Friday, January 30, 2009

An Old Fashioned Snow Storm

I love family history, especially when stories accompany the pictures! This is borrowed from a family member. Her grandmother painted the picture and this is the story that inspired this painting, in Aunt Harriet's own words:
"I remember a snow storm that caused the one room school house to be closed early. School had been in session only two hours when the skies darkened. The snow was coming thick and fast, which made outside visibility almost nil. Our teacher asked us to close our books as there wasn't enough light by which to read comfortably. There was an urgent knock on the door, and Arthur John Weir burst into the room. He had come on horseback to warn us of the fierce storm that was already upon us. All parents had been warned and were on their way to pick up their children. Dad arrived last as he had the farthest to come. He waited until all the rest were in their sleighs. Then the teacher locked up the school house and rode with us to her boarding place a half-mile away.

The storm was relentless. It was a lark for we children as we snuggled into the soft, sweet smelling straw, with plenty of blankets to keep us warm. We were unaware of Dad's concern. The snow was up to the horses bellies before we got home, a condition that was dangerous to the horses. Going was slow. We finally drove onto our barn floor. Full of energy, we struggled through the heavy wet snow but took time to pelt each other with soft snowballs. When Mother opened the door, warm steam poured out from the kitchen along with the tantalizing odor of freshly made fried cakes. Quickly hanging our wet coats and hats on our own special pegs, we were allowed to enjoy the delicious fried cakes along with the dinner pail lunch.

Dad brushed snow from the horses and put a blanket on each one before coming in. Mother waited to have her lunch of sandwiches, fragrant hot coffee, and warm fried cakes with Dad. As they ate, I heard him tell Mother that he was relieved that the horses were unharmed by the experience. Sometimes in deep snow they will cork their legs, being injured by their own shoes scraping their legs."

11 comments:

  1. What a great story and painting! It reminds me of the Laura Ingalls Wilder stories.

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  2. nice, it is in the same vein as Laura Ingals Wilder stories. well done.

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  3. Yes, Yes, Yes, what a delightful painting and story.... I so agree with Kristen...Laura Ingalls Wilder in the flesh!

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  4. I thought the same thing. I think everyone should read "The Long Winter", at least twice. I enjoy history like that too. I remember Paul's grandfather telling stories from when he was little. He was born in I think 1895...he remembered when he was little, and friends would come visit with their horses and sleighs, and they would tuck the children into bed with Grampa and his siblingsin the evening, and stay and talk through the night...because visits were infrequent, chores had to be done, visiting time was precious....and he also talked about oranges: one each year in the toe of his Christmas stocking, and what a treat! We do not realize how good we have it....

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  5. It sounds like a Laura Ingalls story to me too, but it's better because it's my own family history.

    I read The Long Winter just a few weeks ago. There is nothing like a tale of winter survival to make me thankful for my own warm house and modern comforts. I think maybe I'll read Earnest Shackleton's story of The Endurance again. At least I won't be stranded on an ice flow for the next several months and I climb into a warm dry bed every night.

    Oh yes, I am very blessed!

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  6. Wonderful to have this kind of story being passed down!

    You guys seem to be getting most of the "winter" being handed out this year. So far we've managed to miss most of the bad stuff, but of course "you never know" what may still be to come!

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  7. Martha - How wonderful to see this picture and story on your blog!!! The original is hanging in my dining room, and I enjoy it each and every day! Love, Brenda

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  8. Brenda, how wonderful that you shared the story with me. It is a wonderful piece of family history. I absolutely love the paintings!

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  9. Those were the days. Not unlike the one I told in my post today on Facebook.

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