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Show KU "I IpMEMBER" I y BY 'Jh&CMImeM, From Mrs. Myrtle Hamilton, Ulysses, Pa.: I remember when housecleaning was a job to dread, from one year to the next. Everything Every-thing would be hauled out of the room, including the rag carpet (ingrain from the parlor). Floors would be mopped, and fresh, clean straw distributed evenly on the clean floor, then the carpet was stretched and tacked close to the wall. Furniture wag often varnished var-nished or painted, and replaced. The straw tick was washed and filled with new straw; featherbed replaced after a good airing over the clothesline. Patchwork quilts, a knit spread, and freshly-starched freshly-starched pillow shams made the bed as comfortable as the "Best" of today. A band-crocheted cover, of the room decor, was stretched over the chamber cover, to deaden the clang of china. The chamber was secreted in the commode compartment, com-partment, (the plumbing reached only to the kitchen sink.) With washbowl and pitcher and a fresh supply of monogrammed towels, the guest room was in readiness. The parlor doors were seldom opened, except when guests arrived. ar-rived. It was a cheery time when a fire was started in the parlor stove. The tidies were starched and trim over the sofa and chair backs. The family Bible rated a special crocheted doily. The prisms sparkled from the hanging lamp; (the filling and trimming of which was a weekly chore). Our meals at the kitchen table were not of variety but sufficient. Johnny cake, salt pork, crock pickles, potatoes and cod-fish gravy. In the spring dandelion greens with fat pork was a treat and a "tonic." We were happy and contented, but down through the years, perhaps per-haps we have lost something, not to be replaced. (Send f onlrlbatlsns to this column ! Th Old Timer, CsmmunUr Press BerTles, Box Stf, Frankfort, Kentucky.) |
