Reminiscences of Newcastle, Iowa, 1848; a history of the founding of Webster City, Iowa . fortable nest for a child. Thetrundle-bed was made small enough to slide under the bed-stead during the day. The log cradle usually occupied thehearth. A four-legged bedstead also was made. While itcould be shifted about, it could not be taken apart. Whena family moved these bedsteads remained for the nextcomer. With the advent of the four-poster and its yardsof cordage, convenience seemed to have attained its limitand luxury its climax. There still is in the possession ofour family a four-post, cord beds
Reminiscences of Newcastle, Iowa, 1848; a history of the founding of Webster City, Iowa . fortable nest for a child. Thetrundle-bed was made small enough to slide under the bed-stead during the day. The log cradle usually occupied thehearth. A four-legged bedstead also was made. While itcould be shifted about, it could not be taken apart. Whena family moved these bedsteads remained for the nextcomer. With the advent of the four-poster and its yardsof cordage, convenience seemed to have attained its limitand luxury its climax. There still is in the possession ofour family a four-post, cord bedstead that is over one hun-dred years old. When dances were on the program the portable bed-stead, loom, table, spinning-wheels, provision barrels, etc.,were moved outside; and wooden chunks and slabs werearranged along the log walls for seats. Jack Brewer assisted in all the work of cabin buildinguntil his death in February, 1857. The broad-ax so wellused by him in the early work in Newcastle still is in thepossession of his son, Andrew Brewer. The implement CABIN BUILDING AND BEDS 37. 38 REMINISCENSES OF NEWCASTLE, IOWA was kept carefully by the maternal grandfather, PatrickFrakes, and given to Andrew on his twenty-first own family broad-ax is a rusty relic of the past, but ispreserved by my son, Frank Bonebright. CHAPTER IV. Illumination, Cabin Conditions. Our first provision for lighting was a receptacle—usually a saucer—filled with grease. A twisted rag wickrested against the ironstone edge, and when charred withthe flame it was snuffed with shears or the fingers. Some-times two or three wicks were placed in one dish to increasethe lighting surface. We called them the Betty light, al-though a long way from the original. The button light was prepared by wrapping an end ofthe wicking around a button, securing it with thread, andloosely winding the short length of wick so it would standerect. The button end was placed in the dish, and the wickstood above the g
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectfrontie, bookyear1921
