The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-04-17
JUNE XVIII. BELLEVUE, La. APRIL H. 1S79

coat which my brother had given me
when he went into the army, and this
supply of shoe material lasted me full
year, made up as needed from time to
time. Twenty dollars pair the soles
cost, and this was cheap. Stockings
we knit for ourselves of evenings, from
hOmespun cotton, of course.
Now that we were going down to
"the Department" we donned our
black straw hats-braided by our own
fair fingers, of course, and dyed with
maple bark set with copperas, then
dried and stretched on tin basins to the
required shape, if that can strictly be
called required shape which admitted
OF SO many variations.
Our collars, I forgot to say, were
fastened ut the throat, in lieu of
brooch, with flannel bow each, Patty's
Of red, mine of blue, the edges overcast
with some remnant of white sewing or
floss silk which happened to be lying
around-''the light other days" These
were just as becoming as velvet, and
were really pretty and soft looking, but
were covered now, on the occasion of
our going into the street, by the ex-
cessively pretty ties for our throats
which friend in North Carolina had
sent US. They were of wool, knit in
some pretty fancy stitch, then dyed with
the sour wild crab-apples set with mu-
riate of tin-the latter blockade run
ner, and purchased no doubt at fabu-
lous rate at some country store in the
interior. They were almost the bright
est, clearest red I ever saw, and
with their graceful fringe, such
as is largely used for worsted
mats now, were quite a thing of
mark where every new article which
one might make ones self was matter
of such earnest interest. Now having
given an average idea of the ordinary
attire of a woman of the period, I alight
again, turning the pages of my note
book at random, on some of our ex-
pedients for kitchen supplies. l read,
for instance:
We are invited to q meeting of the
Knitting Club which assemblies after tea
every Wednesday to make socks for the
soldiers; it is at Mrs. Days on this oc-
casion. Frank Day goes back to the
army tomorrow on expiration Of his
furlough, and the evening is distin-
guished by refreshments.
We had egg-nogg-from blockade
brandy-and fruit-cake according to
the prescribed formula-dried buckle
berries for currants, together with chop
ped dried apples, citron being simulated
or substituted by chopped lemon
gift from friends greenhouse.
There were macaroons, too, don t
doubt, but they we're made Of pounded
peanuts in the absence of almonds, and
maple or sorghum sugar, all mixed with
egg, of course.
There were ten pounds of white sugar
(real) in the house at the time, Annis
Day, the young soldiers sister, conf
dential1y told me, but it had ''run the
block" from Nassau, and was bridal
present to herself from the married SIS
ter of her fance, now awaiting leave
from D. 81. Hills division before his
own nuptials could be celebrated.
Persimmons and black walnuts made
up cur refreshment list.
|. There were, as usual, some readings.
some music, some recitations.
The little poem, 'Knitting for the
Soldiers" outcome of those bellun
times, was recited by young lady, moi
the authoress, and is given here as 8
specimen of like lyrics, whose name wa
legion: