The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-01-09
THE GOOD OLD TINES.
II. Quad Tells of the Boyhood Of
Twenty-Five Years Ago.
How Homes Were Furnished In
Those Lays-''Johnny Cake''-
and "AppIe sass''-Amuse-
ments-SchooIs.
detroit Frse Press i

wish dozen times n week that j was q
boy OF to-day, but never once do / wish 10
be set back 10 the boyhood of twenty five
years ago. presume there was consider
able difference between the boys living in
cities and those dwelling In towns or living
on farms-l mean In the matter of dress and
privileges, but 1t was lonesome enough to be
boy anywhere.
What was homei Wen, the very rich had
carpets, cane seat chairs and a melodeon and
"kept n hired girl" but the commonly well
of people had rag carpets on the parlor floors
and the others went bare Splint or flag bot
tom chairs were thought good enough and the
dollar chromos Of to-day would have been
considered fit for the parlor of the richest
man in the village. Wall paper had scarcely
been heard Of, and all furniture was of the
plainest description. All the beds of those
days had cords and a straw tick, and oil
boys up to IA or Is years of age slept in
trundle-beds. 1t was seldom that common
family lighted more than one candle of an
evening; this furnished the light for all II
was something extra when two candles were
allowed, and the sight Of three or four burn
ing at once In one house would have created
the greatest establishment outside.
What was our livingl One meal was almost
the counterpart Of another. In village Of
300 inhabitants perhaps three famil les could
afford wheat bread but IL was "johnny cake"
with all the rest week I'm and week out.
Fresh meats came at rare intervals, and salt
pork filed the gap. The average meal was
johnny cake, salt pork, potatoes apple sass"
very crude sort OF pie, and weak tea or
barley coffee. Mind YOU, the children got
no warm drinks, and though almost every
body kept cow the milk was saved for pud-
ding. While butter was not more than cents
per pound, the children were expected to
eat gravy in place Of it; and while eggs
might be had for 8 cents a dozen they were
looked upon rs n luxury. Up to the time
when a boy was IA he had no chair at the
table, but stood up TO eat 1t was a rare
thing for young person TO give party, or
for young people 10 be found ut lectures or
exhibitions. The rule was to force them into |
bed soon after dark. At the age of Is had |
never seen a show Of any sort, nor had any
thing Of the kind ever been in the village. |
Had there been one every week ii would |
have done us boys no good.
How did we dressl Well, the Oldest son |
had rather the best show Fathers WORKOUT |
clothes We're ripped, dyed over and made up
anew for him. The rest Of US had TO take
our chances when a store order was traded
out Ever mother was a tailor and she cut /
the clothes according to her own ideas The
pantaloons might be too short, but never too
long. II the coat happened to fit It was all
right; IL not the boy had TO wear IL just the
same.
II was considered sin to let boys wear
boots or shoes during the summer There
Tore from May 10 October all boys went bare
foot even TO church. A pair of cowhide
hpnfa war ernnI annnoi, for IA l..
and a 6-sbilling cloth cap fitted him out for
headgear.
What amusements did we havef I'm the
towns and villages the boys had their games
Tor Saturday afternoon, but during the rest
Of the weeks were expected to put in their
'pare time at the wood pile or in the garden.
On farm IL was not more than twice year
hat boy got a half day off The idea Of
most parents seemed TO be TO prevent their
boys from having a good time. IL lad
,ould not be loaded down with enough work
% keep his spirits In check. there were plenty
If women in the neighborhood TO tell him TO
his face that they expected TO live to see him
hung for murder
As to family government, the old-time
ather was supposed TO be infallible. He
'ould not take his sons life, but he could come |
Very near 1t and escape even censure. The
'oys were not requested but ordered, to do
his and that. / can remember many fathers
Who made IL n practice to keep "gads" in the
louse. About once In 80 long they made
rip TO the woods TO cut blue beech and
hickory switches, and these were laid by to |
eason. The boy who did not receive a aiick-
ny" once week felt that something dread
ui was about 10 happen In that community.
Z was considered the correct thing to atan |
lis jacket" on general principles. Many
arents reasoned that unless a boy was
hrashed about once in so often he would be
retty certain 10 go TO the bad
Our school advantages! In the villages .
70 had but one school for all sizes and ages, ,
nd when boy had so far progressed that
Q could @read, write and cipher" he was
1nsidered fairly educated. The school
lasters knew but little more, and seemed to
Ike more pleasure In furnishing scholar
IAN In encouraging him over hard lesson
What show was there for boy to get q
art In lifei None at all, compared to the
hances OF to-day. II he started out 10 learn
trade he was bound like slave, treated !
tile better than one, and paid almost moth |
q. Instead Of human being, he was a !
rudge. IL he worked by the day he must ,
0 dollars worth Of labor for O shilling,
IMPLY because he was boy. When look .
ack and remember how the boys OF that q
90 were treated-how little they had to en-
,urage them-what few chances offered-I
onder that SO many turned out SO well. 9