They gathered in the 'keeping-room,' as it was called; the room used as a common sitting room by the family, though it served also the purpose of a sleeping chamber, and a bed accordingly in one corner formed part of the furniture.
Their eyes were accustomed to that.

It did not hurt the general effect of comfort.

There the supper-table was set this evening; the paper window-curtains were let down, and a blazing fire sparkled and crackled; while before it, on the approved oaken barrel-head set up against the andirons, the delicate rye and indian hoe-cake was toasting into sweetness and brownness.

Asahel keeping watch on one side of the fire, and Winifred at the other burning her little fair cheek in premature endeavours to see whether the cake was ready to be turned.
"What's going on here!" said Winthrop, catching her up in his arms as he came in.
Winifred laughed and kissed him, and then with an earnest slap of her little hand on his cheek requested to be set down, that she might see, "if that side wasn't done." "Yes, to be sure it's done," said Asahel.

"Where's mamma to turn it ?" "Here," said Winthrop, taking up the barrel cover, -- "do you think nobody can turn a cake but mamma ?" "_You_ can't," said Asahel, -- "you'll let it fall in the ashes, -- you will! -- " But the slice of half baked dough was cleverly and neatly slipped off the board and happily put in its place again with the right side out; and little Winifred, who had watched the operation anxiously, said with a breath of satisfaction and in her slow utterance, "There -- Governor can do anything!" There were several cakes to take the benefit of the fire, one after the other, and then to be split and buttered, and then to be eaten; and cakes of Winthrop's baking and mamma's buttering, the children pronounced "as good as could be." Nothing could have better broken up the gloom of their little tea party than Winthrop's hoe-cakes; and then the tea was so good, for nobody had eaten much dinner.
The children were in excellent spirits, and Winthrop kept them in play; and the conversation went on between the three for a large part of the evening.