The Rural Voice, 1985-11, Page 22THE WAY WE WERE
"Why the Hens don't Fav" from the collection of the late R.R. Sallows, courtesy Huron County Pioneer Museum, Goderich, Ontario
Remembering leisure time
by Andrew Dixon
Looking back on childhood, 1
realize that 1 see the long -
distant past through the eyes
of the child I was, not those of an
adult. But it does seem to me that
there is more loneliness now in spite
of our telephone, our T.V. and
radios, in spite of our easy, rapid,
and comfortable travel. But again, 1
see that time as a child when today is
forever and everything encountered is
very, very new. It is possible that my
mother, with her husband working on
the neighbouring farm, with me tuck-
ed in for an afternoon nap, with the
horse at the back of the farm, with no
telephone and no radio or T.V.,
found the day tedious. But the farms
were close, you could see the
neighbours' buildings, and it was an
20 THE RUR t1_ VOICE
easy walk. What is more to the point
— people had time to be friendly.
When driving down the road you
would see men working in the fields.
It was customary to stop and wait till
the team reached the fence. Then you
would exchange the time of day,
discuss weather and crops, and learn
the local gossip, possibly discussing
local problems involving school,
council work, or government. There
always seemed to be time, and
anyway the horses had to have rest.
Today with the motor car and the
tractor to speed us on our way, we
never think of stopping either the car
or the tractor and the interchange of
ideas and mutual solving of problems
are gone.
Church and school were two focal
points for entertainment. Every Sun-
day people went to church, I think
not so much from the urge for
religion as for the relief of monotony.
All week men had worked long hours
and the day of rest was just that, and
indeed necessary. People usually slept
in a little on Sundays, maybe till 7
a.m. Farm work consisted of feeding
and milking in winter and milking in
the summer. Then a whole long day
was ahead of you. Many farmers
took a morning nap for church,
which was usually in the afternoon.
In the afternoon the horse was
harnessed and hitched to the buggy
and the farmer donned his Sunday
suit which included a starched shirt
and celluloid collar with snap -on tie.
The wife put on her best hat and dress