Memories of the Old Homestead (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... they were improperly pickled through and would spoil as soon as hot weather came. It was a custom in our neighborhood when a family "butchered" or killed a fat steer, sheep or lamb, to send a good, liberal piece to the nearest neighbors who at that time were known not to have a supply of fresh meat. There were no meat-shops, and this neighborly courtesy was highly appreciated. Ice-houses were uncommon, and in hot weather very little fresh meat was had or used. In the cool weather of the spring, fall and winter, there was always plenty of it, and in the summer-time occasionally a lamb was killed, dressed and hung down in the cold well to cool and keep--not in the water, but suspended above it. There was never any scarcity of food; always plenty and of the best quality. TROUBLE My earliest memory of anything about home is of being tossed up by my father when he came in from work, and of being down and around the school-house which was on the corner near our house. Sister Sophronia always claimed that I was sent to school before I was weaned, and was obliged to go home at recess for my lunch. That may have been her joke, or it may have been--and probably was--something pretty nearly true, as I was the only "baby on the block" available for the use and amusement of the school-girls. The days of babyhood on the farm were few and soon past. The period of helpless, do-nothing existence was cut short at the very earliest time possible. As soon as we could walk and talk plainly, something was found for us to do. Chores and errands of all kinds kept us trotting about, so that we thought we were doing a lot of work. Whether it helped or not, it at least kept us out of mischief, and early taught habits of industry; but the work done and required of...