Milford chronicle., 1931-10-30
GLENDALE
Scenes OF Lon gAgO-NO. -
The Old Homestead
(COntiOuadl


who lived in a period of more than
sixty years ago, really experienced
more pleasure from their meager
surroundings than the young peo-
pie do today, with their full and
plenty of everything"
There is but one answer, and that
is Yes. Girls and boys of the early
days did not crave expensive things.
In fact they did not know much
about them. They were happier in
their homespun or calico dresses
than the girls are today dressed in
their silks or satins. Automobiles
were unknown, and the girls and
boys of the early times were con-
tent to go to the different gather
ings in an old farm wagon without
springs with a little straw spread in
the body to make the rolling seem
little softer.
Fun, bushels of it, 1t made ones
heart glad to hear the gay laughter
of the young folks as they we're on
their way to a quilting bee, apple
cutting or parties of different kinds
which were often held in their
neighbOrhoOd.
Rich and poor stood on equal
terms and no question was asked
but one, and that was is she or he
creditable. No question OF dress ever
entered the mind of those who had
more of this worlds goods than
others, but generally the rich and |
poor dressed very much alike. Home |
spun or calico seemed to be the pre- |
vailing fabrics for the girls. While |
fustion and other material of equal |
quality for the boys, and sometimes |
clothing of better quality was pro-
vided for Sunday wear.
A prosperous farmer who lived |
before the Civil War, had two sons,
one was about Is years of age and
the other was about 16 years of age.
They were nearly of the same size.
The time came when the two boys
commenced to go out with other
young people and in consequence
needed a little better coat than the
one they were wearing The farmer
studying economy, bought one fine
blue coat and brought it home and
said to The older son Choose which
evening in the week you will wear
this coat" The older son choose
Sunday.
Then turning to the younger son,
Choose the evening you will wear
it outside of Sunday night" and the
younger son choose Wednesday, So
they respected each other choice,
each having the coat on the evening
of their choice, which was for only
one evening in each week. The bal !
ance of the time they were expected !
to wear such clothing as they had. {
Yet these boys were happy and
satisfied with their lot in life.
What would boys living in these ]
times think of a father who would I
propose to them that two brothers l
should wear one coat one evening {
each week? s
The writer will have to hasten [
back to the point where he left off {
last week and tell you something of
the many other ways of how boys
enjoyed themselves before leaving &
the old homestead.
We were speaking of catching '
rabbits. Yes, one year we caught so c
many that all grew tired of eating L
4
them in those days. We were COM
PEELED to throw our traps to keep c
from catching more. Rabbit hides \
were one cent each and this fund 4
constituted our Christmas money II
and often instead of spending for \
candy and toys we were compelled h
to use it in buying something more C
useful. h
Then we had a lot of fun in win S
ter when snow was on the ground, e
in setting bird traps. Some in the c
Yards where the straw stacks were,
from these we gathered quite a Il
number Of larks, doves, quail, etc, W
which were made into a pie, which D
was very fine and nourishing. Then fl
we would set some traps in the
woods nearby, the outcome would be t,
number of cardinals (red birds), p
blue jays and other kind of birds, Of
which we generally tried to sell and
n that way increase our fund of al
spending money. fl
We were taught to work but our
asks were not overly heavy. My ia M
her would generally say, when you l.
ln1shed certain piece of work you
an then have the balance of the Ell
lay for yourself, and generally we 81
lad several hours which we used in m
'uilding and flying kites in summer n;
md during the fall months we {
would make rabbit traps and some. cl
lines construct some bird traps to sh
Ie ready when the snow fell. We w,
we're always busy, either in working of
N the farm or constructing things he
which would be of use to us later. fir
We were always happy. We had a ba
ne nome, plenty to eat and to
rear, and our parents were of that CT
lass that could not do too much for an
S, if we would do right.
You could hear our happy voices of
the early morning as we broke MI
1rth into song, as we harnessed our Su
cams, getting ready for days
Ork on the farm. so
Old timers do you ever think of MI
lie good old times before you left ais
Ie old homestead? co
Very soon we will tell you more Me
the doings of the young people Ch
9fore the Civil War. ed
hicken Thieves
The stealing of chickens in and stu
round Glendale has not been so leg
'evalent for the last few months. his
Some of those who made it a WI
lsiness to purloin the focks be- Oh
nging to others haVa hoap in tha I