DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Adelia M. Hoyt memoir and photographs

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8 UNFOLDING YEARS
clothing. We had many simple pleasures - reading aloud evenings, playing games such as checkers, dominoes, fox and geese, and puzzles of which I learned to be very fond. We had visitors from town and our neighbors often dropped in. 
My Uncle Sam visited us once or twice a year when on his way to and from western Iowa where he had some interest in land. His coming was an event for he always brought me candy of the fancy kind. I presume I was forbidden to eat much candy, but I do not remember having any desire for it. I loved to look at it, to play with it, read or have read to me the mottos on the hearts of peppermints, and look through the lovely transparency of the rock crystal candy balls. What delight there was in the chocolate mouse and bright colored gum drops! This kind of entertainment usually lasted me from one visit to the next. 
When my sister Mary married she and her husband, Otis West, began housekeeping in Cedar Falls, where he was to study law. In November before I was nine, their first and only child, a daughter named Nettie, was born. I well remember the time. Mother was with them for several days leaving sister Emma to look after my father and me. At that particular time Uncle Same paid us a surprise visit. Emma was quite equal to the occasion and knowing our uncle's fondness for pumpkin pie, she produced one to my great admiration. That evening, it having snows, we all piled into the sleigh and went down town to see the new baby. As son as Emma began earning money  teaching, little as it was, she generously shared it with us all. many little comforts found their way into the home. For me there were new hair ribbons, a new dress, a pair of pretty vases and a picture of two kittens which I thought adorable. 
Up to this time a lumber wagon, with high spring seat in front and a board seat or chairs in back, had been our only means of transportation. My little wooden rocker was often put in between for me. Then we acquired a one seated top buggy. Mother and I had been spending the day with a neighbor about a half mile away. It was early spring but still cold and gray. Late in the afternoon, father drove up after us with the

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8 UNFOLDING YEARS clothing. We had many simple pleasures - reading aloud evenings, playing games such as checkers, dominoes, fox and geese, and puzzles of which I learned to be very fond. We had visitors from town and our neighbors often dropped in. My Uncle Sam visited us once or twice a year when on his way to and from western Iowa where he had some interest in land. His coming was an event for he always brought me candy of the fancy kind. I presume I was forbidden to eat much candy, but I do not remember having any desire for it. I loved to look at it, to play with it, read or have read to me the mottos on the hearts of peppermints, and look through the lovely transparency of the rock crystal candy balls. What delight there was in the chocolate mouse and bright colored gum drops! This kind of entertainment usually lasted me from one visit to the next. When my sister Mary married she and her husband, Otis West, began housekeeping in Cedar Falls, where he was to study law. In November before I was nine, their first and only child, a daughter named Nettie, was born. I well remember the time. Mother was with them for several days leaving sister Emma to look after my father and me. At that particular time Uncle Same paid us a surprise visit. Emma was quite equal to the occasion and knowing our uncle's fondness for pumpkin pie, she produced one to my great admiration. That evening, it having snows, we all piled into the sleigh and went down town to see the new baby. As son as Emma began earning money teaching, little as it was, she generously shared it with us all. many little comforts found their way into the home. For me there were new hair ribbons, a new dress, a pair of pretty vases and a picture of two kittens which I thought adorable. Up to this time a lumber wagon, with high spring seat in front and a board seat or chairs in back, had been our only means of transportation. My little wooden rocker was often put in between for me. Then we acquired a one seated top buggy. Mother and I had been spending the day with a neighbor about a half mile away. It was early spring but still cold and gray. Late in the afternoon, father drove up after us with the