Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-02-25

Wearing apparel was Of all kinds |
equally high, hence it may be per-
ceived that little money would not
90 very far in providing the neces-
saries of life. My fathers purchases
were limited to a very few of tn
above items. AS his family were
ragged when they ceased travelling.
the item of clothing had to be
reckoncd with; but nothing was
bought ready made. The necessary
cloth was obtained and mother made
all the needed garments, even my
fathers clothing by hand, too. rs
sewing machines were not in use
then. nor for several years later.
After looking about for several
days father bought the squatter $
right of man named Fowler to 800
acres of land five miles east of Olym-
pia, part of it lying in the western
edge of Tyrrcll's (now known as
Hawk 81 prairie. The improve
ments' consisted of rude one-room
cabin, l4xl6 feet. and three acres
under fence. In addition there were
about twenty bushels of small pota
toes - not marketable. Father.
"Unclc JOEL and spent two days
in repairing this cabin. stui1ing the
spaces between the logs with moss.
and laying a puncheon floor. We re-
moved to it on November 9th The
fall of 1888 was delightful-dry and
warm in the daytime, although there
were few frosty mornings; but
about the middle Of December the
rainy season fairly set in. a light
snowfall occurred early in January,
1854, and on the 18th it was II de-
greeS above zero. Soon after it
dropped to ) degrees above zero,
and for four days it. was 8 degrees
above zero The snowfall in January
was from eight to ten inches deep at
one time.
We were somewhat uncomfortable
as a family, but | do not remember
that any one complained. am quite
sure that my mOthor did not, then or
at any other time. She descended
from pioneer stock which entered
northeastern Pennsylvania from
Connecticut, in 1896. However try
ing, the conditions were by which
she was surrounded, she met them
with "a cheerful spirit, and was
thankful that they were no worse
!, Our bill of fare for that winter was
rather limited - principally boiled
wheat and potatoes. with an OccaSi
oral change of rice and black" mo-
lasses. Deer were plentiful, but W,
, had no gun; James Baker. youth Of
fifteen, son of Bat" Baker, who
lived near us, often killed n deer, {
, part of which was generously given
. to us One sack of Chill flour wa.
, bought in October, but it was poor
:, stuff having been soaked in salt
water; yet mother made out to use i,
, somehow. In the matter of sugar
= however, she was somewhat dis
eouraged. The first mat we had
. twenty-five pounds. AT fourteen cent.
= a pound-when opened, revealed ;
= lively colony Of mice. Not beins
:, willing to throw it away, she dis
posed of the mice summarily, emptief
!, the sugar into large kettle ant
: boiled it thoroughly. At the proper
= time she SKINNED off the scum anC
= run the melted mass into small
!, cakes.
The spring of 1884 came early
We planted garden late in Febru
$ airy, and in six weeks we had a star
: in young vegetables. Father ar
ranged with Mr. Chambers to ge'
: four Spanish Cows on shares, ant
then we began to have milk anC
butter, and doubly appreciate wha
good living meant.