Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

REPI'ORTS OF PIONEER IISTORICAL MEETINGS

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retary, Geo. W. Bristol; Treasurer, Peter Lowe, with a vice
president for each township in the county. Executive Committee: J. J. Tuttle, T. Densmore, Win. Cook.
The following poem was written by Elijah Woodworth, of Leslie,
then 92 years of age, and read by Mr. Russell.
THE OLD PIONEERS.
Well, yes, my friends, I guess I'll give a sketch
Of how we used to live in the days of the pioneer,
When we had for neighbors bears, wolves and deer;
The mosquito took an active part,
And the firefly lit up the dismal dark.
Our turnpike then was a cow path made
In a zigzag course where'er they strayed.
Our rapid transit to the nearest mart
Was through the forest with ox and cart;
We wended our way through the lofty trees,
Cut out our road wherever we pleased.
Our dwellings I must tell you about,How they were constructed, inside and out:
Our chimneys were not made of bricks,
But mud spread o'er a pile of sticks,
And he was accounted a lucky man
Who had a flat stone for hearth or jamb.
Leathern hinges on windows and doors,
All to match with the siding and floors.
With a box for a table we often did dine,
And this did a bedstead and table combine.
The pantry we had was made from long poles;
Our bedstead four sticks drove into some holes,
And with the slabs on the top the thing was complete,
And our sleep thereon most peaceful and sweet.
Our lamps, with which we subdued the dark,
Were flaming torches of hickory bark,
And he who aspired to more than that
Had a rag for a wick in a dish of fat.
Then no fashions had we to worry our mind,
No horrid pull-backs or long trails behind.