Soon after our return from Missouri I began talking of going to high school. Mamma needed to go to Douglass to care for Grandpa Parry living alone in big house 2 1/2 blocks from the high school. Earl decided he would like to go to high school. He would have been through high school if his parents had allowed him to go when he first finished 8th grade in the Valmont Country school east of Boulder. Papa would take us into Douglass Sunday P.M. then he and Uncle Jacob would be alone on farm until Friday evening, when Mamma, Earl and I would come out to farm for weekend We would do some baking, cleaning the house, and do the washing. Don't think Uncle Jake was very happy - so returned to Missouri where his friends and some cousins lived. So Papa was left alone. I will never forget the first half day. When we went for registration, algebra and English required. Ancient history and sewing my choice. Earl chose ancient history and manual training. He made the porch swing Otis has and the nice tray I have on my table. The old Douglass High building three stories high, we met on second story that first morning. When I came to stairs I was hurrying to keep up, lost balance and down the steps, several steps at a time and broke through glass in outside door. Several small cuts on face. Felt dizzy and Earl walked me home. So glad we didn't have to go to school that P.M. Maude Haver teacher for algebra. Mr. Godding for English and ancient history. Don't remember name of sewing teacher. I tried to teach one girl in my class to crochet but failed as she didn't pay attention to what I told her. I will not forget the first fire drill. Outside stairway was of iron work. I had never been on such a scary stair and I sure took a long time going down. Girls first. Had there really been a fire don't know what would have happened. Boys would have run past me or picked me up and carried the little scaredy-cat down. Next fire drill I did much better.
Earl and I did well in our studies and made grades high enough we seldom had to take the exams. At one end of summer party a farewell for a niece of Mrs. Vires. We were playing "Snap and Catch'em". Cousin Ray Parry and Olive Merrill were the small circle. Earl and I tried to run around them and dodge each other, I ran into Earl striking my throat on Earl's shoulder. I injured my throat so I spit blood for several months, and that spot has bothered me all these years, especially when I have a cold, a scab like formation in that spot which I cough up and spit out. One doctor said I broke a cartilage and nothing could be done. Has caused much distress. Had a number of colds that winter and missed several days of school, much to my mother's distress as she had always insisted on perfect attendance. So I was often in school - too sick to set up and study. No school nurses in country schools in those days or I would have been sent home.
I did a lot of crocheting for things I made in sewing, yoke with short sleeves for night-gown and camisole, insertion for ribbon at top of ruffle on petticoat, lace on pillow case, panties and three yards of lace on ruffle. Mamma had Mrs. Rhinesmith make three yards. Spider web and four webs to each scallop of lace. Later that three yards of lace was put on a beautiful drawn work dresser scarf, Aunt Lizzie Coppell had made and was used as piano scarf for many years. That scarf and lace are in bottom drawer of my dresser. Also made dresser scarf using the insertion to set two lengths of cloth together and at ends the sleeves (ripped flat) of camisole. Also made silk blouse and wool skirt. We also learned to make button holes and do careful patching, matching colors and pattern in garment to be patched.
Mamma often said because I was the youngest child and much younger then my sister and brother, that I was sent to take care of them in their old age, and therefore should never marry. Some how she changed her mind, decided Papa needed someone to help him on the farm, Earl and my father worked well together, so somehow it came about that Earl and I were engaged and he gave me my ring for Christmas 1916. We finished first year of high school, then Earl went home to his parents who had moved back to Boulder. Worked that summer, came back to Douglass, and we were married 18th of October, 1917. Soon afterward, Earl was drafted for World War I and went for physical. The doctor signed that he was married and needed to work on his father-in-law's farm as my father had double hernia and unable to do all the farm work. My cousin Ray Parry had married Olive Merrill shortly after Earl and I were married. Ray and Olive lived and farmed one of the Warner farms on Rock Creek but Earl and I lived with my father and mother and shared the work. 160 dry acres were plenty of work. Putting up hay, milking cows morning and night, separating cream from milk, feeding calves and hogs. Caring for chickens, going to creek to cut trees and bring home, to saw and split into wood to keep us warm in winter. Springtime meant planting a garden and sitting hens to raise a flock of chickens. Later I had an incubator and so could have more baby chicks to care for. Earl was a good mechanic and kept the binder and mowing machine and hay tools in good working order. Every spring manure from the winter feed lot was spread on the fields and plowed under. Would have some clover to plow under for nitrogen. Bees loved the clover and made nice white honey for biscuits and our bread.
I learned early to mix bread. We saved a bit of sponge for starter covered with sugar and set in cellar for next bake day. Had a cupboard in cellar for our home canned fruit, meat and vegetables. A table where we set food to keep cool for next meal. Crocks of milk set on cold floor and bins for Irish potatoes. Sometimes after a rainy spell water would come up in cellar and we would have to pump it out.