1922 Old Time Recipes Liquors Shrubs(4th edition) by Helen S Wright

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villagers called the few Colonial mansions, were invariably spinsters or widows of un- certain years, the last descendants of a long line of sea captains and prosperous mari- ners, to whom the heritage of these old homes, rich with their time-honored furnish- ings and curios, served to keep warm the cockles of kindly hearts, which extended to the stranger that traditional hospitality which makes the whole world kin. The social customs of this Adamless Eden were precise and formal. As with the dear ladies of Cranford, a call was a very serious affair, given and received with great gravity, and had its time limit set with strict punc- tuality. Cake and wine were invariably served as a preliminary warning toward early departure. Here came in my first ac- quaintance with many varieties of home-made wines, over whose wealth of color and deli- cacy of flavor my eyes and palate longed to linger. Vulgar curiosity made me bold to inquire the names of a few; imagine my astonish- ment when graciously told that the gay dan- delion, the modest daisy, the blushing cur- rant, had one and all contributed their nectar to the joy of the occasion. Flattered by my interest, my gentle hostess broke strict rules of etiquette and invited me to linger, show- 12