A later account than this, however, and one with which some who are now
living may be more or less familiar, or have heard of, is given as
follows:--
"The ordinary food of the early settlers here, for both breakfast and
supper, was bean porridge, with bread and butter. On Sunday morning
there was coffee in addition. Brown bread, made of rye and Indian, was
the staff of life, white bread being used only when guests were
present. Raked pumpkins (in their season) and milk composed a dish
said to be luxurious. [This dish is in common use among the country
people at the present time.] For dinner, twice every week, Sundays and
Thursdays, baked beans and baked Indian pudding, the latter being
served first. [This last custom has gone wholly out of practice; but
the Sunday dinner prevails to-day over the whole of New England, to a
very large extent.] Saturdays, salt fish; one day in every week, salt
pork and corned beef, and one day, also, when practicable, roasted
meat was the rule."
It is surprising how continuously some of these customs have been kept up
and prevail.