Annals of our ancestors; one hundred and fifty years of history in the ...

i62 ANNALS OF OUR ANCESTORS
were well bound and first-class in every way and gave us plenty
of winter reading, both interesting and profitable. Our mother
entertained us during her periods of rest by reading aloud to
us from the "Natural History."
Our brothers boarded at home, and sometimes brought
their chums to stay over Sunday with them, which filled the
house with youth and merriment. There were entertainments
at the close of each term; sometimes a play was given, sometimes
orations by the brightest and best of the Burritts, for
which the brass band from Newport barracks (a German
band) or Madame Rive's music class from the female college
just over the way furnished the musical features of the programmes.
I cannot forbear to note in passing the term
"female college," and to remark that in the days of which
I am now writing the term "female" designated all the public
or formal undertakings of womankind.
One of the bright days I remember was connected with
the experimental farm. The ground embraced in this farm
had been made very attractive — fields were laid ofi^; drives
and walks and landscape gardens with stream and rustic bridges
diversified the appearance of the place; nature and art joined
hands to beautify it. Investments had been made to bring
about these conditions, and in order to introduce all the people
about to the farm and school, a barbecue was announced at
which a young steer was to be cooked. At first they decided
to roast it, but later they thought it better to have it stewed
in large iron kettles. The day was ideal, being a little cloudy
in the morning, with a cool and refreshing breeze. It seems
almost strange to myself that I remember so well the very
atmosphere of that day in early September when the heat of
the season had passed. As we approached the grounds we
heard the roll of drums and the bugle call — the German Band
of Newport was in fine form, and all was going merrily as a
marriage bell. We had young visitors with us, Carrie and
Chesterfield Myer, full of life and the romance of youth.
Carrie was called the "Miami Valley Poetess" and was popularly
known, admired and loved throughout her county
(Warren). Chester was a bright young man who sometimes