Putnam patriot., 1927-12-15

also served as a meeting house and play house Co the people of Pomfret Factories before the Quinebaug House and block were built in lS49 This good brick schoolhouse with a bell conE and bell was erected in 1872 by hf smith Wilkinson on the east side pi the Quinebaug river facing south Ii had two doors opening from the en- sry which had cupheards or closets Tor keeping food There were oak benches and desks, also benches around the four sides af the teom. and black walls or blaekboards on which to write
 Box Wood Stove
 In its early days a box Woad-stove furnished the neat When the old stove became unusabe. some one do mated the heating apparatus sort of cook StdXe. with an oven high above the tireheX and ane below The latter sometimes served 10 mprison idle misrhievous urehiBs. and reminds one of Jack and the Beanstalk. T. was. also. q convenient place To dry wood partially and would have completely done SO could f have remained there more than d few hours.
 The Dinner Pail
 When the mill bells announced the dinner hour and school WAS dismissed there WAS more speed than grace for the dinner pails. if children were for tunate enough to have them. for they were luxuries Some af the contents were warmed in the upper oven. while some pals were there the whole morn ing Less favored pupils carried has kets or food cloths, often spoken Of as handkerchief. in which was carried bread made from the hardy grains. and doughHuts CT ginger bread Sau- sages. dried beef. fried salt pork and cheese were favorites, with sometimes salt cotifish or dried herring Apples and nuts found their way into the eommodious pockets of the boys. while sort of convenient bag was the fash ion for girls pockets, ample enough t8 contain large handkerchief a cushion for needles and pins tnins were highly valued and few. as they were net made in this country until lS25. 10 pin WAS allowed to remain tastl q topless steel thimble and some times mothers snuffhox.
 Old Mother Locke,
 Old Mother Locket lost her pocket. Uncle Jerry found t and gave il to
 kissie
 fkissie was his sweetheart5.
 The recital of this ditty Frequently brought q missing pocket
 Three score and ten year ago che ministers and teachers used hour glasses tn tell the time. While the people near the factories depended upon the mil bells for rising at five. ringing in at six with half hour out for breakfast at seven The potato bell at eleveu-thirty told the geod housewife ta put on the dinner. The curfew NC hear aI nine and hardly heed go feehly is II rung. k the con tinuatiou of an old custom Of our fore fathers.
 Cover The Fires
 In those days it was signal to cover the fires in the fireplaces tbut stoves were coming into use) and to 20 to bed Children were seldom on the unlightcd streets after dark, and their elders carried tin lanterns hav- ing perforated sides with a tallow candle within to shed little light on a mo0nless night fl they were abroad. The sides of the earliest lanterns or alanthorns" were composed of trans parent plates of horn.
 Some children came long distances over poor roads Chare foot in sum merl while others followed "trod outs. \ cedar waterpail of spring water was brought fresh before nine o'clock in the morning, one at noon and another as the mill bells rang in before one o'clock in the afternoon
 coeoanut Shell Dipper
 A coeoanut shell with wooden han de was the dipper
 The windows were small and eur ! tainless The dark often overlook the ! children before the close of school at four o'clock There Was 20 school Saturday morning as Che boys and Igirls We're need q at home to prepare i for the day of rest and quiet for all the household Sundays the school. house became q place of worship Wher the building was freely given to tht Methodists and Bautists on alternate Sabbath mornings for some years five o'clock service was held ln the ai ternoon by other denominations Ih' men usually sat apart from ,he wom eh. there being a mems side and 2 women side of the room The sing ! ing Was as varied as the sect of preachers. The old time volunteer ehoirs gave what was best in them and spokg of the old hymns ny name Nlndham. Mortality and Hebron he. Ing favarites. From the Christian Harp" Wiudham
 Broad is the road that leads to death And thousands walk together there, But wisdom shows narrow path, With here and there traveller.
 "Beny thysclf and take thy cross E the Bedcemcrs great command Nature must count . marrow path With heie and there q traveller.
 The fearful soul that tires and faints And walks the ways of God TO more I ba seemed almost q saint
 And makes his own destruction sure Hebron First s,anza. Thus far the Lord hath led me on, Thus far His power prolongs my days And every evening shall make known some fresh memorial of his grace. Fourth stanza
 Lord let not all my hopes be vain, Create my heart entirely new While hvpOcrites could ne'er attain