Maw's Vacation

Emerson Hough

Description

As an early conservationist and outdoors reporter, author Emerson Hough helped complete one of the first comprehensive surveys of the Yellowstone in 1893. Based on his experiences there, he penned this humorous piece, which affectionately describes the first wave of salt-of-the-earth families from Middle America who picked the sprawling park as a vacation destination.

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776673254
• Langue: English

Extrait

MAW'S VACATION
THE STORY OF A HUMAN BEING IN THE YELLOWSTONE
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EMERSON HOUGH
 
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Maw's Vacation The Story of a Human Being in the Yellowstone First published in 1921 Epub ISBN 978-1-77667-325-4 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77667-326-1 © 2015 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Maw's Vacation The Park-Bound Throng of Maws Studies in Mountain Pants Maw in War Paint In the Grip of the Law Enough for Five More Old Stanley's Story Spontaneous Eruption His Busy Day When Bozeman was Riled All Ready for Bud
Maw's Vacation
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The Story of a Human Being in the Yellowstone
Times has changed, says Maw to herself, says she. Things ain't like whatthey used to be. Time was when I worked from sunup to sundown, and wedidn't have no daylight-saving contraptions on the old clock, neither.The girls was too little then, and I done all the work myself—cooking,sweeping, washing and ironing, suchlike. I never got to church Sundaysbecause I had to stay home and get the Sunday dinner. Like enough they'dbring the preacher home to dinner. You got to watch chicken—it won'tcook itself. Weekdays was one like another, and except for shovelingsnow and carrying more coal I never knew when summer quit and wintercome. There was no movies them days—a theater might come twice awinter, or sometimes a temperance lecturer that showed a picture of theinside of a drunkard's stomach, all redlike and awful. We didn't havemuch other entertainment. Of course we had church sociables now andthen, or a surprise party on someone. Either way, the fun no more thanpaid for the extra cooking. I never seen nothing or went nowhere, and ifwhen I was down town after the groceries I'd 'a' stepped into the drugstore and bought me a lemonade—and they didn't have no nut sundaesthen—they'd of had me up before the church for frivolous conduct.
Of course Paw kicks about the crops and prices, but I've been livingwith Paw forty years, and I dunno as I can remember a time when hedidn't kick. He kicks now on the wages he pays these city boys that comeout to farm; says they're no good at all. But somehow or other, thingsgets raised. I notice the last few years we somehow have had moreclothes and things, and more money in the bank. When Paw bought theautomobile he didn't ask the minister if it was right, and he didn'thave to ask the bank for a consent, neither. Cynthy's back fromcollege, and it's all paid for somehow. Jimmy's in a mail-order storein Chicago. I've got a girl to help me that calls herself a maid, whichis all right enough, though we used to call Judge Harmsworth's help agirl and let it go at that, law me! My other girls, Hattie and Roweny,are big enough to help a lot, and Paw reasons with them considerableabout it. I've always been so used to work that I think I can do itbetter myself. I always like to do for my children.
But Paw, ever since I married him, has been one of those energetics.They call him an aggressive business man. Some of them call him adominant man, because of his whiskers, though he knows well enough abouthow scared of him I am. Only time I ever was scared of Paw was when hegot the car. I thought he would break his fool neck and kill Roweny,that had clim in with him. He did break down the fence in front of thehouse and run over the flower beds and all.
The Park-Bound Throng of Maws
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But this summer we allowed we all would get in the car and take a bigtrip out West—go right into some of the parks, if nothing happened.
We borrowed our tent from the Hickory Bend Outing Club that Paw belongsto back home. The poles go along the fenders and stick out a good waybehind. I could always cook without a stove, from experience at picnicswhen I was younger. The dishes goes in a box. Paw nailed a rack on topof the fenders, and we carry a lot of stuff that way. Cynthy always hasher suitcase on the outside because it's the newest one. The other girlsset on the bedding on the rear seat, and I ride in front with Paw. Wemostly wear overalls.