Cather describes the kitchen as the place where people go to get to the back stairway that reaches the attic. Vickie in "Old Mrs. Harris" has a room that is reached through the kitchen stairway, and when Vickie goes upstairs in disappointment over not having enough money to go to college, Mrs. Harris stares at the pine door in severe dislike. Visitors to the home will see the original Cather china stored behind the glass shelving, which was brought from Virginia wrapped in Confederate money.
It was in the kitchen that Mandy (Marjorie) from "Old Mrs. Harris" used to soak and rub Mrs. Harris's feet. Cather describes the kitchen in the morning: "When Mrs. Harris went out into the kitchen to get breakfast, Mandy always had the fire started and the water boiling. They enjoyed a quiet half-hour before the little boys came running down the stairs, always in good humor.” In winter the boys had their breakfast in the kitchen."
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