-earthen, tin, pewter, and even wooden bowls carved out of "whorls."
And as for spoons and knives and forks--well, they were very scarce
indeed. But every boy carried a pocket or hunting knife, and some had
even been thoughtful enough to bring a knife and fork from home.
Nevertheless, despite the lack of articles which we now consider the
commonest of possessions, the table manners of these pioneer boys and
girls were very good. They were on their best behavior while visiting,
and the presence of the girls had a good influence on the boys.

The dinner was not to be the great meal of the day, for the boys did not
wish to eat too much before the activities of the afternoon. Mistress
Harding and the big girls had promised several dainties for supper,
among which was a berry pudding, the girls having picked the berries
that morning while their brothers were clearing the stumpage. The day
before Enoch had shot a quantity of wood-pigeons, too, and there was to
be a huge pigeon pie baked in the Dutch oven. There could be no stuffed
lamb on this occasion, however; sheep were too hard to raise and the
pioneers tasted mutton but seldom, for the fleece was too valuable for
them to kill the animal which supplied it. But Bolderwood had brought in
a fawn which he had hung until it was of the right flavor, and this was
dressed and roasted like a young kid. When the boys heard of these good
things it almost took their appetites away at the dinner table, for they
did not wish to eat more than was absolutely necessary before the
holiday supper.

They were quickly back in the new lot, raked the fires together, flung
the last root and chip on the blaze, and then repaired to the level
meadow by the riverside where the games were to take place. The meadow
had been mown some days before (they always got two mowings a season off
the rich creek bottoms) and the new grass had sprung up just enough to
be soft and velvety to the feet. Off came the shoes and stockings of
those boys who had been trammeled by such articles of attire--all except
Crow Wing. He still wore his moccasins. The foot-races were to come
first, and Bolderwood and Lot carefully measured the distance along the
bank where the land was almost level, setting stakes at either end of
the course. It was not a long run and everybody lined up for the first
trial and they charged down upon the further stake like a gang of wild
colts. Crow Wing, Enoch, Lot, and Robbie Baker were easily ah