28 THE LAND OF PLUCK

of imported cork are quite in fashion for footstools. They
stand one on each side of the great open fireplace, as
though the household intended to have at least a couple
of life-preservers on hand, in case of a general flood. The
large earthen cup, or fire-pot, that you may see standing
near, filled with burning peat, and casting a bright glow
over the Dutch sentence inscribed on the tiles arching the
fireplace, is very: useful for warming the room on chilly
days, when it is not quite cold enough for a fire. For that
matter, it is a general custom in Holland to use little tin
fire-boxes (with a handle, and with holes in the top lid)
for warming the feet. Our Dutch ancestors brought some
of them over to America long ago, and many grown-up
New-Yorkers can remember seeing similar ones in use.
In Holland every lady has her voet stoof, or foot-stove.
Churches are provided with a large number; and on Sun-
day, boys and sometimes old women, bearing high piles of
them, move softly about, distributing them among the
congregation.

 

A DUTCH FOOT-STOVE,