<< Back To Journals

Wash Day ~ 1916

September 2009

Bild fire in backyard to heet kettle of rain water.
Set tubs so smoke won’t blow in eyes if wind is pert.
Shave one hold cake lie soap in bilin water.
Sort into three piles, 1 white, 1 colored, 1 work britches & rags.
Rub dirty spots on washboard, scrub hard, then bile.
Rub colored, don’t bile, just rinch in starch.
Remove whites from kettle with broom handle, rinch and starch.
Hang old rags on fince.
Spread tee towels on grass.
Pore rinch water in flower bed.
Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.
Go put on fresh dress and smooth hair with side combs.
Brew a cup of tea. Sit and rock a spell and count blessings.

In today’s world we take our modern day appliances for granted.  I wonder, however, if the satisfaction felt from these times gone by is something we miss in our busy lives.

-Kathy Hogue

<< Back To Journals