13,610
edits
Changes
→Barnyard Friends
==Barnyard Friends==
The first to greet me at the barnyard were the fowls, who, well housed at night, had the freedom of the farm by day. When grasshoppers were "in season", they were found in the meadows far from the barn. This liberty greatly increased the zest of egg-hunting, for a nest might be found in a corner of the fence, as well as in manger or hay-mow; and sometimes a mother-hen, waywardly inclined, came proudly home with a fine brood of chickens hatched in the field.
Well, the greeting of the chickens meant no affection for the little girl, but rather expectation of corn or buckwheat. The geese were more interesting; white and beautiful, but saucy, they followed me with wagging gait and gentle hisses. To my mother they meant feathers to sell and replenishing of feather beds and pillows. Sometimes there were goslings; oh, the soft, yellow, fluffy dears! Ever so much prettier than little chicks.
But let us go into the big barn; the main floor, with its great double door at either end, permitted the largest load of hay to be hauled in, to be pitched into the hay-mow. At one side were stalls for horses, open above the manger, so I could walk along and stroke the faces of such as liked to be petted. How beautiful their large, soft eyes! My usual welcome was a soft whinny, for I often gave them a bit of clover or an apple. There were Doll and Nell, work horses, and Prince and Charlie, who worked, of course, but were called the carriage horses. In a nearby pasture were young horses and colts; also an Indian pony, whom brother and I often rode around the pasture, without saddle or bridle. I do not remember that he was used for anything but our amusement.
the long cowshed had room for fifteen or twenty cows. Each cow had a stall with a stanchion at the manger. These had to be opened every morning to release the cows. At night the cows filed in and put their heads through the stanchions, and, strange to say, each cow knew her own stall. The first cow coming in might go to the further end or stop midway, but she rarely made a mistake, at which I never ceased to wonder.
Every cow had a name, usually suggested by her color or character; for cows have individuality as well as people. Many of the names I can recall. "Star", of course, had white spot in her forehead; "Cherry" was a reddish brown; "Brindle" a mixture of colors. "Black and White" always suited certain members of the herd. "Old Belle" was the leader, and wore the cowbell, the sound of which I was pleased to hear again in some Catskill mountain pastures more recently. Then there was "Lady Lightfoot", a little heifer, with the daintiest feet ever a cow had. Well I remember old "Kick-um", an ugly tempered cow, who would always put her foot in the pail if she could, or send the milker over backward. Dan Beadle, the hired man, was the only one who could manage her.
Before we left the farm, I used to milk two cows every night. I must not forget old "Buck" and "Berry", two mild-eyed oxen, with broad backs, on which I used to ride after they were unyoked and went down to the creek to drink. No reins were needed; they were obedient to "Gee" and "Haw" and a touch of my hand.
I will just mention the sheep-pen, where the gentle creatures were safely folded at night. Farthest of all from the house were the pig-styes, with their noisy occupants. Sometimes there was a pen with a clean straw for a mother with a litter of little pigs, so cunning, it was fun to watch them. Once, at the farm of grandpa Loizeaux, Aunt Lydie took Fred, two years old, to see some wee piggies. "Aren't they funny little scallywags?" They had been back at the house but a few minutes, when Lydie heard Fred calling something a "scallywag". In distress she came to me, saying, "Oh! Anna, I didn't mean to teach him that. How <u>could</u> he remember it?"
==The Beginning of School Life==
==Campmeeting and Watchnight==