Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17

his closest associates In house parties at the
farm house. I remember the mammoth long
sleigh with its high drivers seat its green
painted sides outspringing in graceful curves
and holding in its capacious hay and buffalo
robe filled box bevy Of nearly so children Of
various ages. all cuddled down under the buffalo
robes on hay, and all bubbling with laughter
and excitement over the expected festivities of
the holiday seasons. Drawn by six spirited
horses, all jingling and jangling with the most
musical Of sleigh bells, the brilliant stars
overhead saw no merrier sight than this sleigh
full of unalloyed happiness just behind the
leaders cutter, and followed by the more dig
nfied sleighs holding the mothers of these chill
dren on their way for a gala house party ct
the farm.
Entering the front door, we we're at once in
the dining room with its odorous breath of
mince pies and bake ovens of roast beef with
the more delicate aroma of stewing chickens
and squash pies. In the sitting room was the
wonderful music box whose exquisite selections
from IN Trovatore' and 1.-THE Swiss Echo
Song" trilled and pealed along its curved and
pin-pointed rollers in the most mysterious and
uncanny fashion. Here, too. were the winged
rocking chairs Of home manufacture, rush bot
toned, feather cushioned and antimacassared
in the latest approved pioneer fashion.
The usual band Of musicians sat in the end
of the hall and sometimes even the music box
was SUFFICIENT for eager couples to "Sache to
the right" Balance on the corner and "AI
promenade Jim Currie was the popular
caller" of the day and the leaders son-in-law
Hyrum b. Clawson, was a past grand master
at floor managing on such occasions.
THE Lion House was finished in 1856, and six
years later father built a large school
house, his children had long outgrown the
school room in the Lion House. The windows
were built comparatively high, as father de-
fhof fIo OH foil
the pupils eyes. The benches and desks were
unique. We sat on benches or wooden chairs
with desks in front of us, the little ones in the
front row. Both benches and desks exactly
fitted to our backs and legs, so that we suf-
fered no discomfort by having to hang our feet
or to stoop over the desk. Each child had
separate desk with sloping lid and place for ink
bottles in the corner. I preserved my desk.
which have recently placed in the museum.
School opened at 9 o'clock and was dismissed
at pm, with a dinner interval from IL to
1880. aIa the morning there was a recess of an
hour and another half-hour diversion in the
afternoon. How delightful were those breaks!
In the Summer the nearby hills furnished
romping places if we did not go too far
The long three months Summer vacation
was spent by us out on the hills and canyon
back of our house; the little girls flower and
sego hunting and the small boys playing
games. The big girls had to weave color, spin,
sew and knit. The big boys helped on the
farm. hauling wood and doing other useful
labor. The girls were early trained in all the
domestic arts of knitting, spinning. weaving.
sewing, embroidering, cooking and cleaning A
little pin money was most desirable, and If we
wanted extra ribbons or finery we had to earn
1T. The boys had various ways of earning
money also; ushering in the theater, chores for
others, etc.
TOR 10 or Is years all the family practically
lived in the Bee Hive and Lion House.
But the children multiplied and grew up
father built or bought separate houses for most
of his wives.
1t is fact not unworthy of note that not one
of fathers wives married again after his DEATH
though some were comparatively young women
My own mother was only little past AZ
and Aunt Amelia was but 80 years of age
Mothers love of father-her lavish devotion to
him in life and to his memory after his death
amounted almost to worship!
The family life was as ideal as human rela~
tons could ever be.