The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-09-06
C. w. scARFF RELATES INCIDENT
AT MooREHoUsE HOME.

4 III d lSllST W Jfle G0lid OQTOulCte
c. w. Scarf, now of Seattle, tells of al
early experience near Oskaloos,
that will be interesting reading t,
many old time friends. He says:
1t is very refreshing to those of vi
who have been away from Pella TO
forty years or more to read nice thing,
about our old home town and to hav,
interesting events of childhood retold
Many of the incidents retold by ID,
Yes, Moore and others occurred il
my time, and l know they have faith
fully recorded the facts in each case
l, too, might tell some jokes on my
former school mates, and in proof thai
l am not prompted by any thought o.
malice / win first relate a true cir
cumstance in which the Joke was Ger
tainly on me-
This was called to mind by reading
notice Of the death of Wheeler More.
house in a recent issue of the Chron,
icIe. / taught school in, the Prime Dis
trict three miles west OF Oskaloosa the
winter of 1880, and boarded in the
home OF Charles Morehouse. That
was a very pleasant winters engage.
ment. Scholars and parents all become
friends at once, and all worked to-
gether as one big, happy family. Every
week spent one or more nights by
invitation at the homes OF the schol-
ars, and ! thus came TO know and
love them all The Morehouse family
was an inspiration to me, jolly, cheer
full and helpful Mrs. Morehouse was
a very tactful woman and helped me
smooth out many rough spots in the
course of the years work in the
school. IN turn / used 10 help about
the barn chores and cutting wood, as
was young and strong and needed
the exercise.
Early in the winter Mr. Morehouse
was taken sick and | volunteered to
milk and care for the ten or more
cows in the barn. The first day that
| assumed this. task must have been
a trife awkward. On arriving home
from school Mrs. Morehouse told me
| had better turn the cattle out of the
barn and water them down at the
trough before dark, cautioning me to
be very careful in taking out Major,
the Durham bull, as he was inclined to
be cross at times. Majors stall was at
the extreme end of the stanchions and
he was held secure by strong rope,
terminating in a ring in his nose. The
barn had what we call Dutch doors,
The upper half swinging independent
ol the lower half, and at ibis time the
ower half was hooked, the top swung
open. With fear and trembling | un,
tied the rope, which Major took as a
signal to move. He hurriedly backed
put of the stall and started on the
run'for the door, which he cleared at
i bound. l followed, hanging onto the
rope for dear life. Not being as good
an acrobat at Major, and doubling my
ability to vault over the door tried
20 unlock it but had no time as Twas
pulled over, lighting on one foot, and
dancing a hornpipe in my effort to
Keep from falling in the deep mud of
he barn yard. Major was in full swing
across lots, pulling me along at his
own sweet will. heard great com
motion up at the house and glancing
N that direction l saw the whole fe
male portion of the family on the
porch laughing and shouting with glee.
Where are you going?" called Mrs.
Morehouse. 81 don't know know" said
/, ASK Major, he's the boss" but Ma
ioi by that time had reached his desti
nation and was nose deep in the
trough. can assure you that this was
4 strictly personally conducted excur-
sion, very select and exclusive, but l
never very strong for pomp and dis
play ever after was careful to see
that the door was wide open when
led Major, or rather Major led me, out
of the board. ...
note in a recent issue of the
Chronicle that the Morebouse family
now live in Oskaloosa, and will leave
1t to them whether have correctly re-
ported this. incident. - sci
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