Surrey with the fringe on top!

I remember when I was about 8 or so and we lived in Trout Run, PA. Our house was on Mill St. and we played in the street all the time. Everyone had a car but no one drove very fast and always looked out for the kids in the street.

Around noon one day, I was outdoors and would you believe, down the street came a horse and buggy (surrey with the fringe on top). Now just who would that be. It stopped in front of our house and of course by this time everyone was outdoors and my Mother was fussing over the couple who got down from the buggy. It was "Gammy & Grandpap" our Mother's parents. We were thrilled to have them come for a visit. In a buggy, no less. The buggy had a piece of canvas over the top of it for sunshade and contained two seats. This was awesome. They stabled the horse in our barn and Gammy & Grandpap came in and we visited to the wee hours. They left the next day with invitations to my sister, Carol and I, to come for a summer visit. We begged to go when school was out. My parents took us to Cascade (about 10 miles away) to Gammy & Grandpap's farm home to spend a week that summer. It was a wonderful week.

We had packed our best dresses and play clothes, even though I just knew there would never be anywhere to go way out here in the back of beyond. You couldn't even see the nearest neighbor. Gammy, Carol and I walked through the woods to the nearest farm, Frymire's, and we visited with her. She had been my first grade school teacher and she was pleased to see Carol and I.

That Saturday night Gammy told us to get our dresses out and dress up as we were going to a party. An Ice Cream Social!! I had never been to one so this would be a treat. I asked how we were going to get there and they told me we would take the horse and buggy to the school house about three miles away and you wouldn't believe how many people were there. We had more home made ice cream than anyone could eat. The ice cream was all home made and kept on ice. There were also cakes and pies to be had. It was wonderful. We played with other kids - some were from when we went to school there. ( That is another story.)

We finally got ready to go and since it was already dark, Uncle Fred and Grandpap had to light the lantern's to see the road home. As we started out the horse did not want to go across the bridge, so Uncle Fred had to get out and lead him across the bridge. It was very dark by this time and you could barely see the road. This was a scary trip back to the farm, in the dark and just a horse and buggy. But what fun!!