Root Cellar — A room or large hole dug into the ground used for food storage during pioneer times. A root cellar kept food cool and fresh for long periods of time before refrigerators were invented.
TIMBER CULTURE ACT: An 1870s weather hypothesis suggested that growing timber increased humidity and perhaps rainfall. Plains country residents urged the Federal Government to encourage tree planting in that area, believing trees would improve the climate. Also, 1870 government land regulations dictated that home seekers in Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota could acquire only 320 acres of land. To encourage tree planting and increase the acreage open to entry, Congress passed the Timber Culture Act in 1873, declaring that 160 acres of additional land could be entered by settlers who would devote forty acres to trees. Some 10 million acres were donated under this act, but fraud prevented substantive tree growth. The act was repealed in 1891.
WRISTLET - A small bag with a thin strap intended to dangle from the wrist
DRIED APPLESAUCE - Put 1 quart dried apples to soak. Let stand two hours. Pour off water; put in earthen vessel, cover with water, Boil slowly and add hot water as needed; when nearly done slice one lemon in, not allowing seeds to get in, and sweeten to taste.
GREENHORN - n. An inexperienced or immature person, especially one who is easily deceived.
A newcomer, especially one who is unfamiliar with the ways of a place or group.
PUSS IN THE CORNER GAME:
All that is needed to play this game is four corners (four trees will work) and five players. Four of the players stand, one in each corner. The fifth player or "pussycat" stands in the middle. The pussycat says, "Puss, Puss wants a corner," and all of the players, including the pussycat, hurry to a different corner. Whoever does not make it to a corner before they are all taken becomes the pussycat. You can play this game with more than 5 players; just be sure that there is one more player than there are corners or trees!
BEL'FRY, n. [L. belfredus.] 1. Among military writers of the middle age, a tower erected by besiegers to overlook the place besieged, in which sentinels were placed to watch the avenues, and to prevent surprise from parties of the enemy, or to give notice of fires,by ringing a bell. 2. That part of a steeple,or other building, in which a bell is hung, and more particularly, the timer work which sustains it.
cravat
CRAVAT, n. A neck-cloth; a piece of fine muslin or other cloth worn by men about the neck.
Little House Vanity Cakes from the Little House Cookbook
Ingredients: 2 lbs Lard (for frying) 1 large egg 1 pinch Salt 1/2 cup Flour Powdered sugar
Preparation: Use large fryer to produce depth of 3", heat lard to 350* F. In bowl beat egg & salt for a full minute. Beat in 1/4 cup flour, a tablespoon at a time, until batter is too stiff for beating but too soft to roll out. Cover a dinner plate with flour. With a teaspoon, spoon batter onto plate in 6 separate portions. With knife turn each over to flour, then drop into hot fat. Aim for limp but compact dough mass that will not string out when it leaves the knife. Cook each cake for at least 3 1/2 minutes, during which time it may need help in turning. If it darkens too quickly, fat is too hot. Drain cakes on paper & dust with sugar.
SCHOOL VS. EDUCATION (Meanings of according to the Webster's 1828 Dictionary)
SCHOOL, n. [L. schola; Gr. leisure, vacation from business, lucubration at leisure, a place where leisure is enjoyed, a school. The adverb signifies at ease, leisurely, slowly, hardly, with labor or difficulty. I think, must have been derived from the Latin. This word seems originally to have denoted leisure, freedom from business, a time given to sports, games or exercises, and afterwards time given to literary studies. the sense of a crowd, collection or shoal, seems to be derivative.] 1. A place or house in which persons are instructed in arts, science, languages or any species of learning; or the pupils assembled for instruction. In American usage, school more generally denotes the collective body of pupils in any place of instruction, and under the direction and discipline of one or more teachers. Thus we say, a school consists of fifty pupils. The preceptor has a large school, or a small school. His discipline keeps the school well regulated and quiet. 2. The instruction or exercises of a collection of pupils or students, or the collective body of pupils while engaged in their studies. Thus we say, the school begins or opens at eight o'clock, that is, the pupils at that hour begin their studies. so we say, the teacher is now in school, the school hours are from nine to twelve, and from two to five. 3. The state of instruction. Set him betimes to school. 4. A place of education, or collection of pupils, of any kind; as the schools of the prophets. In modern usage, the word school comprehends every place of education, as university, college, academy, common or primary schools, dancing schools, riding schools, &c.; but ordinarily the word is applied to seminaries inferior to universities and colleges. What is the great community of christians, but one of the innumerable schools in the vast plan, which God has instituted for the education of various intelligences? 5. Separate denomination or sect; or a system of doctrine taught by particular teachers, or peculiar to any denomination of christians or philosophers. Let no man be less confident in his faith - by reason of any difference in the several schools of christians - Thus we say, the Socratic school, the Platonic school, the Peripatetic or Ionic school; by which we understand all those who adopted and adhered to a particular system of opinions. 6. The seminaries for teaching logic, metaphysics and theology, which were formed in the middle ages, and which were characterized by academical disputations and subtilties of reasoning; or the learned men who were engaged in discussing nice points in metaphysics or theology. The supreme authority of Aristotle in the schools of theology as well as of philosophy - Hence, school divinity is the divinity which discusses nice points, and proves every thing by argument. 7. Any place of improvement or learning. The world is an excellent school to wise men, but a school of vice to fools.
SCHOOL, v.t. 1. To instruct; to train; to educate. He's gentle, never school'd, yet learn'd. 2. To teach with superiority; to tutor; to chide and admonish; to reprove. School your child, and ask why God's anointed he revil'd.
EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.
