Squak Valley: by Bessie Wilson Craine (page 12-14 from original book)

Bessie stays with the Davenports We had another neighbor not so far away as the Bush's, just through our orchard. They didn't have any little children, so I didn't bother them much. Just one little girl quite a lot older than I. I remember one time when I was forced onto them. Mother wanted to go to White River Valley for several days! ! was to stay with the Davenports. One night was enough. I slept with Goldie. During the night I got to worrying about Father being home alone and how he must miss me. ! got to crying and they couldn't stop me. About midnight Mr. Davenport got up, pulled his pants over his night shirt and took me home. I bet Father was glad to see me. Anyway I stayed home with him and we got along fine.

Pet the dog

One day Father and I went to the Anderson ranch about a mile away. While he was stating his business, Mr. Anderson told me to crawl under the house--maybe I would find something I would like. This I did and came out all dirt and covered with cobwebs; but I had a darling little shepherd puppy in my arms. From that moment on, I loved her. She was something all my own. I could hardly wait until I got home to show Mother, who was quite perturbed to find the puppy was a female. This was no concern of mine. All I knew was that she was something to play with. I named her Pet, and from that time on she was my constant companion. I would even sneak her to bed with me where Mother would not find her, snuggled in my arms, when she gave me my final "tuck in" for the night.

Milking Cows

Father could not afford a hired man, so Mother would get up at four o'clock to milk her half of the string of cows. She was afraid to leave me in the house alone. I was bundled up and carried to the barn where I was propped up on a stool, behind the cows, to finish my morning nap. I hesitate to mention that I got well splattered. When Mother finished, I was taken to the house, cleaned up, and Mother got breakfast while Father fed the stock.

Selling Butter

At that time the Valley was producing hops, pigs, potatoes, oats and butter which could be freighted over the New Castle Hill, or taken the long way across Lake Sammamish, through the Slough and across Lake Washington.

Father didn't have hops, and as for the other produce, about all he could raise was feed for his own stock until he got a start; so butter was our marketable product. We had a large dairy where the milk was cooled, skimmed and churned. That was Mother's job--to work the butter by means of a big triangle tray, on legs, with a heavy paddle. She would work it up and down until all the buttermilk was squeezed out, then it was salted and pressed into pound molds and wrapped in butter paper. These were packed into a very heavy wooden firkin. When enough had accumulated to pay for the trip, Father would take it over the New Castle Hill, across Lake Washington to Seattle. He never came home with much money. It was usually spent on things that were needed for the farm-anything from a scythe to a plow. These were very necessary implements in those days. The fields had to be plowed and the grass cut with a scythe. The men were very adept at this. They could lay the grass in nice even windrows across the meadow. Later to be tossed with a pitchfork to dry, then stacked in a haycock to be hauled to the barn.

History Repeats itself?

Father was away on one of these trips to Seattle. Mother and I were alone on the farm. Two Indian braves came to door and asked for Bob. Like a flash, it came to Mother's mind that history was to repeat itself and they had come to massacre us. She told them that Bob was at the barn. As soon as they were out of sight, she took me piggyback and started through the orchard to Davenport's. When the Indians didn't find Father, they took out after Mother at a dog trot. When she would run faster, they would trot faster. When she came within yelling distance of Davenport's she let out a good lusty "Help." Mr. Davenport came out and sent the bewildered Indians on their way. All they wanted was to ask Bob about a job. Mother, very meekly, took me by the hand and walked me back home.
 
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