of immense size large enough
to roast a whole sheep. The hooks and trammels sustained
large iron pots and kettles. In the spacious chimney-corners
the children and negroes gathered, telling stories and
cracking nuts by the blazing pine-knots, while the
industrious _vrows_ turned the merry spinning-wheel, and
their lords, the worthy burghers, mayhap just returned from
an Indian scrimmage, quietly smoked their long pipes, as
they sat watching the wreaths curling above their heads. At
length the clock with its brazen tongue having proclaimed
the hour of nine, family prayers were sai