Dover dates, 1722-1922 : a bicentennial history of Dover, New Jersey , published in connection with Dover's two hundredth anniversary celebration under the direction of the Dover fire department, August 9, 10, 11, 1922, Part 26

Author: Platt, Charles Davis
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dover, N.J.
Number of Pages: 320


USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Dover > Dover dates, 1722-1922 : a bicentennial history of Dover, New Jersey , published in connection with Dover's two hundredth anniversary celebration under the direction of the Dover fire department, August 9, 10, 11, 1922 > Part 26


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28


Next come "Bronzes and Statuary" and "Ceramics." Mr. Charles McFarlan leads in the latter, with Mrs. Henry McFarlan and Mrs. George Richards in close competition.


"Foreign Curiosities"-169 of them. Here Mrs. E. W. Stoddard outshines all others, Miss Hinchman making a good second.


"Antiquities." Here Mrs. Vail, the Quakeress, leads, exhibiting an old pair of knee buckles and the "Spectacles worn by Mr. Wilson who came to America with Wm. Penn." This list has real local interest, containing many articles of use in our American households of colonial and revolutionary times and later :- spoons, chairs, tables, sugar tongs, ladles, foot stoves, bed warmers, bellows, fender, spinning wheel, quilt, hatchet, stone from Port Ticonderoga, Dr. Jackson's violin, Masonic apron, etc.


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"Old Books, Manuscripts, Autographs." Here we find ancient tomes of 1666, 1754, 1806, old Bibles, specimens of penmanship by G. M. Hinchman, Life of Brainerd 1749, old newspapers, old deeds, Cincin- nati Certificate, singing books, and law reports. Mr. J. H. Neighbour leads all with his collection of historic "deeds," such as John Jackson's deed of 1722. Rev. W. W. Halloway follows with books published in the early nineteenth century. E. D. Halsey shows historic papers.


"War Implements and Relics." Here we find swords, pistols, guns ; among them "the gun that shot the Morristown Ghost," exhibited by Hon. A. C. Canfield.


"Indian Relics." Mrs. Evans shows the largest set.


"Coins and Currency." Continental and Confederate money, etc.


"Minerals." "Woman's Pavilion" and "Miscellaneous" bring us to the end, after which comes a "Supplement," and then a continued sup- plement. Here we find the rifle with which Putnam shot the wolf, two paintings by Samuel Woodruff of Dover and "shoes and stockings, very old"-we do not have to go to a museum to find them.


This catalogue of The Loan Exhibition was given to me by Miss Mary Rose, one of the enterprising young people who got up this enter- taining and instructive affair. It must have stirred up much interest in local history.


The collection of these relics and the returning of them to their proper owners is said to have been a heart-rending task, never to be undertaken again! But how appropriate it would be for a bicentennial ! And by charging admission you gain funds for the new Nurses' Home or something like that.


By this time a new line of relics has come into the field.


THE SCHOOL PAGEANT OF 1920 1


In April, 1920, the school children of Dover, under the direction of Superintendent W. V. Singer and Miss Jane Lynd, gave a pageant of Dover history. The performance was staged in the auditorium of the new High School on Myrtle avenue. Ten scenes from the past were arranged-four from the period of 1722-1826, six from the period of 1826-1869. The period from 1869 to 1920 was untouched, except that the program included one scene representing the organization of Dover's Fire Department in 1873. The time limit of an evening's enter- tainment made it necessary to omit many scenes of interest. The exer- cises were well attended, the house being crowded to capacity.


The pupils of the Domestic Science Department, directed by Miss Harris and assisted by Miss Mitchell, of the Art Department, worked out the costuming and stage decorations. Many old dresses were gathered from the trunks and garrets of old residents for the occasion. The boys of the Manual Training Department, directed by Mr. Griffin, rigged up a model of an old water-wheel and forge, and a canal boat that added much to the effectiveness of certain scenes. The teachers


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to whom scenes were assigned did their utmost to prepare dramatiza- tions and drill the pupils. The pupils entered into the spirit of the celebration with intelligent interest and made the occasion one that was greatly enjoyed by all present.


We give this historic program herewith as a momento of the pageant of 1920. It was given at that early date in anticipation of the approaching bicentennial, to point the way to any later celebration that might take place.


One result of the performance was that funds were thereby secured to square the accounts of the athletic teams for the season.


Editor.


LIST OF PATRONESSES FOR PAGEANT


Mrs. T. O. Bassett


Mrs. W. G. Hummel


Mrs. Coleridge Benedict, Sr.


Mrs. Emil G. Kattermann


Mrs. R. A. Bennett


Mrs. James T. Lowe


Mrs. Wm. F. Birch


Mrs. W. L. R. Lynd


Mrs. George R. Buck


Mrs. Stephen Palmer


Mrs. A. W. Condict


Mrs. Albert Sedgeman


Mrs. Harry R. Gill


Mrs. W. V. Singer


Miss Gussie Heiman


Mrs. Thomas Smith


Mrs. J. H. Hulsart


Mrs. Leo Totten.


THE DOVER SCHOOL PAGEANT -


The Dover Pageant now draws nigh, With scenes that show the olden time ; Here visibly before the eye Will pass the Indian pantomime.


Jackson again will haunt the scene Of those bright hopes that lured him on To start this settlement : you'll glean Brief glimpses here of days by-gone.


The warrior chief, the Quaker staid Will pass before you in review ; The matron and the dimpled maid Will on the stage their life renew.


Ask not too much; with kindly eye Regard our home-made pageant play ; Let fancy work and so supply More than our humble efforts may.


Give praise where praise is rightly due; Co-operation wins the day ; Teachers and pupils-parents, too, -- Have lent a hand to make this play.


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PROGRAM


Spring Festival of Song conducted by Miss Temby.


Scenes from Dover History presented by pupils of the Myrtle Avenue School under the direction of their teachers.


PART I. I-Indian Life in Dover.


Pantomimic production planned and executed by the pupils of the Industrial History Classes under the direction of Miss Katherine Rusch.


Introduction-Harold Hall.


I. Twilight Scene near Indian Falls. Cast-Indian Chief, Nelson Terry; Braves, Ferdinand Loeffler, Willard Cummings, Rus- sell Jones, Allan Wolfe, Harold Hall. Indian Boys, Virgil Reed, George Lovas. Indian Girls, Pearl Mack, Nellie Flanagan. Squaws, Florence Uren, Hazel Meeker, Isabel Hutchinson. Dog, Franklin Chamberlain. 2. Morning Scene. 3. Indians at Jackson's Forge.


II-Jackson's Forge.


Dramatized and acted by students of Grade 8A under the direc- tion of Mrs. Geddis.


Introduction, Edna Kennedy.


I. Jackson's Forge, anvil and house. 2. News of Navigation Laws. 3. Sheriff's Sale.


Cast-Mr. Jackson, Stanley Cannon; Mrs. Jackson, Leona Budd; Mr. Hawkins, Wm. Gillespie; Mrs. Hawkins, Dorothy Richards; Deacon Goodman, Alfred Long; Mr. Hurd, Leon Rummel; Helper, Geo. Thorson; Sheriff, Leroy Bayles; Indians, Robert Guise, Robert Woodhull, Engelbrecht Sjokvist; Mr. Fitz Randolph, Robert Mandigo ; Children, Mary Gilligan, Margaret Minervino. The properties used in this play include a vest made in 175I.


III-General Winds and General Washington.


Dramatized by Grade 7A under the direction of Miss Cornelia Crater.


Introduction by Syrel Roth.


I. General Washington calls on General Winds at his home in Pleasant Valley (now East Dover).


Cast-General Winds, John Totten. His wife, Genevieve Bower. Older daughter, Gussie Mishkin. Two children, Thelma Uren and Max Eichelbaum. Slave, Susie Mitchell. General Washington, Eric Herman. General Washington's Staff, Leo Tremberth, Robert Hutchinson, Andrew Jenkins, Walter Vanderbush, Howard Ander- son, Rudy Shubert.


IV-Scenes from a Fourth of July Celebration in Dover, 1823.


Given by pupils in 8B, assisted by pupils from 8A, under direction of Miss King.


Introduction by Warford Boyd.


I. Gathering of the people. 2. Reading of parts of the Decla-


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ration of Independence by George McDavit. 3. Fourth of July Oration by Ralph Minervino. 4. Tableau, A Tribute to Liberty.


Pupils participating in celebration : Friend Randolph, Edward Ackerman; Friend Goodman, Curtis Jenkins; Dr. Crittenden, Willard. Hon; Dominie Wycoff, John McCarthy; The Audience, Agnes Hol- ley, Mildred Cook, Beatrice Bryam, Mary Cole, Mildred Losey, Edna Hartman, Marguerite Fish, Harry Olmstead, Charles Decker, Donald McQillan, James Grant, George Rumsey.


Tableau-Tribute to Liberty. Cast-Goddess of Liberty, Beatrice Goldsworthy. The Thirteen Original Colonies: New Hampshire, Hazel Rusch; Massachusetts. Florence Poyer ; Rhode Island, Bessie Brown; Connecticut, May Shaw; New York, Beatrice Crater ; New Jersey, Ruth Thornhill; Pennsylvania, Arcella Heyward; Delaware, Julia Bornstein; Maryland, Eva Jeffrey; Virginia, Alice Phillips; North Carolina, Alice Pugsley; South Carolina, Myrtle Skinner ; Georgia, Myrtle Vivian.


Remarks-Fourth of July Oration composed by 8B English Class from three Odes sung in Dover on July 4, 1823. Each girl representing an original colony, in the tableau, wears the seal of the State which the colony became later. Seals drawn and colored by Paul Newman and Warford Boyd.


PART II. I-The "Dover of Dover" on the Morris Canal, 1836.


Dramatized and acted by students of Grade 8A', directed by Miss Isabel Hance.


Introduction by Abner Friedland.


I. A conversation in the boat-yard by several young people. 2. The Sailing of the "Dover of Dover" on its first trip to Newark in charge of Captain Byram Pruden.


Cast-Thomas Sturtevant, acted by William Ely; Charity Ford, by Mildred Livingston ; Louisa Chrystal, Georgianna Painter ; James Losey, Joseph Nazarro; crowd of cheerers, boys and girls of 8A.


The canal boat used in the scenes was made by Harold Rickley, William Riker and Stephen Zipko.


II-William Young the Village Baker, 1847. Coming of the Railroad, 1848.


Dramatized and acted by students of IB class in High School English. Teacher. Miss Elsie G. Hedden.


I. Introduction by Serena Baldus.


2. Introduction by Elsie Rumsey.


Cast -- William Young, represented by Wm. Moor; Mrs. Jacob. Searing, Harvey Matthews; Isaac W. Searing, Charles Concilio; Mr. Segur, James Murray; Farmer Weeks, Charles Rinehart; 'Jennie Young (now Mrs. Chambre), represented by Melda Chambre; Mrs. Wm. Young, by Florence Vezina; Katie Brown, Marguerite Booser ; Susie Smith, Glady Francis; Mr. Brown, Augustus Dalrymple; Mr .. Jones, Fred Ward; Mrs. Jones, Marjorie Dorman; Villagers, Lela Hiller, Meta Lerbs, Florence Gardner, Elsie Rumsey, Arthur Powell, Helen Predmore, Gladys Steffen.


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Melda Chambre, who plays the part of Jennie Young, is a great- granddaughter of William Young.


III -- A Donation Visit.


Dramatized and acted by Miss Richardson's 8A Class.


Introduction by Elberta Lynn.


Cast-Dr. Magie, represented by Stephen Dalrymple ; Mrs. Magie, by Margaret Benson; Miss Berry, Ruth Lindeman; Mrs. Stickle, Angela Donohue ; Mr. Lee, Francis Milo ; Mrs. Lee, Helen Jones ; Mrs. Oram, Helen Armitage; Mrs. Crittenden, Hilda Newman; Mr. Sidney Ives, ; Mr. James McCord, Willard Komatowski; Mr. Charles Noble, John Lerbs ; Mr. Calkins, Robert Burrel; Other Parish- ioners, Evelyn Singer, Margaret Stromberg, Mabel Hall, Dorothy Snyder, Evelyn Hiler, Gladys Eades, Gladys Woodhull, Beatrice Goldsworthy.


IV-The Quakers of Randolph.


Dramatized and acted by students of the IA Special Class in English, High School. Directed by Miss Jane Lynd.


Introduction by Elizabeth Hance.


I. The Underground Railway.


2. A Quaker Meeting. Introduction by Fred Armitage.


Cast-Richard Brotherton. Stewart Hunter; Mrs. Brotherton, Margaret Franklin; Rachel Brotherton, Mary Bray; James Hopkins, Russell Anderson; Ruth Byram, Dorothy Frick; Chrisjohn Dell. Edward McQuillan; Ruth Byram, Dorothy Frick; Slave, Richard Maloney ; First Officer, Oscar Bray; Second Officer, Edward Gilmore.


Quakers in the Meeting House Scene-Rosalie Angle, Fred Armi- Hiler, Lillian Lambert, Jessie Lewkowitz, Mary Lyons, Hazel Meeker, tage, Madeline Davenport, Marion Gardner, Elizabeth Hance. Nellie Marion Roderer, Ivah Rinehart, Florence Uren, Margaret Vreeland.


The properties used in this scene include a chair one hundred and one years old, lent by Mr. Armitage ; candlesticks a century old, lent by Mrs. Franklin ; dresses of our grandmothers' time, lent by Mrs. Fitz- herbert and Mrs. Davenport, of Spicertown; and real Shaker bonnets, lent by Miss Williams.


The love letter read is a real letter written by a Quaker of Plain- field to a Quaker maid of Randolph.


V-The Making of the School Flag, Dover Institute, 1861.


Dramatized and acted by pupils of the Seventh Grade under the direction of Miss Dorothy Lynd.


Introduction by Marion Rinehart.


Scene, a schoolroom in the Dover Institute.


Cast-Mr. Hall, principal of the school, represented by Tony Mauriello ; School Boys, Albert Jones, Arthur Goerner, Herschel Prisk ; School Girls, Louise Ackerman, Margaret Alpers, Emma Anderson, Leotha Blodgett, Merle Dickerson. Lulu. James, Mary Ingraham, Edith Lloyd, Bessie Phillips, Marion Rinehart, Ruth Skillman.


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Among the costumes used in this scene we are indebted to Mrs. D. Palmer for the loan of a pair of pantalettes actually worn by a child during the time represented by the scene.


VI-Town Meeting Called to Organize the Dover Fire Department, 1873.


Dramatized and acted by Miss Richardson's 8A Class.


Introduction by Beatrice Goldsworthy.


Cast-Mayor Richards, represented by Russell Melroy ; Col. Stites, Albert Sedgman; Mr. Sickles, Burroughs Van Syckle; Mr. Hance, George Amerman ; Mr. I. W. Searing, Robert Burrel; Mr. Berry, Wm. McGill; Mr. Lewis, James Adrey; Mr. James H. Neighbour, Willard Komotowski; Mr. Whitlock, Francis Milo; Mr. McCracken, Patsy Nazzaro; Mr. Wm. Young, Joseph Angel; Mr. Lindsley, James Varley.


Albert Sedgman, who represents Col. Stites at this meeting, is a great-grandson of Mr. Titus Berry, who was present at this meeting.


The program will close with a Pageant Procession of all persons participating in the scenes enacted. The salute to the flag will be given at the signal, followed by the singing of "America."


EPILOGUE.


We are the Future of the Past ; We are the Present in our time ; We are the Future's Past at last ; And so Time writes his changing rhyme.


We scan the pictured rocks where Man Etched the rude firstlings of his art: What pictures shall we leave? Who can Make bright the temple of the heart?


How can we know what later-born, More favored times will say of us? When, like dim memories of the morn, We form life's background fabulous?


A little while we have our day, As poets sing, upon the stage ; We act our part in life's great play, Then-Exit ! with the passing age.


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Some memory of us may survive; O Time, deal gently ! smooth away :


Our blundering strokes and keep alive The better part to shine for aye!


PART IX Local Historical Poems


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JOHN JACKSON


First Iron-Master of Dover, 1722-1753 "Into the wilderness let me be going, Out to the hills and the rills of the north ! There let me work the black ore into iron, Plying my forge by the side of a stream, Out in the wilderness-Maker of Iron!


Iron for plowshares, saws, hammers and axes; Iron for wagon-bolts, nails, knives, and spades; Iron and muscle will conquer the wilderness, Here's a man's work, to win homes from the wild, Plant a new settlement, build up a State !"


Out in the wilderness Nature was smiling, Sunshine and songsters and wildflowers were there; Trees of the forest were beck-ning and whisp'ring- "Come! there's a fortune out here in the wild !"


"Come ! make your fortune !" the streamlet replied.


So here he came in the new-dawning era, Came with a heart full of courage and hope; Toiled at his forge and sent iron to the seaboard- That's where they needed it-cities were growing- Newark-Elizabeth-he helped them grow.


He and a man from New Hampshire were toiling Here in the hills on the rough, rude frontier, While cities were building, trade growing, farms thriving, And all wanted iron from the forges up here. But-"Halt! All must stop! Ship your ore oversea !"


"Oversea ship your ore! The old country will shape it; Shape it and make of it tools to your hand !" That stopped our forges-John Jackson grew weary, His early hopes broken-sold out-sheriff's sale! There's nothing in iron till freedom is gained.


Then came the long struggle for freedom; our forges Again came to life; now not plowshares, but swords, And cannon and cannon-ball came from these hillsides, And a chain o'er the Hudson to stop the foe's fleet, While the patriot band is encamped near at hand.


He failed-Jackson failed; so his story is written; But the work has gone on, and the start that he gave Has not seen its finish, we're here to attest. Dover stands by his vision of youth, still undaunted- The vision that first bade the youth "Forge ahead !"


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A SONG OF IRON


An old song with a new Ending written for it for the use of the Mine Hill Sunday School, Christmas, 1914


Sing a song of Iron in a mine so deep, Where the mighty mountain watch doth keep;


Down must go the miner in the mine so damp, Each one with his pick-axe and his tiny lamp.


Here he picks and shovels, working all the day, Never sees the sunlight, not a single ray ; Here he finds great treasure, hidden long ago In its rocky cavern, far, far down below.


Rough, black lumps of iron ore-that is all he sees; But he knows the secret, falls upon his knees, Drills and picks and shovels, fills his little car, Push, push, push, then upward through the shaft so far!


Now another journey to a furnace door, Where the fierce fire blazing melts the hard black ore Till it glows and sparkles, runs into a mold, Taking form and shape for uses manifold.


Here's a jolly jack-knife, here's a needle bright, While the Perfect Cook Stove fills us with delight; There's a locomotive, there's a stout steel rail; Here's a saw, a hammer ; here's a common nail !


Who could tell the story of the debt we owe To our Friend, the Iron, everywhere we go! Sing a song of Iron, sing a merry lay ! Sturdy, honest Iron, useful every day !


THE MINE HILL BLACKSMITH


I am a Mine Hill blacksmith strong, My bellows now I blow; I poke the fire and sing my song, And soon the fire's aglow. Have you a horse that needs a shoe? Then bring him here to me; I'll shoe him right and quickly, too- Ka-link ! ka-link ! ka-lee! (Striking anvil.)


Unhitch your horse and bring him in And tie him to the wall;


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His old shoes are so thin, so thin, He must have new ones all ! Tap ! tap-a pull, off with the old, Then from the beam o'erhead Take down a new one, black and cold And heat it till it's red !


Then on the anvil, blow on blow, While showers of sparkles fly, I shape the iron all aglow, My busy hammer ply. Now pare the hoof, the shoe nail fast, And cut the nail ends bent, And trim with file, till all at last Is done to heart's content.


For a class of boys in the Mine Hill Sunday School, 1915. Sung to "The Jolly Coppersmith," with whistling chorus-


FORGE AND SONG


A blacksmith swart and strong am I, Now to my work I go, And as the bellows heave and sigh The coals are soon aglow. The bellows heave, the bellows blow, I sing a merry glee : O tongue of flame, now high, now low, My song is like to thee !


A horseshoe in the coals I lay, The bellows softly purr; "The cold, black iron grows bright as day, The fire I gently stir : "The flames leap up in sheer delight, The bellows puff and wheeze- 'O heart of iron, now dark, now bright, To thee I sing my glees !


Now on the anvil-kling, klang, kling ! The hammer falls, and Lo! 'Sparks fly and flash, while ding, dang, ding ! Blow follows quick on blow! The glowing iron I turn and smite, And shape it to my will, And sing my song from morn till night- Then forge and song grow still.


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WHEN GREATGRANDMOTHER WAS A GIRL


In Wharton there lives a good lady I know, Who has told me about the old times, long ago, When girls were some smarter than what they be now In doing all sorts of things-Oh, they knew how!


When she was a youngster, just in her first 'teens, She could pose in a tableau for many fine scenes ; They'd make a real Movie of times here in Dover; Plain living, they called it-they all lived in clover !


If you want to know what a young girl could do then, Just follow these lines as they come from my pen. She ought to have been at our late County Fair ; Why didn't they give the old folks a place there, With photographs, showing the old-fashioned ways In contrast with these more advanced, cultured days ?


She could sew, she could spin, she could knit, darn a stocking, And feed the farm chickens when all came a-flocking For supper, ere dark, and for breakfast each morn; Oh, how they would scurry and gobble the corn !


She could milk and could churn-making butter's an art Now done by machinery, we are so smart!


She could wash, starch the clothes, and could iron 'em by hand- No steam laundry then in this whole Yankee land !


She could make pies and cake, bread and doughnuts and cookies- She'd be just the girl to look after our rookies ! She broke in three heifers for milking, one Spring, And kept them all gentle; but now its "the thing" To milk by a newfangled, 'lectric machine, And milkmaids are rare, if they ever are seen.


And then this young lady of those good old times Would go feed the calves and pick berries, betimes. They'd dry all the berries they wished to preserve; No canning done then, Gentle Reader, observe!


Such apples they had ! nuts to crack !- just the best Of everything ! even eggs fresh from the nest ! Cold-storage eggs saved from the date of the flood Were unheard of then-now, the prices draw blood !


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Her father kept cows of his own; thirty sheep Furnished wool all the household in clothing to keep. Homespun was the fashion; a suit didn't cost Half a hundred in those days when no time was lost In gadding about. Your coat came from the back Of the sheep without shoddy ; but, lately, a-lack ! The "wool" is "short fibre," with "filling"-devices That lower the quality-not the high prices.


They killed their own sheep when they wanted good mutton, And then, just to show that a man wa'n't a glutton, He "divvied" the meat with his neighbors-each took A share for his household, 'twa'n't charged in a book ; But share, share about; now, our butcher bill mounts By airplane to heaven, from recent accounts.


"Clam Classes" they had in that primitive time- A topic I've never seen treated in rhyme. A great load of charcoal was taken to town, An ox-team the engine that hustled it down To NEWARK'S tide waters, where clams from the Bay Would fill up the wagon upon the home way. Again the quaint fashion would come into play Of share, share about with the folks 'cross the way. And such was the practice with oysters and shad, A custom "passay," but it wasn't half bad.


Enough !- we now live in an age more progressive Of modern inventions and-prices aggressive ! And we smile as we read of those long-vanished ways, And sigh, in our dreams-"Give us back the old days !" But wake from our doze with a start to discover Greatgrandmother smiling-she knows we all love her- To see her greatgranddaughters passing above her And old household arts coming back in new guise- Not "arts" now, but "science" we say, and look wise. October 4, 1919.


LOG CABINS


Log cabins in Dover !- well, "I want to know!" As the folks say, "down East," when they're hard pressed to show Amazement and wonder at travelers' yarns: Log cabins in Dover there were, not mere barns, But homes where folks lived and raised families, so I've heard from somebody who surely must know. Since houses are so hard to get in these days, O Muse, help me sing the Old Log Cabin's praise !


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The neighbors would each bring a log, trimmed and hewn, To fit into place in the cabin that soon Would welcome newcomers who came out to share Our life in the wilderness : all hands prepare To build the new home and in three days the folks Are keeping house in it, the best of good jokes! No house-rent, no plumber, no gas bill, no 'phone ! Just a cozy log cabin, a home of your own! No coal bill !- go out in the back lot-an axe Will garner your fuel-expense, a few whacks !


The chinks of your cabin, well plastered with clay, Were not quite air-tight-good enough in their way. Sometimes the bare ground may have served for the floor, And the latch-string hung out from the rude battened door. A chimney place filled the great room with its cheer ; Around it in winter all loved to draw near.


The "pie pan" stood ready for baking-they never Used baker's bread then, they just cooked up whatever They wanted, right there in hot coals-a wood fire With its blaze and its glow was a thing to admire. No "Perfect Range" then, no gas stove, no steam heat; Yet life in a cabin of logs may be sweet. So it may, but the Garden of Eden, you know, Was spoiled by a snake, and a snake loves the glow Of a log cabin fire, and the crumbs and tid-bits That fall on the floor-a snake lives by its wits.


The mother was ailing; a nurse, for a spell, Was helping the household till mother was well. The nurse, in bare feet, tip-toed softly about, When suddenly something put good nurse in rout. She had trod, in the dark, on a soft, wriggling snake; She runs to the candle-tree-quick ! bring a light ! A candle she snatches in haste and affright, For a snake in the dark and bare feet make her quake. :


She searches and searches, no snake comes to view ; The mother is anxious; her little ones-two- In their low trundle bed are now soundly asleep; She lifts up the bedclothes and then takes a peep- Sir Snake is right there-copperhead, sure as death ! The mother stands, stares, scarcely dares draw a breath !




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