Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-20
around the corner when we went to

| My father vas captain OF a sloop TOT
many years About 1919 he brought from
st. Johns. r. c., a Scotch family, Mr..
Fleming and wife, with several daughters
and one son, Archibald Fleming. who
was much respected and loved, graduate
of the u v. NJ and afterward a minister
OF the gospel. He settled in Plattsbur 9Th.
N. Y, was there a year or two when his
health failed him and he came back to
Burlington, and / think, died in n few
months. He was a brother OF Mrs. Wor-
cester of Burlington.
Mrs. Murray saw specimen OF the
Misses Flemings work of embroidery on
c0mbric and engaged one of them to visit
the school one afternoon in the week and
teach her scholars the use of hoops and
stu!flng the figures their work had been
nat. or basted on paper. ! worked a little
cape for myself when l was nine years
old. I have always used hoops since then
and have used them many times since I
was ninety years old.
The first cook stove I remember my
father brought home and set 1t up in our
Kitchen. The oven was ever the fire box ;
on each side were projections called
saddle back and In these were oval boilers
think Mrs. Samuel Hickok had a stove
about the same time.
The first piece Of cotton cloth ever saw
my father brought home my mother
showed 1t to the neghboring women 1t
was very white and smooth and was, no
toubN' iIiuid tOttuH MY PROBABLY
brought 1t from St. Johns. Everything
vas linen in those days.
All families had some provision for keep
ing fire In the fireplace; o bed was made
in the ashes fer live Goals of fire which
, were covered with ashes; the long handled
shovel was laid fiat on the heap and in the
morning one could rake open the fire and
= strrt it up In case they lost the fire we
= had finder box a tin box the size of q.
brick. a cover With hinge, and tho inside
, divided in square with n tin knob to
. raise it by finder was made of linen or
:, cotton; n piece of cotton was set ON fire
). and when burned lay it in fiat, cover to
:. shoulder and put out the fire.
Q Matches were all made hy hand: n Sec
n ton of a seasoned pine hoard was sawed
$ off the length of the match; with 81 sharp
, knife and hammer then split again the
l size for matches. My mother had a srrnll
. iron skillet that she kept on purpose for
l. melting birthstone. We would take five
g or six pieces cf wood that had been pre-
: rarod and dip one end in the melted brim-
s stone let them cool. AMI they were then
d resdy for use. Also to pre- pare the fire.
= we had flint and steel kept in "A box A
e liecc Of linen cloth set on fire until all
h burned over. then carefully put in the
% square compartment. Strike the steel and
8 flint on this Cloth cndcrs and then he
r ready with brin stone match to light your
n candle. ! remember the surprise when our
u
S vented, it was so very wonderful
u Candles were made ~ hand. Rods
Z eighteen inches long. or so. candlo0i lex
- cut the length Of a. candle. doubled to put
r on the rod. eight or ten on rod. than
@ dipped in a l.rge boiler and put on a itane
$ Tor inc rods &c cool on; then dipped over
y and over as they cooled, until large
q enough. We have dipped mary dozen at
l. a time.
Cotton thread always came in balls like
e Knitting cotton. A man. or turner by trade
c came to Burlington and turned spools for
= winding thread; l have one now which Is
e made of bone instead of wood
!. have heard my mother say that she
d well remembered her first calico dress
d they were living in Swanton where sh,
d was born. A man came around with blocks
- and colors and made calico for those who
II wanted it. Her mother gave him liner
"a sheets to stamp and they then had calico
dresses.
10 There were no postal facilities in those
n days. If they heard of any one going part
Of the distance. they would give mail mat.
d ter to him to take as far as he went ant
n he would hear of another who would take
n IT farther, so in about six months it woult
a reach it's destination.
10 When | was about eight years old | at.
n tended school at the academy, which was
4 taught by Miss Harriet Colt | often walk
Dr. ed up Pearl street. and always liked tC
pass the front door-y Yard of Mr.. L. H. Dem
:, ing. merchant, as 1t was filled Wit
ia sweet, or Vernal grass and the perfume ant
le was very fragrant to me- | wanted root
p very badly, so finally mother told me
Il might call and ask Mr. Deming if he would
:, give me one. / accordingly stopped at the
kitchen door and asked to see Mr. Dcming
:. The girl spoke to him. he asked me my
!, name ana tod me to go with him to the
d yard. He put a little clump of grass in my
d basket and told me how he obtained it. He
,l1sl,
r bought n little tin pail with a few roots OF
IA sweet grass and brought 1t most of the
ii way in his hands. Travelling from New
"a York was not an easy trip at that time
q no canals or railroads. Many merchant.
: rode on horseback when they purchased
=, their goods in Troy. There may have beer
To stages, and / think there were. as | re
member their blowing horn as they wer,
Ia coming in.
IN 1916 we lived in Burlington and during
~ the winter my uncle, Andrew White. wen
y, to Sheburne to visit d young lady whom
he expected to marry in about Il year
= went with him to visit my aunt who KEEP
the hotel, or tavern as it was called II
those days. While there. Mingo. a run
away slave, who was servant of my ia
Their the winter before in Swanton, called
and seeing me said: Il am going to you
grandpa's tomorrow and | will carry yol
over if you like" How are you going"
asked, ION foot" was the answer but
will carry you on my back" ! ran int
the barroom and asked Uncle Andrew if
might GO He answered me by saying
How would you look with your feet hang
ng down from a nigger's back?"
One day | saw girl frying cakes, o.
doughnuts. over a hot fire of Goals. in
kettle. with lard, hung from crane. Sh
with a holder in hand was shaking the kct
tie all the time. ! asked why she shool
the kettle? ITO make them rise" she said
remember when ''DearlaSh" WAS used