ARIZARD-L Archives

Archiver > ARIZARD > 2002-03 > 1016411864


From: "Vera Reeves" <>
Subject: [ARIZARD-L] Off Subject - jeanp
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 18:38:07 -0700
References: <003b01c1ce12$fdab9c20$93bd9cce@mshome.net>


> Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man
> of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then
> all the other sons and men, then the women and finally
> the children-last of all the babies. By then the water was
> so dirty you could actually lose someone in it-hence the saying,
> "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

Jean have you never been there ?

When we were little here in Baxter County we had to carry the water from the
creek. Most of the time it was up hill. I don't remember in what order our
father got his bath but the baby was before the older children and I don't
remember why but I seem to be last. This may have been because mama started
with the baby and work backwards and the oldest child was last. I remember
being to big for the old wash tub and having to set in the tub with my feet
and legs hanging out and then stand up to wash them. After we moved to Tulsa
in 1949 I no longer had to bathe this way. By the way this bath was taken in
the kitchen near the stove. It the weather was nice enough you took your
bath at the creek. Either in the creek or in the tub behind a bush, so you
didn't have to carry that water. Of coarse we were kids so who cared?

I could see where that saying came from. That water did get pretty dirty
after 3 or 4 kids bathed.

Vera

This thread: