Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-23
Renliuisfruff ut tile ga5t.
Written for the Yorkvillc Enquirer.
MY FIRST COAT.

Scarcely ever did either of them leave home,
and never both leave at the same time. One
ofthem invariably remained at home to watch
us children. There were four of us-three
daughters and one son. was the oldest. At
the period referred to, had nearly completed
my ninth year. To the best ofmy recollection,
I had never been in any house except that of
my parents. In early infancy I had been ta-
ken to church, but was too small to recol-
lect anything about it. knew the faces of
only few individuals outside of our immedi-
ate family. 1t was now thought by both my
parents, that it was time that l should be ta-
ken to church. To enable me to enjoy this
privilege, I must be provided with coat. 1t
was not then, as it is now. When at present
it is determined that lad must have a new
coat, it is bought ready made or the cloth is
bought and put into the hands of tailor to
be made. Then it was different
When it was concluded that I should have
coat, the wool was selected. and both my
parents went to work to get it ready. My
father carded and my mother spun. Soon
large bunch of yarn was hanging up in the
corner of the house. remember it we'll. /
counted it many times every day. 1t con.
tanned, when it was concluded that there was
enough, in the language of my mother, "four
and twenty-five cut hanks The chain had
been spun before. 1t was dyed blue, and the
"6llen" was dyed red brown with kind of
moss which was then very abundant in the
country, but has long since disappeared. The
web was sized and warped. So distinct is my
recollection of the circumstance, that I can
still see the old warping bars as they stood
leaning up against the end Of the house. The
suit was to be fine one; hence seven hun.
dred reed and headles to correspond were
secured. I watched the "babe" whilst my
father and mother put in the web. This
done, my mother mounted the loom and wove
with an energy which I had never seen her
display before. 1t was evident that both
parents were deeply interested in the coat.
In little more than two days from the time
that the web was put on the beam, it was
taken of-twenty-six yards of what is now
called linsey. My father mounted his horse
and went somewhere in the neighborhood and
got lady to come and make my coat. This
woman went by the name Of Ann Jane, and
was generally regarded as very handy. re-
member with what intense anxiety I looked
up the road to see if she was coming. At
last my longing eyes were gratided. 1t was
late in the evening-too late to commence
work on the coat. The cloth was brought
out and examined by Ann Jane and pro-
nounced excellent, which was regarded by my
parents, and, I must confess, by me too, as
complimentary in the highest degree. Ann
Jane was, all over the country, an oracle res
pecting the quality Of cloth.
That night was memorable night to me-
I went to bed, but could not sleep. If even
I got into doze, my slumbers were disturbed
by rapturous dreams respecting my coat. At
length morning came. We always arose
early, but that morning I was up much ear
lier than usual. The whole of the family
was soon out of bed and breakfast was
prepared and dispatched. The cloth was
brought out and Ann Jane, with shears in
hand, sat down to make the selection for my
coat. Three yards were cut off for pair of
pants for father, because this being the begin
ming of the web, was thought to be sleazy.
1t was determined to take the coat from what
followed next in order Ann Jane cut off
a certain amount tt forget how much. All I
remember is that my father enjoined it upon
her to take enough to make the coat large,
assigning as reason that was growing very
fast. 1t was determined by all parties that
the style of the coat should be of the latest
fashion. Not a roundabout, nor modern
shoo-Ay; but forked tailed coat. All hands
went to work to hasten the making. minded
the children and as it was not busy season
of the year, my father remained about the
house and aided mother in the household af-
fairs, that she might have as much time as
possible to assist Ann Jane. Not long after
noon on Saturday the coat was finished.
Dinner had been postponed that the coat
might be completed.
After dinner was over, father got large
gourd and filled it with water and told me to
come and wash. With hands, face and neck,
covered over with strong lye-soap, I followed
him out into the yard that might be cleansed
before trying on the coat. Father poured
the water on my hands, and although al
ways before that time had been greatly averse
to washing, I scrubbed hands, face and neck.
I was literally covered with soap suds. The
washing over, clean shirt-coarse but as
white as snow-was brought out and soon was
on my back. Then came the trying on of
the coat. Father, mother, Ann Jane, and
even my three little sisters, all gathered around
to see how it looked. Never did king feel
more important when having the royal dia-
dem placed on his head, than did when hav-
ing this, my first coat, tried on. 1t was pro-
nounced perfect fit by the whole party. Ann
Jane went home, and the night, until bed
time, was spent in talking about the coat; and
by me, from bed time to daylight, in incohe-
rent dreams about it.
I must give more minute description Of
that coat AS said before, it was what at
present is called a linsey coat; but at that time
it was simply called woolen coat. The