Memories of Childhood
by John Appleby

~ 22 ~

The Co-op was also a source of supply of children's boots and clothing. All the boys wore boots to "support the ankles". We would be taken down to see the boot shop man, whose name was Fred Dunne. It was with great joy that we would cast off these same boots at the onset of summer, and don our sandshoes. We felt as light as feathers, full of energy, agility and vigour. In Northumberland, summers being what they were, we even cast off our woollen jerseys at times.

Just a little aside - from all these delivery tradesmen's nags, the droppings were prized for manuring the crops, and there would be an eager rush with pail and shovel, to retrieve steaming mounds opposite our gates. To add to the parade of horsedrawn carts, I must include the ragman with his goldfish in exchange for old clothes. The knife grinder wheeled his barrow, which, when upended, was used as a bench with a foot-treadle operated grindstone, to strike showers of sparks. Mam would buy the tea from Ringtons, whose high two wheeled carts in lime green and black elegance would stop in front street each Saturday morning. A uniformed driver wearing a peaked cap would deliver each different grade of tea in attractive different coloured bags.

© 2003 John Appleby, New Zealand

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