Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-06-03
3nisttllanp.
O l. ID II I VI r. = .
by GRANDMA GAGE.

-.' But here come Kate and Fred,
and am going to tell You about your
fathers first shoes.
There were very hard times in the early
settlement of the country, and people
who lived on farms in thinly.se,tled
neighborhoods Got on rs hes; they could
Little boys and girls went barefoot nearly
all the year round, or had moccasins
made OF skins for the coolest weather.
TUNED leather WAS only used for men
and women and was very scarce; and not
a shoemaker lived within twenty miles.
When your grandpa first came to the
country. he sought out his farm, and the
first thing he did was to set out q little
orchard. Then came the Indian war,
and he lived in garrison with his family
five years After the peace, he moved TO
his farm in the very wilderness, and for
many years had but five neighbors. When
your father was six years old, 4 shoe
maker built his hut near us. And father
said George must have some shoes, so he
could go out in the snow and hunt sheep,
and bring in the cows, and husk corn for
the pigs, and trap quails for the winter
pot pies. So one morning Grandpa gave
him pair of boot-tops and bit of the
skirt of an old saddle, and bado him go
up TO Mr. Smiths and have his foot meas
ured for pair Of shoes ButTll tell the
story in his own words, rs heard him
tell it the other day at a Christmas dinner
party.
There was never a happier boy than
|, that chill October morning, as trudg-
ed over the hills, with my precious bur-
then tied fast TO i tow string. The part.
ridges were drumming on the fallen logs
and the squirrels were chattering among
the Jeech-nuts; but never moment stop
ed to 'shinucy' stone at one or the
other, WAS to have pair of shoes :;
and that filed to the brim MY whole
heart and brain.
found Smith at home. with nothing to
do, and in great want Of few pounds OF
pork which my father had to spare him.
My foot was soon measured and the work
begun. Oh, what day of anticipation
and Joy that was, felt myself immess-
urably above the little Smiths. did not
once condescend TO play tag or leap
frog through that autumn day. Was
not to have pair of shoes? and could
any one reach higher point Of elevation
than that?
l watched every melton, from the
whetting Of the shoc-knige and making
the 'waxed-end' to the finishing off ofthe
last shoe and taking it from the last. They
were low quarters as they were called in
those days-only coming to my ankles,
aud tied in front with yellow deer-skin
strings They had neither lining or bind.
ing. But there WAS never happier fel-
low-too happy to share the johnny-cake
baking on the board before the log-fire,
too much interested 10 crack waluuts with
the girls or help the boys gather chest
nuts and when started Tor home, rs
the sun was going down, thought the
sky was never SO grand, and the forest
hills never so lovely.
was hungry now the work was done :;
and, stopping to gather few chestnuts
that the frosty night had shaken down, l
remembered the words of my dear moth
er-to thank God for all things, and not
forget him in our moments of great JOY.
And | thanked him there under the chest
nut, rs never before, for this unusual
delight.
| reached home safely and the new
shoes were duly praised and commented
upon by the whole household, and then
hung upon peg 10 dry but they were
in My dreams the liyelong night, and
mother said talked of them il my sleep.
The next day brought the unusual oc.
currence OF visit from my uncle and
aunt and two cousins, who lived many
miles away. On the next day | was al
lowed to 60 out in the glory of new shoes.
We went 10 the orchard far 4 play: and
as shoes could not be worn out unneces-