| Show painted red and anchored to the ground so it wouldnjump Actually the swing wasmark of distinction and we were sad when it gradually and finally wore out We always hadhomemade see-saw teeter-totter or whirly-gig Sometimeswhirly-gig was made fromhay rake wheel These contraptions were good for falling off of and they were good for collecting neighborhood kids who were just whoop andholler away Papa was skillful with his pocketknife spending his idle moments carving something or another out ofbone orpiece of wood He made stilts for the boys and whittled wonderful nipcats tippy ginny and tick-tacks too come Hallove en time Boys whittled flippers or sling shots from kinnikinnick dogwood to aim at sparrows and they carved whistles from small branches of poplar trees whistles that slid back and forth somehow Boys always managed to have bows and arrows They or their fathers made the bows from birch tree limbs that had just the right bend or curve suspect they whittled the sharp pointed arrows too which were shot at crows and blackbirds My brothers and sisters andhad the advantage ofprivate ball park since we lived across the street from the high school block There was alwaysgame of rounders going on after schoolboys and girls big kids and little kids all of whom respected the rule over the fence is out Reminiscing waspoor batter andwasslow runner so when it came time for choosing up sides vas far down the line We had ball bats made from flat boards with curved handles just right to hold The bats were Mammahandmade balls She started with ball and then wrapped wool yarn round it until right size Next she stitched the whole thing stitches The ball bounced well and it didnpened to hit somebody were great and so small worn rubber it was just the with large blanket hurt much if it hap Recess time at school found boys playing marbles sometimes for keeps Whatvariety of marbles boys pants pockets and draw-string pouches produced agates steelies glassies flints and small clay marbles called scrubs And girls played jacks But Jump the Rope and Hop Scotch were the favorite recess games for everybody Youngsters had to have something to do when they couldnplay outdoors So young boys braided whips from shoe laces or from long narrov strips of leather and they made wooden play guns lined up soldier fashion and shouted Ready aim fire shoot Young girls amused themselves by knitting long thin ropes with empty spools small nails and string as necessary materials and they played house dressing up like big ladies in their mothers long dresses highheeled shoes and fancy hats Everybody liked to play school or store or so it seemed We hadfew games in our home that cost money guess we got them for Christmas remember what the crokinole board looked -26 |
