Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-12-13
THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
An Old Settlers "reminiscences of Apple
Butter Making and "FlanneI- Kick
Ing"


ed among the settlers away back, all of
them born of necessity. But there were
two that prevailed in Coshocton. the
county in which | was raised, in the
great old State of Ohio, that seems to
have been overlooked or probably
entirely forgotten. One of them was
apple-butter boiling and the other was
tiannel-kicking. Talk about the fan
they had at apple-cuttings, corn-husk-
ings, cuttings, ETC., but for genuine,
uproarious fun flannel-kicking would
knock them all out in one round. Every
new house had its old one, which was
left standing, generally in Close. proxi-
nifty to the new, which was use64or all
manner of purposes. The old-fashion-
ed loom, which almost every thrifty
farmer possessed, was set up there.
The big broad fireplace, five or six feet
wide, with its big crane on which to
hang heavy kettles and pots, was al
ways in order, and was used when boil
ing the apple butter, large copper
kettle always being used for the pur-
pose. But few families could afford the
luxury OF large copper kettle, conse-
quenuy one served large neighbour
hood, going the rounds every apple
butter season.
THE log house was usually but one
large room. 1t took two couples to boil
apple butter-always two fellows with
their best girls 1t required constant
stirring and q board about five inches
wide by about two feet long. with holes
bored through it, and handle about
four feet long, so that the fellow and
his best girl could handle it easily.
While they stirred the other couple
were having most delightful time off
in one corner of the room, there being
no light except dim, religious one
from the fire. Of course, they changed
places quite frequently, for the couple at
the handle could not endure that kind
of thing any great length of time, know
ing what high old time the other
couple were having away off in the
corner. They were being deprived of
their opportunities. This thing usually
lasted all night and as a rule the little
party were not interrupted by meddlers
and they had blissful season free from
the rude gaze of any one.
But the browning glory, the boss
fun, was the flannel-kicking. As have
before stated. almost every old house
had its loom, on which the women wove
flannels-linsey woolsey, cassinets. and
linen. sigh for the days when used
to wear this homemade linen. Pillow
slips, sheets, shirts, pants, and short
tailed roundabouts all made off the
same piece of goods. There were no
| long-tailed summer coats in those days.
This linen was stout, and if boy, or
even a good-sized man, caught the seat
of his pants on splinter in climbing a
rail fence or on nail he hung there
1t would hold him every time.
THE flannel was usually woven in
webs, or pieces of thirty or forty yards,
and of course it had to be fulled before
it was in proper condition to be made
up into garments. Pulling mills were
thing almost unheard of in that country
at that time, and some way must be
devised to thicken up or full the flannel,
and they did it to perfection. have
attended many kicking" and my
recollection of them is as vivid as if it
had occurred but year ago.
THE boys and girls of the neighbor-
hood-which took in a range of several
mlles-were notified that on certain
evening they were going to have a fan
mel kicking, and it needed no urging to
| gather in enough to make up party.
The flannel was placed in loose pile
in the middle of the door-usually in
that same old log house-chairs were
placed around it, forming complete
circle. The boys and girls filled the
chairs, and then pillow line or rope
was passed around the outside of the
chairs, drawn through the backs, to
hold them in position. OF course the
performers all faced towards the flannel.
The boys, with their trousers rolled up
above their knees; and the girls-well
girls in those days were not incumbersd
with as much undertoggery as they
wear now.
"Soapsuds-as hot as the operators
could possibly bear it-were then pour
ed on the flannel, and then the fun
commenced in dead earnest, every one
kicking the pile of flannel for dear life
the boys laughing and yelling, the
girls screaming, and the soapsuds spirit
ing up and out in reckless prodigality.
When the suds became absorbed and
began to cooi, more hot suds was pour
ed on, and then fresh outburst of
kicking and spirting, laughing and
screaming began, their feet and legs
looking as red as boiled Holsters.
This usually lasted about three
hours, the old folks pouring on the hot
soapsuds and looking on and enjoying
the thing about as much as the younger
ones. 1t was rare fun, and the writer
of this article remembers it better than
almost anything else in the way of
parties in his young days OF course
the work was not so well done as it is