Old Wells 239 



THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET METHOD 



In early days on the farm, when fencing was 

 more difficult, there was not always a lane ex- 

 tending from the farmyard to the back fields. The 

 young stock were usually pastured at the back 

 end of the lot and in the bush. In the spring and 

 early summer there would be enough of surface 

 water in swales or ponds to water the young ani- 

 mals but, later in the season, this source failed. 

 Usually there would be a shallow well by the edge 

 of the bush from which the younger members of 

 the farmer's family would be required to dip the 

 water daily with a pail and rope for the young 

 cattle. One pump might be considered a necessity 

 on the farm then, but two were a luxury — ^mostly 

 denied. 



THE BIGGEST DOG AND 'COON FIGHT EVEE 



I recall that on our farm there were two such 

 bush-side wells, without pumps. One day as I had 

 proceeded, unwillingly, no doubt, to perform the 

 daily task of pulling up water with a pail for a 

 thirsty herd of young critters, I discovered that 

 one of the wells had gone dry and that the biggest 

 'coon I ever saw was a prisoner at the bottom of 

 that well. It was a dry season and the ring-tailed 

 denizen of the corn patch, like the fox in the fable, 

 had jumped down the well without considering 

 how it was going to climb out. There was, per- 



