(He) Always took us to the dircus we looked forward for days to the Big top. I remember at one circus as we all walked in and down the ring side looking up for seats for all of us Pa carring the baby while stanking there looking for seats a clown came up to dad took the baby out of his arms and trotted down the run way (thinking Mother and Dad would be frightened and run after him) Pa begin to work fast to get us all up high on those top board while the clown held the baby. Ma said Pa are you going to let that clown have our baby Pa laughed said Hattie he's just helpin me out he';; bring him back so away down the whole length of the tent there stood that clown with little Stan mother about to cry Now Ma you take that top board seat that away up high beside the rest and I'll take the out side seat away up there next to the top. so all at once the baby got scared started to cry the Clown lost track of us the crowd got thicker and poor mother talking fast to our Pa. Elsie and were crying 't we might be lat she dn't know what the funny man might do Pa was laughing all the time and telling mother he'll bring him back now that clown was bewildered as we were all placed so high and there he stood holding the baby just like a hot potato all at once he yelled out will the owner of this baby please come and get him there mother puching dad crying Joe will you please go get him. Pa still laughing said he'll see us pretty soon. I'll teach him how to steal babies. all the time our dad was having his fun. with the Clown at last my dad waved his hand but made that clown climb deliver the baby up to the top row. Now I'll bet he was careful after that about snatching babies--- I believe this was the Lemon Bros Circus the older boys wanted to see the side show they had worked hard saved their money for this big day so Jace Harry Floyd Floyd a few neighbors boys took in the side show. when dad got ready to leave here come Floyd half crying said Pa weve lost our money Pa said all of it? Floyd said every penny Jace is tryin to get it back but they won't give it. Pa and some of neighbors got busy Pa said I'll soon get it what were you doing in there "it was a shell game" O yes dad said. We'll take car of that don't know what happned but the boys got their money back and the Circus left town early. Cops advised them to never return--- Pa said now boys let this be a lesson to you never try to beat a man at his own game - it don't work that a way--
Chapter 15
"Our first school days on the homestead"
You have heard about our trip to Jimtown and Salem our covered wagon trip to old Fort Lyon and the dugout school house. there is where Lida ware taught her first school at Enterprise, district No. 8- My first school days. we walked 3 miles Jace and Harry led me by the hand sometimes they walked so fast that my feet hardly touched the ground Mother send our lunches in pairs a pail for each pair of us. Sometimes when she tho't we might be late she would put the lunch in one large 10 lb pail that winter we had plenty of apple butter having shipped gallons from Indiana and two barrels of those big red apples. Hary always tooka big red apple to his teacher "Artie Brown" a red head will never forget Arite was a very pretty girl not much older than Harry. Never willforget the fist fight He and Fred Petrie had over Artie andy way neither one of them got far as she left the neighborhood and went back to Denver - Now this 10 lb pail of lunch seemed kinda heavy that day Floyd picked it up on his way out of ketchen this time they drove the mules to the wagon as many times they did. picking up all the kids along the road well noon came we opened this big pail to find pumpkin butter. Now just what were we to do for luch as we always got so hungry - No spoons no bread well in a few minutes Emma and Effie Wilson had collected enough biscuits buns and bread to give us a right nice dunking party now we were soon full of pumpkin butter. Pa always said where theres a will theres a way. Bob Delea was a lucky boy always had cookies cake or pie which he was always ready to trade for a meat sandwitch. His Ma always had cookie cake and pie but not much meat this way we got some pretty good trades on our noon lunches. Talkin about good things to whipped cream pies was hard to beat Dens and Floyds favorite was a big slice of mas good light bread "just soaked in cream and sugar" watermelon rind preserves was hard to beat I myself liked cantaloop butter and good old buttermilk pie vinegar pie was Pa's favorite. Now I can still make these homesteaders pies and preserves. If any of you drylanders want the Dry landers cooking receipts I'll gladly give them to you. "Good old dry-landers Delight" good to the last pinch-- Sorghum Taffy Time. |
