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The Rural Voice, 1985-11, Page 24SMYTN Snowblowers ...when you've just got to get through! • Cutting Req'd. Width H.P. Auger Fan Hoods Rear Mount 56" 16 & up 12" 18"x6" Man 72" 35 & up Single 24"x8" Man 16" 84" 55 Single 30"x10" Hyd 20" 96" 70 Single 30"x10" Hyd 20" 96" 100 14" 30"x10" Hyd 14" 102" 100 14" 30"x10" Hyd (8", It) 14" 108" 120 20" 36"x12" Hyd 8 up 20" George Smyth Welding and Machine Shop Ltd e "We build the best and repair the rest." R.R. 2, AUBURN, ONT., NOM 1E0 519-529.7212 22 THE RURAL VOICE I suppose few people have ex- perienced ice cream as we made it then. It was made with cream and the normal test for cream in those days was 30 to 35 per cent fat. Ice cream also contained sugar and vanilla, and eggs which were whipped to a foam. To a growing boy, that ice cream was a most wondrous treat, something to look forward to with mouth-watering longing and look back upon with nostalgia. The freezer was a wooden bucket with a metal container for the unfrozen mixture sitting inside. A space of about four inches was left for ice to surround the container and a cranking device enabled you to rotate the inner vessel. A paddle was held stationary while the turning went on, thus stirring the unfrozen mix- ture. When the ingredients were pro- perly frozen, the stirring became harder until the man at the crank would have to stop. About 1:30 p.m., people started to assemble in the woods. Usually the picnic was beside the river and any small boy let loose in the woods does not look for things to do — they just heaped with fowl, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy. Of course there were pickles and jelly to keep the saliva flowing, pies and coffee or tea. I have often remarked how the language changes and words tend to lose their significance as time passes. This could be said for the word "pie." A person who has not attend- ed the Evangelical church supper at Crediton with the appetite of a grow- ing boy has not the slightest concept of the totally blissful gastronomic satisfaction created by that small word. People would come by the hun- dreds to fowl suppers. A long line would form outside the church shed and gradually people would start coming out, bulging and burping, and the line would ease forward. In- side would be rows of tables and here and there a spot freshly vacated where a woman would be putting down fresh silver and flatware. The prettiest girls of the congregation would be serving and the older women washing dishes. The in- betweens did the other useful tasks "Now that I have travelled to the far ends of the world I realize that ... within easy horse -travelling distance we had almost everything that the world had to offer — food, friendship, and a pleasant environment." happen. There was the swimming hole which meant at least a couple of dips. There were the booths for ice cream (in dishes, no cones in those days), candy, and nuts. And there were the races with real prizes. The distance was stepped off. The starting was by word of mouth. Performances were. amateur and the prizes were 5, 10, and 15 cents. I tell you, 15 cents in t hose days w•as a very satisfying sum of money. And then of course there was the picnic lunch. 1 will not dwell on the food. Sure it was good, but there was also lemonade and never did anything taste so good as that lemonade. You can have all your alcoholic concoctions, your soft drinks, your nice cup of tea or your cafe diable, but of all the drinking memories of my lifetime I choose the lemonade at the Ebenezer School pic- nic in Lewis' bush. Fowl suppers were a highlight. The weather was usually cool and you felt like eating. The main dish might be chicken, duck, goose, or turkey. It was often a combination. Plates were and people ate as if an ice age were approaching. Having eaten, you did not go home; you stood around and talked while waiting for the concert. A temporary platform would have been erected by the men of the church and a piano would be set up. From here would be delivered entertain- ment of various sorts, usually more or less local talent with the minister as chairman. There would be a violin solo, a piano duet, vocal selections, and a reading or two, some pretty good, and some showing little but the spirit of co-operation; but all ap- plauded lustily and carefully observed the performances for future discus- sion. And in such ways passed the full life of my boyhood. We knew all our neighbours well (along with their pro- blems). Now that I have travelled to the far ends of the world I realize that in that small area within easy horse - travelling distance we had almost everything that the world has to offer — food, friendship, and a pleasant environment. In reality, I was fabulously wealthy.