Our neighbors had a sod house. You know, in 1940 we had no running water and no electricity in Nebraska. Our neighbors had a sod house. We rode a horse to school with snow up to its belly in the winter. As I remember, the school was about three miles from our home. We rode in a little wagon behind the horse. When the weather was cold, we were covered in an animal skin with hot bricks at our feet. In my mind, we had more cold than hot weather.
We rode bareback
When the weather was nice we rode bareback on the horse. I sat behind Bob and hung on to him. Bob was 10 and I was 8. He made a step with his hands clasped together for me to step on and then he gave me a boost up on to the horse. Sometimes — I have no idea how often — I just went right on over the horse. I don’t remember getting hurt. He told me a few years ago that it was no accident that I went right on over the horse. He just gave me an extra boost on purpose. Now doesn’t that sound like something a brother might do? Just for fun!!
A fried egg sandwich
We carried our lunch in a little tin pail. The favorite lunch that I remember was a fried egg sandwich. Bob’s favorite lunch …….he told me not long ago……was pheasant.
The only one in third grade
I was the only one in third grade. I spent my day listening to the other kids do their lessons and playing with my doll. There was one black pot-bellied stove in the middle of the room which had to be fed during the day.
Each father supplied hay
There was a barn just outside the school which housed our horses for the day. Each father supplied hay for their horse for the day. There were times when we were coming home from school when we saw rattle snakes and heard coyotes howling.
Picking up cow chips
After school Bob and I took the little wagon or cart that took us to school and went to the pasture to pick up cow chips. These cow chips were used for fuel for heat and for cooking.
Watermelons under the bed
The men were great pheasant hunters. We had lots of pheasant to eat. Also lots of watermelons. I remember many watermelons under the bed waiting to be eaten.
Bath time in the kitchen
Bath time! In the kitchen in a big old tub. I always tried to be the first one in because everybody used the same water!! Can you imagine? Your side away from the stove froze. You kept reminding people to stay out because you were taking a bath! We caught rain water to wash our hair. It was supposed to do something special…not sure what that was.
I loved reading this. Memories, even though I went into town to school. Riverton Nebraska. Marie Kugler
marie_kugler@yahoo.com
