Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Mail Boxes all in a row...

More on the cottage:

Our mail came to a row of boxes at the farm roads intersection about a mile from our cottage. I only remember letters and an occasional postcard. It was one of my favorite chores to volunteer for. Often I went alone, but sometimes Grandmother would come along but mostly I went with a friend from a nearby cottage, or my cousins when they were visiting. (Arlene) When a friend came with me we would sometimes cut across the farmer's cow pasture. Once, we were chased by a bull. In late summer I carried a cellar of salt to use on the green apples. There was a tree catty corner to the boxes that put out some nice apples. We usually went back to the city before they ripened, but with salt I loved the green ones with white seeds, although I soon learned that too many of them gave a tummy ache. I would bring a green apple back to the cottage for Aunt Ethel, who loved them at least as much as I did. I have a clear memory of her lying on the porch sofa eating green apples and reading magazines. Ethel seemed always to have time to laugh with me and listen to my stories. Besides green apples, she also loved sour pickles. I sure loved my Aunt Ethel.


Sometimes Grandmother gave me money to buy fresh vegetables (mostly corn) from the farmer close to the boxes. The farm dogs were a little scary but I never ran into a mean one. They just like to bark at new things in their yard. I especially remember the fresh corn I brought home with the mail.