Each season has its own particular hazard. Nothing can equal the
hazard of having to work out-of-doors in the winter, in a blinding snow storm when the
thermometer registers somewhat below zero Fahrenheit. This frequently did happen on our
farm. We never seemed to be able to get enough fuel to keep the house warm and to prepare
the meals for more than a few weeks at a time. Maybe poor planning, you will say. Anyway,
our fuel supply was obtained from our wood lot (the woods). So with bobsled and team we
would set out to cut and fetch a load of fuel wood, sometimes in the midst of a blinding
snow storm. We boys would be well-mittened, with scarves and caps pulled well over ears to
prevent frost-bite. In spite of all precautions we would sometimes arrive home with frozen
fingers and ears. Never would a warm house feel so good.
Then, there were the family sleigh rides, on Sundays to Friends Meeting, in our
two-seater, two-horse open sleigh. The one-horse sleigh, or "Cutter", was used
for trips for two or three people. I recall one time when we decided to go shopping for
Christmas, all the way to the city. We had straw in the bottom of the sleigh plus hot
bricks to help keep us warm. This did not keep the cold wind from our faces and hands. It
was fun for a while, but when the cold got to us, boy, were we glad to get home again to
the home fires. However, the blustery weather always gave promise of better weather
tomorrow. As Ma would remind us, "It is God's weather". Which is to say,
everything will eventually work out for the best.
Snow storms had a thrill as well as a challenge, especially after the event ended
without tragedy.
Then,
there were the inevitable times when, because we had not dressed adequately for the
weather conditions, we developed the common cold or worse, the flu. Ma had her own sure
cure remedy. A preparation of goose grease and turpentine rubbed on chest and throat was
supposed to do the trick. It usually did, too. For more deep seated infections, a mustard
plaster was called for. Hot lemonade at bedtime was a good follow-up.
But for us men-folk, especially for me, the great affliction of Wintertime was
Chilblains. This malady seems to have been caused by allowing the feet to get cold and
damp for prolonged periods. None of the known remedies seemed to do much good. The best
thing one could do was to avoid getting feet cold and damp. This, then, was almost
impossible on our farm.
There was a daily routine of chores to be done, mostly indoors in the barn, such as
feeding the cattle and horses, slopping the pigs and throwing grain to the chickens.
Watering all the livestock was very important, especially the cattle. Without water, there
could be no milk. We gave each cow and horse a drink from a bucket with water from a well
in the barn.
One very cold day, in January, following a heavy snowfall, we were surprised to
find this pump in the barn had gone dry. This was serious. The only thing to do, since we
were unable to take water to the cattle, we would have to take the cattle to the water.
Well, the nearest water was in the small creek which runs through our pasture. We hoped
that this stream was not frozen solid. It was not. So Pa and Earl with the help of our
all-purpose dog, released the herd, all ten of them, and drove them, with difficulty,
through the knee-deep snow and the bitterly cold air, across the pasture to the water
supply. With shovel and axe, they were able to cut a hole large enough for our thirsty
herd to drink. It was quite easy to persuade these animals to return to the warmth of
their stable and feeding time. This procedure had to be repeated several times, until the
water level was restored in the well.
Other barn chores consisted of keeping the "chop box" filled with
"chop". We had a very reliable grain grinder which was driven by our
general-purpose gasoline engine. The "chop" was necessary as a supplement to
feed cattle and horses.
There was also corn to be hauled in from the frozen corn-field and then cut for cattle
feed.
Ice harvest was another winter job that had its risks as well as rewards.
Then there was the time when the family car would not start, because of its age
and the cold weather. So, horse power (natural Horse power) would be the answer. Nancy and
Maude hitched to the front end provided the horse power, my brother Earl managed the
controls and Louis navigated. It was snowing quite hard, but, in due time, it did get
running on its own, and we got where were going and home again.
One usually associates winter with sleigh bells. How appropriate and useful! What a
wonderful invention was the sleigh bell. They were a necessity for those of us who lived
in the country in this era. They add a note of cheer and warmth to an otherwise dull and
cold drive. Cold seems less cold when one can hear this merry jingle of sleigh bells.
Another benefit is to let the driver ahead know that someone is behind him. Let me end
this reverie on Winter while the bells on horse and sleigh are ringing in our ears,
chasing away the winter blabs. Bells are also an emblem of Christmas. This leads me to
recall a Christmas I will not forget.
