The Republican journal., 1896-07-23
My Early Recollections.


in our ages was about two years, my eld-
est brother, at the date of my birth, being
about seventeen years old. | soon be-
came an active child. and was left much to
myself, as my mother was occupied with
the active duties of household work. Up
to the age of six years my existence was,
] think, on the part of my parents, at
tended with more anxiety than care, my
aches and pains being principally caused
by personal indulgence in every conceiv
able danger that mischievous child could
subject himself to.
My bumps, bruises and burns were US
ually soothed by liberal application of
Hardy's Plastel-a good supply of which
was always kept On hand-which, with
Cayenne and composition constituted the
principal household remedies. l recol-
lect often hearing my grandmother re-
mark that "'twould be tempting Provi-
dence to be out of them
With the exception of two incidents
the first six years of my existence were I'M
attended by any momentous events. The
first to bring real CONSERVATION to my
ing from an overturned leach of ashes.
With the assistance of an elder brother l
was pulled out and placed under the
pump spout, which happened to be
close at hand Water was poured upon
me until the I've and ashes were washed
from my face and body, and | was carried
dition. I do not know whether / was
drowned OF smothered. but in due time
was lesusoitated. but was not permitted
to behold the anguish of my parents, as
the escapade be1eft me of sight for
period of four weeks. Soon after my re-
coyely l had the misfortune to break
my ann while running away from my
mother.
At the place where the accident occur
led was overtaken by my mother, who
not dlea ming of the extent of my injuries
proceeded to apply a counter-ir1itant of
birch liniment,i as She called it. NV
lamentations being continuous as well as
vigorous, after a time led my mother to
investigate the cause more closely, and
upon removing my clothing she found to
her honol my broken and badly swollen
arm. IIel tears were now mingled with
my own. and to the best of my recollection
| never after received corporal punish
ment at any mother hands.
At the age Of six, was considered old
enough TO begin to earn my support. My
Worl. was only of the lghtest kind. but
plenty of it. With the progress of time,
[ developed into boyhood, vigorous and
healthy, and was promoted to higher and
more responsible duties. At the age of
ten, when not in school. | attended to
farm work as constantly as any man. 1
was permitted to do many of those little
favorite Jobs that boys of a willing dispo-
Sitlon are wont to get on a farm, such as
turning The grindstone for the Older boys
going to the pasture for the oxen, while
the rest OF the family We're enjoying their
breakfast OF dinner; picking up rocks and
piling them into heaps, with the privilege
Of telling my father and mother at night
how many heaps had made and receiv-
ing their applause and approval
Il Al.
oxen all day to plow, and | now remember
with remarkable distinctness how the sun
used to stand still in the heavens for
hours and hours as urged the lazy oxen
to move their sluggish bodies little
faster With what JOY | hailed the
trumpet blast calling us to supper. How
quickly that call would dispel the ache
rom my tired body, SO cramped by tol-
lowing the slow movements of the oxen
that my very bones ached and throbbed.
even the oxen seemed to be enthused. and
would quicken their pace almost to run
as they left TIE field Of labor.
The delightful sensation attending the
ASet'Ai w HNoCu idl dCuNltN anu the con-
SciouSness of returning life went far to
compensate for the suffering of the last
few hours. My father and mother. as
farmers, were far in advance of the aver
age of their time. All work was attend
ed to in proper season, and done in rou-
tine. Late in the fall, as soon as the crops
were well housed operations were begun
IN the woods. Wood for fuel WAS emf.
TIMBER for building or repairs: cedar for
fence posts and rails; all yarded ont to
easy access for hauling in the winter.
The wood and rails were hauled to the
farm to be fitted in the winter when the
deep snow prevented profitable work out
side. While operating in the woods one
of my brothers usually took his rifle along.
Game was abundant, and as often as need
ed fat buck was brought home to help
out the larder. Grouse We're abundant. |
often counted half a dozen in one tree
picking birch buds; and the proudest
achievement of my boyhood was the
bringing down of my first partridge. MY
brother John, who, to my mind, was d
perfect type of manly beauty and good
nature, would sometimes allow me to