The Last Day of School by John Caverhill On the last day of school before the Summer Holidays, carrying nothing, not even a lunch pail, and feeling light, one would head down the road to school. It would be after nine when the school bell rang, and we would troop inside to a classroom that without its ornamentation of schoolwork and seasonal decorations felt strangely foreign. Miss Chute would give us a brief end-of-year talk with special parting words for the grade eight students. We would each receive the buff- coloured envelope containing our report card and then we would rocket out of the door and arrive home by ten o’clock to spend the day eagerly anticipating the late afternoon picnic that concluded each school year. Even though haying was in full swing, on the school picnic day fieldwork concluded early and the barn chores were finished by five o’clock. Some families would already be there when we arrived and would be setting up picnic tables (on loan from Poplar Hill Park) in a row under the big maples on the south side of the yard. My eyes, however, were on the north side of the yard under where the ball diamond lay. Some young fellows were already warming up for the “pickup” game which was the big attraction for me. All the local young bucks including past and present attendees of the Bear Creek School from age twelve to mid- twenties took part. Being farm boys, when they connected with the ball it was not uncommon to see it sail through the tall Spruce trees on the far side of the yard and land in the adjoining pasture field. We usually played three or four innings and then would come the call for supper and avid ballplayers as we were, this summons was a call of power. The noon hour meal was long past and having been followed by several hours
of hard work in the hayfield along with the ballgame, there was no need to repeat the call. The picnic tables, set end-to-end, their weathered tops covered with snowy-white paper, were laden with standard country picnic fare. No trimming off bread crusts here! The standard sandwich was a full slice of bread, the filling, another slice of bread, and then it was cut in two on the diagonal. Meat predominated, thick slices of beef, pork or chicken, all homegrown and laid between lavishly- buttered bread slices. Commercially made mayonnaise was still in the future; butter was the lubricant for all sandwiches. There would also be egg salad and salmon sandwiches for extra variety. Accompanying the sandwiches were green salads, jellied salads, and potato salads along with lettuce, green onions and radishes fresh from the garden. Devilled eggs, dill, sweet, bread and butter and beet pickles, along with relishes and chilli sauce added their tang to this meal as well. Lemonade made from lemons, sugar and cold well water, along with tea and coffee were the beverages with sugar and pure cream to fortify the hot drinks. Now for dessert. It was too early in the season for most fruit, but strawberries and rhubarb were available along with lemons and raisins as pie ingredients. To take up the slack, if it could be called that, were many kinds of cake – white, chocolate, lemon etc. often layered with creamy filling and topped with a thick layer of icing. To accompany one’s pie or cake, there was the queen of desserts – ice cream! Nowadays with refrigerators and freezers a part of everyday living along with countless retailers offering a wide variety of 2015.0011-V.29-008 S. S. 7 Lobo circa 1912. The school was located on Bear Creek Road and Ivan Drive - the old 7th Concession. Looking for a New Shed this Summer?
Hosted by
Enter for a chance to win an amazing doorprize! Our Fall Market offers something for everyone.
Your Perfect Match awaits you at The London Animal Care Centre and The Catty Shack!
Bringing people and pets together www.accpets.ca
Let us make the Custom Made, Locally Built Shed Your Back Yard Deserves! Hand Crafted – Custom Built Mini Barns • Work Sheds • Play Houses Pool Change Rooms
Page 12 Ilderton and Area Villager • September 2024 C atty S hack THE London Animal Care Centre – Licensing, Bylaw Enforcement, Adoption and Lost/Found Services: 121 Pine Valley Blvd., (519) 685-1330 The Catty Shack: 756 Windermere Rd., (519) 432-4572
Since 1974 10055 Carter Rd.
To advertise here, please contact Tami@villagerpublications.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs