THE
main object of the author in putting together
the scattered pages forming this humble volume
has been to give glimpses of life—of real
homely
life—among the early pioneers. He lays no
claim to any other merit than that of telling his simple story. His
means of information have been of a more than ordinary character, and
these he has endeavored to improve by personal enquiry and visiting the
localities, so far as possible, where the scenes are laid and depicted.
There is, as will be seen, a large amount of information supplied, which
he would fain hope may be found useful in adding to the historic fund of
other writers, who have already placed themselves on record on the same
subject as historians of early pioneer life in Canada. Real and homely as
his tale has been told, there will still be found no lack of romantic
incidents and chapters of much interest to the general reader. The book,
in a word, is the author's humble contribution to the history of the early
days of his native province. Access to old manuscripts and records of
family events retained in both his father's and mother's families for a
century and more, has helped him to a very great extent in carrying out
the design which he had in view when he first commenced what, to him, was
a labor of love.
Contents
THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS
Who the Early-Settlers Were
The
United Empire Loyalists
Butler's Rangers
The Mennonites and Tunkers
EARLY EXPERIENCES OF THE SETTLERS
How the Emigrants from the States
Reached Canada
Appearance of the Country
The Indians
The Wild
Animals
PREPARATORY WORK OF THE SETTLER
The Old Log Houses and Barns
The Fireplaces
The Felling of the Trees
The Stumping
TRAVELLING CONVENIENCES
An Old Military Road
The
Wayside Tavern
The Corduroy and Other Roads
The Old Stage Coach
Horseback Riding
WAYS AND MEANS OF COMMUNICATION
The Mails
The Newspapers
Postage Stamps and Envelopes
The Quill Pens
The Old Currency
SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS
The Industry of the People
The
Hospitality of the People
The Amusements of the People
The Schools
The School-houses
The Churches
SOME PHASES OF EARLY COUNTRY LIFE
The Country Store
The Wayside
Blacksmith
The Country Peddler
The Itinerant Shoemaker
The
Country Squire
Tramps
SOME PHASES OF EARLY SOCIAL LIFE
The Old-Time Camp-meeting
he
Old-Time Funerals
The Superstitions of the People
Ghosts, Hobgoblins
and Will.o'-the-Wisps
The Lightning Bug or Firefly
In Time of
Sickness
Saving Habits of Grandfather
Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies
HOME SURROUNDINGS
The Old Homestead .
The
Orchards and Vineyards
The Old-Time Garden
The Old-Time Wells
The
Family Cemetery
The Rail Fence
HOME SURROUNDINGS. (Continued)
The Bake-Ovens
The Smoke Houses
The Old Workshop
The Old Grindstone
The Corn Crib
HOUSEHOLD APPURTENCES
the First Stoves
The Old Corner
Cupboard .
The Grandfather's Clock
The Old Flintlock Musket
The
Dinner Horn
The Old Dash Churn
HOUSEHOLD APPURTENCES (Continued)
Early Household Utensils and
Articles of Furniture
Pewter and Crockery Ware
Candles and
Candlesticks
Tea and Coffee, and Their Substitutes
Lighting the Fire
CLOTHING AND DRESS
The Clothing of the People
The
Fashions in Dress
Our Grandmothers' White Caps
DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES
Spinning Yarn
Straw Working
Milking Time
Plucking Geese
Soap-Making
Potash
Cheese Making
How Saner Kraut was Made
DOMESTIC AND FARM WORK
Cider and Cider Mills
Making
Apple Butter
Honey Gathering, Straw Hives and Superstitions About Bees
Shingle Making
Flax Culture
Tanning Leather
FARM WORK
Early Farm Implements
The
Sickle and Reaping Hook
Sowing the Grain
Cradling Grain
The
Reaping Machine
Sheep Washing and Shearing
FARM WORK—(Continued)
The Threshing
The Logging Bee
The Raising Bee
Maple Sugar Making Time
CO-OPERATIVE GATHERINGS
The Paring Bee
The Quilting Bee
The Husking Bee
Butchering Day, or "The Killing"
EARLY PASTIMES
Raccoon Hunting
Hunting for
Bees
Hunting and Trapping
Fishing in the River
The Wild Pigeons
and Wild Geese
COUNTRY AMUSEMENTS
The Old-fashioned Country Dance
The Charivari (Shivaree)
The "Old Sorrel"
The Spelling School
The
Singing School
Pop Corn, Nuts and Apples
COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE
Early Country Courtship
The
Country Wedding
FARM SCENES
The Family Watch-Dog
A Trip to Market
An
Auction Sale on the Farm
COUNTRY SCENES
The Old Water Wheel
The Old
Sawmills
The Windmills
The Old-Time Winter
Views of The Niagara
FOREST LIFE
The Wild Fruits
The Familiar
Wild Flowers
Lost in the Woods
Forest Fires
A Primitive Canadian
Band
Mosquitoes and Black Flies
FOREST LIFE—(Continued)
The Squirrel
The Fox
Rabbit
Hunting