Summer Tea Party for One

Summer Tea Table for One

"Let a pure white cloth be neatly laid; let the tray be covered with a white napkin; and on it, as for breakfast, the sugar, cream, and slop basin containing, the spoons and the cups and saucers within them. Let it be placed in the middle of one side or at one end. Put around the tables as many small plates as may be wanted, with a small knife in front of each, or at its side; at the other end or side, opposite the tray, let the dish of ripe or stewed fruit be set, with a large spoon and a pile of small saucers in front or at the side of it. On either side, at some little distance from it, let there be plates, with bread sliced about the eighth of an inch in thickness; or let one dish be of hot wigs, or rusk, or tea biscuit. Let a fine mould of butter occupy the centre of the table; let its knife be beside it; and on each side a small plate, the one with cold meat, ham, or tongue, sliced thin, (and a fork to help it; ) the other with sliced cheese, or a fresh pot-cheese. A pitcher of ice-water with small tumblers surrounding it, may occupy one corner, and a basket or plate of cake the other.  

Or a glass-dish of custard may occupy the place mentioned for the fruit and it (the fruit) be distributed in small saucers, with fine white sugar heaped on the centre of each, and placed upon each plate : this gives the table a very pretty appearance. Or, the custard baked in small cups, may occupy the places of the saucers of fruit. 

Smoked beef, chopped thin, or Bologna sausages, sliced, may be served at tea ; also, cheese this may be sliced or grated."

--Mrs. Crowen's American Lady's Cookery Book (1866)