The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
A Little Glimpse Into the
Life Of Observation-Disclosures

or beds; then NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
would spread pallets on the barroom floor
untll 1t was completely covered with sleep
They did the ordinary cooking by the
fireplace. but the baking OF bread and pies
done in the oven that was built out
side, the door opening into the kitchen
right by the fireplace. making IL convenient
for attending to both sorts of cooking at
once. Observation-Disclosures would rise
early ana have ovens OF bread and pies
baked before breakfast and then at the
close Of the busy day she would set up a
stocking and knit the whole of il before
she went TO bed. Then grandmother would
worthy woman"
The great event of the day. not only
TO the tavern-keepers and the two bright
eyed little girls there, but also TO the whole
village. was the daily arrival. of the STAGE
coach With the driver blowing his horn
and the bells on the horses jingling, il
would come rafting up TO the long porch
hlled with people eager to see the new ar
rivals and TO hear the latest news, OF which
the driver was a faithful reporter.
In those days they must carefully pre-
serve the fire. for there were no matches.
They would bury in ashes in the fireplace
wished 10 start the fire again, uncover IL
and there would be "A bed of Goals But
If by chance the fire should die out. they
resorted to the flint and steel. They would
have some tow ready, and when they
struck the flint with the steel spark OF
fire would drop into the tow and il would
instantly blaze, and they could soon have
a fire. Nor did they have lamps then. and.
for the greater part. not even candles.
But Observation-Disclosures being so
thrifty kept the tavern supplied with tai
low drips.''
Once or twice a year great-great-grand-
father made a trip TO Cincinnati. taking a
and other things for the family use. One
time when he was going. grandmother and
her sister cracked nuts and filled stocking
leg full of whole keTnals for him TO eat
on the way. Ut must be remembered that
stocking legs were not so long then now.)
He told them 10 be good girls and he
would bring them something nice. When he
came back there were wide leghorn hats
with broad ribbons for the two little girls.
AMI for one pair of red shoes and for the
other pair of green ones.
What beautiful schools they had In those
days. AT least, grandmother thought so.
They not only learned to read but also 10
sew. Before me now are two OF grand
mothers samples, so yellow with age that
some of the letters can hardly be distin-
guished. The canvas, or material, is a sort
of loosely woven, wiry cloth that would be
very difficult 10 work on. On one, around
the outer edge of three sides. after the
hem is row of cross-stitch In green and
red silk thread, then a more elaborate bor-
der of the same colors. Then follows the
MARY Hatfield
Her samples w
raught in the
eleventh year
other age.'-QsaO
Following the Inscription is a basket OF
cherries-grandmother said that was what
il was: one can make out the basket but
the square blocks OF red and black do not
suggest cherries. But one must remember
| il was ''raught in the eleventh year OF
her age" and make allowance. Her teacher
must have been very patient, or she would
| have insisted on correct spelling-or is that
| the old style?-and straight lines. The
other samples-the alphabet one, was done
on the same sort of material but the bor-
| der extends all around II. and the letters,
| both large and small capitals, done beauti-
| fully-the small ones in cross-stitch, the
| large ones in eyelet-hole stitch.
All this time while great-great-grand-
mother was so busy, the girls-sreat-grand-
| mother and her sisters-were spinning wool
| and fax and weaving il into cloth And
| just soon grandmother and her sister
| Susan were large enough to turn the spin
| ming wheel, they had TO share in the work
and do their stint each day. IL was a
shame and disgrace for girls TO spend their
| time in idleness: they were scarcely given
| resting time except when they were in
| their beds at night. In those days no girl
| was considered fit to marry who did not
| have stacks of linen sheets and table
| cloths and bedticking and towels and
blankets in plenty. besides quilts and COW
erlets. If they did not do all the weaving
| especially the coverlets-they must at least
| do the spinning. My grandmother at six
teen was thus prepared and became a
! bride ANN ISABELLA EMMONS-