OLD HOMESTEAD 



The work he did was creditable, and this method of having it 

 done saved a large item of expense. Father also had a shoe- 

 bench and tools, and, while not an expert, could make first-rate, 

 serviceable boots and shoes, and when times were particularly 

 hard, did make them for the family. He almost always did all 

 the tapping and mending. This saved a great deal of time as 

 well as money, as the nearest shoemaker's shop was two, and in 

 early times six miles away. 



Country boys, although used to going barefoot, enjoyed 

 boots made of " good leather" that would turn water and not 

 soak up 3oft and white. There were no rubbers or gum-boots, 

 and their own comfort as well as pride made them careful of their 

 winter boots, which were dried every night and greased every 

 morning. Fine boots with red tops were a luxury and the pride 

 of the young countryman. I never was able to secure a pair 

 until I was sixteen or seventeen years old and big enough to 

 have my say about what I would and would not have. 



Clothes were made at home by a tailoress who came to the 

 house and measured, cut and sewed for two or three weeks. In 

 this she was helped by all the women of the house, who while 

 helping her stole her trade, watching carefully to see that they 

 understood every point in the business. The clothes were cut 

 by making patterns from old ones, by rude measurements, by 

 trying and fitting, ripping out and cutting over, until they 

 succeeded in getting something that would pass muster. I 

 have heard it said that in very early times they used to get at a 

 boy's size and shape for a pair of pants or a jacket by laying 

 him down on his back on the floor and marking around him 

 with a piece of chalk. 



The cloth from which the so-called home-made clothes were 

 manufactured was mostly made in the weaving-room of the 



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