The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-12-01
IOWA
PIONEERS
M. HEDGE.
Thn Old ohio Farm.

The Old Ohio Farm.
"How lear to my heart are the scenes
of my childhood,
When fond recollection presents
them to view.
The orchard, the meadow, the deep
tangled wildwood.
And all the loved spots which my
infancy knew"
Last month we had the joy of a
family reunion of all the surviving
members Of my fathers FANNY In st.
Louis. The pleasant occasion was
made possible by the kind invitation
Of Mr.. and Mrs. e. H. Calkins, who re-
side In that city, Mrs. Calkins being
a member of the family. During the
day we attended the great fair and in
the evening we went in tender mem
DRY back to the dear old home fireside
on the farm by the Tuscarawas river
in Ohio. 1t was one of those whole
some, wide-mouthed fireplaces with
two or more huge back logs. A NAM
moth v%entilator, giving pure air fresh
ly warmed for the phole house. There
were eight children in the family, five
boys and three girls, making a semi
circle, including father and mother, OF
ten in number. No member Of such
a home can ever forget the binding
fellowship and the lasting instructions
received at such a fireside. The
fIfy, nc ryn 1anrr, md nninu nnorncf fha
cradle stay with us the longest. No
college or university education strikes
deeper into the life than the training
Of a well-ordered home. There were
no secrets around that fireplace. Ev-
erybody knew the experience and adj
ventures Of each one during the day.
] shall never forget the keen glances
of my vigilant mother when there
was-a want Of freedom to talk on the
part of any member of the family. She
went quietly about it, but always
straight to the heart, and found out
the cause. l usedNto wonder how she
could tell that something had gone
wrong on the playground OF at school
almost as soon as we came into her
presence. We generally told her al
once all about it, but sometimes q
dread of the family sentiment, espe
cially when we were in the wrong
made us wish to have nothing said
The New York Tribune gave us the
news of the great outside world
Father frequently read it aloud. AT
ter the lapse of more than forty year:
I have a distinct memory Of some O
Mr.. Greeley's descriptions Of notable
events. Among the few books acces
sible to all of us was one on Indiar
traits and life on the frontier, ever!
word of which was absorbed and sup
| plemented by experiences known t
| father and mother. Both of then
were raised in Ohio on the border @
civilization early in the %nineteentl
centuhy. They were trained in a To-
cabin subscription school before Obi
had a common school system.
Fortunate is the man who has ha,
a happy childhood. 1t will tide hir
over many hard places that are sur
to come in later years. What fu,
eight young lives could have in
farm home life that can only be imag
ined. Five buXom boys only counte
it a frolic to take the keen edge O.
of the widest colt on the place, O
yoke a pair of calves to a strong han
sled and make them haul over t.
bare ground all who could pile Cnt
the sled. A runaway only gave zes
to the fun. We all went to miles t
the district school four or five month
in the year. The distance neve
troubled us any. When we once &C
motion we were soon there. Tn
only veXing question was, who shCul
carry the dinner basket. The chic
objection being that the boy who CO
ried the bashet with dinner for eigl
couldn't mucn. 1t seems to m
now as l think Of 1T that we secure
the n~eighborhoOd like a bird dog a
most every day. Sometimes on hors,
back, but generally we preferred g,
ing afoot so we could cut across.
There were no short rations on tn
farm. 1t was three meals a da
around the big dinner table. 1t wa
our dear mothers rule that all shoul
sit at the table together. People VIII
eat at the same table seldom hay
serious differences. 1t was a time fl
inquiry and discussion as well as r
freshment, and no sage has ever give
better answers to the great life que
, lions than we received in that charm
ed circle. They will last while tin
lasts for they were the teachings {
the dear old family Bible. During th
late autumn days excursions were fir
!, quently made to the woods to lay b
a good supply Of wood to feed the Of
fireplace during the crispy cold day
and nights Of winter. Then there ws
the dear old river whose silvery bosol
was our delight in winter and its fioy
Ing waters was u Joy in summer. n
boat pilot ever understood the DANCE
Gus and harmless places in a nayig
BILE river channel better than we kne
the waters in the great curve of ii
TuScarawaS rivar IN wb;oh nv H.