Iron County register., 1893-11-30
Old Times.

Ed. Register-How many scenes oi
early life come to US after so many
years. Well do remember at my old
home in the Connecticut River valley,
all of the farmers expected to have all
of the crops gathered in and the farm
work done up for winter.
Now want you to go with me to my
old home and we will go all over the
house and down cellar; to the barns
and cribs and see what we had to be
thankful for. Down cellar, which was
as large as the house above it. Over
there you see that great bin filed with
potatoes-four or five hundred bushels;
over there bin of turnips; over there
shelves covered with apples of all col
ors: red. white, yellow, green with
yellow sides, green. with red cheeks, at
least hundred bushels of them of all
tastes and flavors, for they are all
seedlings and most delicious-sweet
and sour. Here are lot of beets;
here barrel of the sharpest keenest
pickles.; here barrel of cider apple
sauce; here is the great cupboard filed
with all kinds of pies: apple, mince,
pumpkin and cranberry. Right here
is sandbank in the corner of the eel
lar bedded full of clans. AS we sprinkle
them with some salt water, how they
snap their shells. All along against
the wall you see great hogsheads paint
ed red filled with the brightest, sharp
est, sparkling cider that will make
your eyes snap to drink it. In those
days coffee was not known only as we
read in our geography lessons. None
but few of the rich in the cities had
tasted coffee. At all times when
thirsty, we took glass of cider; it
was the daily drink.
Up garret was stored bushels of beans,
hickorynuts, butternuts and chestnuts;
and what times we had in those long
evenings, cracking nuts and roasting
chestnuts in the hot ashes, with apples
and cider. All of these barrels and
boxes you see over there are filed
with dried apples.
In the pantry you see those shelves
filled with great cheese; some on sage
and some on plain. Such rich, mellow,
cheese you don't see these days. And
platters of golden butter, oh my!
In that cupbord you see those great
glass jars of peach, pear, citron and
cranberry preserves.
Out at the piggery you see those
great, fat porkers; the house is as
warm and as nice as lots and lots of
houses that many people lived in, in
The early days of this country. The
barns are all filed from bottom to top,
with hay and rye that is to be threshed
yet. Stalls with cattle and horses, and |
light over there house with hundred
Or more of Sax and Merino sheep.
Don't you think we had reason to be
thankful? And yet, at that particular
am speaking of, think |
was one of the most unthankful beings |
IN the face of the Garth.
An0 now let me tell you why l was
10 unthankful. just two weeks before
my father had not quite
inished husking corn, there being a
ew shocks on the barn floor. AS he
lad to go over to our nearest neighbors
o help him finish making cider, he
ct the boys to husk those few shocks
# corn. AS l had got my work in the
ouse done, my mother said might
o and help them. l went to the barn;
be big doors ON the sunny side were
tide open, and the boys were husking
way. so 1 sat down by the door and
usked away until got tired. got
p and Strengthened myself. AS did
D, said something to Giles-who was
little bit of a fellow, but was as
punky as a rat-that he didn't like.
[e jumped up, grabbed a corn stalk
nd took after me, saying, 'I'll give
on good licking. Iran around the
oor once or twice and just kept out of
ia wav. At last l ran uD the station ,
~ ladder to the top of the loft, and ;
len ran across on one of the beams to II
le other side. l thought he was fol- /,
wing me- and when l got across Ii
ood on the butts OF the rye straw
nd holding on with one hand I looked ,
own and saw him watching me. He t
lid, '.Yes, if you will come down, I'll Il
i've you good licking"
I was laughing to see how mad he
as. when all at once my feet slipped I
nd come to the floor, and, like a cat, 1
lit on my feet But one foot lit on
bundle of FODDER and snapped my leg t
bove the ankle No sooner had I
cached the floor than Giles was on top 8
me giving it to me. said, "don't, c
We broke my leg"
..Oh yes, know you.n
But when / rolled over and he saw a
" foot, turned up on the side of my /
= l.,