Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-08-19
Pioneer Society Beneficial.

have and MAINTAIN q regularly
organized pioneer sociey, and set
aside one day annually in mid-sum-
mer to be known as pioneer day. A
day in which everybody could, and
should, rest from their labor. In
most of the eastern, or older states,
pioneer day is looked forward to IN
greater earnest and with more long
ing desire than any other big day or
the year. A day when all the people
come together and greet each other
in that free, open handed, hospitable
way that was always accorded
neighbor in the days when the old
log cabin with its thatch roof and
stick chimney served as our palaces
(home, sweet homes after long tire
some journey over hill and dale with
| the old OK cart or sled. In the days
when calling cards were unknown and
electric door bells were not even
dreamed of-days when the old buck
skin latch-string hung outside dangl-
ing in tho gentle breeze, fairly well
coming you to give it "a pull" and
enter therein. These pioneer days
resemble an old time picnic day-tea.
coffee and sweet cider being furnished
free by the society. The cider barrel
with the old gourd hanging to the
faucet and plenty of long straws at
hand for those who prefer to draw the
cider from the open hung" as in by
gone days. Usually a party of clerks
or ladies and gentlemen Of some
church aid society, of the city enter
tanning the pioneers, volunteer their
services and serve the tea and coffee
during the noon or picnic hour. The
forenoon is generally given to old
time sports and generally visiting AMI
the usual spinning of yarns or
relating early experiences. After
dinner some good speaker occupies
the attention on subjects touching
the life of the pioneer in the days
when 1.-THE simple life in its primitive
form was no JOKE Then follow the
society S officers reports for the cur
rent year. The report of the historian
of live, wide-awake pioneer society
is certainly very interesting. 1t
: stimulates a cordial fraternal feeling
among all the old pioneers, and
others, gives them a new glimps of
something better to live for, other
\ than boarding up for their children s
children. Let the average young
lady or man of today sit down among
a congregation of pioneers and
earnestly listen to them tell of how
they used to have to make the new
dress-taking the raw material from
the sleeps back-wash, card, spin
and weave. Then young man, think
of going out to feed your faithful old
OK team by taking an ak and letting
them follow you into the woods where
you would cut down young asplings
from which the oxen could browse
some different then. It's certainly
inspiring to mingle at these pioneer
gatherings and look into the weather
beaten, care worn faces of the old
time pioneer as they greet each other
with a how-do-yo u-do' Charley, "
Susan" or Hannah. All sur
names and titles such as Hon, Judge,
etc., are missing on these occasions
and everybody goes by their front, :"
or nick names.
Lancaster court yard park with it's
beautiful, lofty shade trees would be
an idea spot for such a meeting.
Why not come forth from our self
eonfding homes and organize pio-
neer society here and enjoy the benefit
that such organizations certainly afford.
Our friend B. Fl. Trip has written
the following poem which very fit
tingIy touches along this thought and
the Herald gladly gives it space:
By-Gone Days.
When the shadows are a-creeping,
i After the sun has sot,
And the crickets are a-chirping
Beneath the old hearth rock;
When the clouds begin a-dropping
The snow from out the sky,
That the wintery winds is drifting
In heaps both long and high.
Then we neap upon the fire
! A lot of hickory knots,
As we hitch little higher
To watch the steaming pots,
Where the pork and beans is billing,
Turnips and taters too,
And the sausage is a-frying
To delicious hue.
o. it was royal pleasure
After the chores were done,