Today we have the final installment in our 3-part series from Helen Smith of Wimbledon, North Dakota who won 1st prize from Dakota Farmer magazine for her article on managing home life on a 1907 farm, read by Meghan Vettleson.
“I wash Monday … with John’s help, I get things ready for the machine. The boiler is put on right after breakfast. … John does the machine work. Then we rinse, starch and get the clothes on the line …. After school, Mary and I bring in the clothes and fold them ready to iron Tuesday.
“Saturday’s baking takes most of the morning. The little folks also have to be bathed and all the little extras to be done in view of Sunday being a day to read and rest…
“Winter is a change of routine. We breakfast at seven … then the children do their chores and get ready for school. John takes them in winter.
“… When the lunch is cleared away I sit down to sew or for a little visit with John as this is his slack time too; then at half past three he goes out and hitches up the team to go for the children, while I get supper; or dinner rather; which we eat as soon as the little folks get home from school, hungry as bears. Then when supper is out of the way, they all have a general good time ‘til half past seven. Then they all go up stairs and get ready for bed.
“While John and the hired man finish the chores I set the table, grind the coffee, cut the meat and set the pancakes, and the day’s work is done, and we are all sitting down to a quiet evening by ourselves at half past eight. We often read aloud or a neighbor drops in to spend an hour or so, and altogether we spend a quiet cozy evening by the fire. John won’t abide my sewing in the evening. He says daylight is time enough to work.
“Well I guess all readers of the Dakota Farmer will be weary with this long drawn picture of our home, but if I don’t come in for a prize, which isn’t at all likely, I may have dropped some hint that will help some poor, tired, overworked mother.
“Your reader and well wisher – Helen Smith, Wimbledon, ND.”
This three-part Dakota Datebook series was prepared by Merry Helm
