[p. 84]
These were the prominent events of the simple community in which Lucretia passed her childhood, but there were also certain annual festivities in which she took delight, like the ‘veal feast’ and the ‘shearing feast.’ Fresh meat being a rare luxury, the killing of a calf was a time of excitement to all concerned. On one such memorable occasion little Lucretia was told, ‘Now, if thee is a good girl thee shall see them kill the calf.’ I must record that sometimes she was far from good, for she was a great tease, being full to overflowing of animal life. But to return, the ‘veal feast’ followed the killing. It was a family reunion, occupying two days. On the first all the husband's relatives were bidden; on the second all the wife's, and to those unable to come a portion of the good things was carried in dishes wrapped in great square napkins, especially prepared for this use, and the children who were careful enough were allowed to be the bearers, a much coveted privilege. The veal was presented to the guests at the ‘feast’ under various disguises known only to such good cooks as the women of Nantucket. While they knew how to make much out of little, and were content with their ordinary fare of bacon and corned beef, clams, fish, and corn bread, they were not above rejoicing in occasions that called forth their culinary skill. The ‘shearing feast’ was the annual three days holiday, when young and old went out to the ponds on Miacomet Plain to wash and shear the sheep and have a good time generally. And among the Friends there were also the weighty gatherings of monthly and quarterly meetings when strangers or ‘off islanders’ filled the hospitable houses to overflowing.
Anna Coffin, like the rest of the women whose husbands ‘followed the sea,’ enjoyed an occasional ‘dish of tea’ with her neighbors, and especially with her sisters, who, all five, were married and settled in Nantucket. When going to them she would say to her children, ‘Now, after you have finished knitting twenty bouts you may go down cellar and pick out as many as you want ’
