Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-08-27
PIONEER "REMINISCENCES.
SOME OF THE Mutations OF TIME

" Some things have sadly changed, ween.
Since this old hat was new.
EDITOR Standard:
Being ii man sixty-odd years of age,
and having settled in this country in
early days, once become, in some de
gree, accustomed to the habits of the
old settlers. | am sometimes aston
ished at the difference between old
time customs and some of the ways of
the people of to-day. often wonder
how il was that in the auld lang
syne" the people could extract fun out
of such tritling circumstances as they
did. WAS reminded OF this fact very
iorcably short time ago, and like
wise as to the difference there is i'll
families as to love and respect eXmb-
tied between parents and children.
But to- my story: 4 short time ago |
was induced by the younger members
oi my family to attend a ball given at
this place, and as it had been num-
hrr oi wears since had attended such
Il place saw much to surprise and
children seated me beside an old
lady, thinking, no doubt, her company
suited me the best, as she did not
dance. But little did they know the
old fellows tum-tum, for when the mu
sic started felt us ii | would ike to
select the Youngest and prcttiest
girl in the room and show the COM
pany how we used tn dance. The old
| lady had daughter with her. Oh
but she was handsome; and to hear
| that mother and child talk Sc lovingly,
and to see the care the girl took of the
mother. attending to her every COM
| fort; that her shawl was properly adj
| justcd thas She might not take cold,
and that her seat was made comfort
able, and every word spoken So re-
| spectfully. why ii had been Il young
man-wcll, | shall not say what
would have done. | made up my
mind that such woman must make
good wife; and the mother, how
pleasant! could see at once why it
was the young lady sought her COM
| pany i'll preference to that OF the
young men. In the course of the
evening an accident happened. An
awkward Young fellow invited the girl
to waltz, and while circling around the
room tripped and fell chow wanted
| to boot him). | was about to laugh,
but as did not see smile upon the
face of the young lady, | restrained
| the impulse and the matter assumed
a different phase. But could notice
how things had changed. Why in
old times, we would have had IL good
laugh at the fellow, but in place Of
laughing the young lady commenced
To apologize. and | think she made the
man believe she was the one at fault.
The circumstance carried my mind
| back to my younger days, when first
aspircd to the privilege of waiting
upon the ladies At the time the first
family arrived in the settlement that
contained marriageablc daughter,
was engaged with others at Tumwater
erecting Il sawmill. My friend, Jesse
Ferguson, proposed that ON the next
Sabbath we call upon and make the
acquaintance of the young damsel,
which was at once agreed to. The
only thing that troubled us was suit
able clothing. Ferguson had no coat
or socks, and one leg OF his pants was
torn off half way up to the knee, but
he had Il good hat and his moccasins
were in good condition. His pants
were corduroy and as | had an old
pair which were worn out, we took the
better part OF them and spliced the leg,
which made them all right. His shirt
was good, and by washing it he made
Il good appearance; but when looked
at him felt that had the advantage.
| had pair of socks which had made
out OF the tails of an old copeau 1t is
true my pants were not of the best, for
they were of buckskin, and of two
years wear, and having been wet SO
much the seat was somewhat large and
the knees projected too much to be
called good fit, still they were as
good as my neighbors generally Wore
My shirt was somewhat dilapidated
but my greatest pride was that had
the advantage in having coat.
had brought across the plains a broad
cloth swallow-tail dress coat. 1t was
still in existence. One of the tails had
: been torn off, but | cut the other one
off with my knife, then bound it at the
bottom with strips torn from the re-
naming tail, and the thing was com
plete. / had likewise new Scotch
: bonnet, purchased from the Hudson
Bay Company. Thus you see, as fal
as dress was concerned, l had an ad
: vantage over my friend Jesse. The
parties we were about to attack were
residing upon the Crockett farm, or
Bush prairie. The house in which
they lived was small log cabin, built
about seventy-five yards from the tim
Der, and Immediately in front of it was
block-house, used in times of peac,
as a store room. We approached tn,
house from the rear and when within
I fifty yards, We secreted ourselves be
hind a lone tree in the prairie, SO as t,
/ arrange our toilet, and while combin,
, our hair, We heard the bird-like voic
Of the young lady at the door of tn
i house, while cOnversing with he
. mother who was in the block-hOust
=. 1t is impossible to give you the draw
a or tone OF voice, as that would have t
be heard to be appreciated, but sue
9 of your readers as are acquainted wit
. the family and heard them talk, wi
h at once recognize who have refercnc
: to, and how the conversation mus
have charmed the ear of my friend
Daughter" Nam, where is the bu
termilk, nOw-ah?'
e Mother" Its in the can behind tn
Il Goor-ah."
II Daughter" No, it amt now, and
d will have some, now-ah."
II Mother" Don't YOU talk that wa
Is to me now, if you do lie slap your jaw
e from side to side-ah."
ID At this point OF the conversation
$ fearing that there was going to /
m trouble, my friend advised Il retreat, an
d the advice was taken; but L was NJ
ID yet discouraged. A year or two afte
m when the second girl had grown
womanhood, l became greatly smitte