ONCE AGAIN I AM JOTTING A STORY.
WAY BACK FROM THE PAST.
IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY.
HOW TIME GOES BY SO FAST.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT OUR BATH NIGHT.
WHEN I WAS JUST A KID.
ALL NIGHT LONG BOILING WATER.
THIS IS WHAT MOTHER DID.
KETTLES ON THE COAL FIRE.
COPPER SET POT SHE HAD TO FILL.
GO OUTSIDE AND GET THE BATH.
OFF THE WALL NEXT TO WINDOW SILL.
WHEN THE WATER WAS BUBBLING AND BOILING.
SHE WOULD FILL THE BATH NEAR TO THE TOP.
GET OUT A PIECE OF LINOLEUM.
AND ONTO THE FLOOR SHE WOULD DROP.
THE BATH WAS MADE OF TIN BACK THEN.
THREE FOOT OVAL OR OBLONG IN SIZE.
BUT IT WAS SOMETHING SHE WAS REAL KEEN ON.
WE WERE CLEAN AND SHONE WITH PRIDE.
ME AND MY SISITERS THEN LINED UP.
ALL FOUR OF US IN A ROW.
FOR OUR TURN WAITING ALL TO BE SCRUBBED.
ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.
I REMEMBER SHE USED ON US LIFEBOUY SOAP.
NO PERFUME OR ANYTHING AS SUCH.
SHE COULDN'T AFFORD THOSE LUXERIES.
FAMILIES DIDN'T HAVE MUCH.
SHE WOULD THEN WASH US ALL REAL THOROUGH.
RUBBING OUR HEADS LIKE MAD.
THEN TOOTH COMBED OUR HAIR AFTERWARDS.
WINDING IT UP IN RAGS.
THIS WAS TO MAKE OUR RINGLETS.
OR OUR HAIR SO CURLY AND NICE.
OR SHE'D PUT IT IN PLAITS IF WE WANTED.
SO WE DIDN'T GET ANY HEAD LICE.
ONE AT A TIME SHE'D THEN DRESS US.
OUR NIGHTIES IRONED AND ALL WARM.
THESE HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE FIREGUARD.
TO KEEP US FROM FLAMES AND HARM.
THEN HOME FROM THE COAL MINE MY FATHER WOULD COME.
BLACK AS THE ACE OF SPADE.
HIS DINNER PUT OUT ON THE TABLE.
IN AN EARLIER HOUR MUM HAD MADE.
AFTER HE'D EATEN THE MEAL THEN.
WE SISTERS WENT INTO THE ROOM.
MOTHER WOULD THEN HOT THE BATH UP.
FOR FATHER TO GO IN SOON.
WHEN DAD WAS ALL CLEAN AND SPOTLESS.
HE WOULD SIT ME UPON HIS KNEE.
AS I WAS THE YOUNGEST OF ALL THE FOUR.
SO HIS BABY HE USED TO CALL ME.
HE WOULD THEN TELL US ALL AN OLD STORY.
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MY SISTERS ALL GATHERED ROUND.
EXCITED WE SAT THERE IN SILENCE.
NOT A WORD OR ANY SOUND.
WHEN MOTHER HAD CLEANED THE BATH OUT.
AND PUT THE LINOLEUM AWAY.
HE WOULD GO HANG THE BATH ON THE NAIL AGAIN.
READY FOR NEXT BATHEING DAY.
HE'D PLEASANTLY THEN SHOUT COME ON GIRLS.
UP THE DANCERS WE'LL GO.
THIS MEANT THE STAIRS UP TO OUR BEDS.
VERY TIRED HE'D FOLLOW UP SLOW.
ALL TUCKED IN AND GIVEN A KISS.
GOODNIGHT AND GODBLESS WE DID SAY.
HE WOULD THEN ANSWER YES MY LITTLE LAMBS.
ALL YOU THANK GOD FOR THIS DAY.
HARD TIMES BUT HAPPY WE'D DROP OFF TO SLEEP.
ME THINKING I KNOW WE ARE POOR.
BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LOVE IN OUR HOME.
THE BEST GIFT OF ALL I'M SURE.
AND EVEN TODAY I THINK YOU'LL AGREE.
HOW LOVELY IT IS TO SEE.
CHILDREN ALL BATHED AND CUDDLY AND WARM.
AS ME AND MY SISTERS THREE.
THE TIN BATH MIGHT HAVE BEEN UGLY.
HARD WORK FOR MOTHER AND DAD.
BUT IT KEPT US ALL SO SPOTLESS AND CLEAN.
IT'S THE BEST THING THEY EVER HAD.
MYDAD USED TO SAY TO US DAILY.
IN A HUMBLE SORT OF A WAY.
BE THANKFUL FOR THESE SMALL MERCY'S
IV'E REMEMBERED IT TO THIS DAY.
SO SIXTY YRS ON AND DOWN THE LINE.
I'M WRITING AGAIN WITH PRIDE.
ABOUT OUR GOOD "OLD FASHIONED TIN BATH".
WHICH HUNG ON A NAIL OUTSIDE
HA HA I CAN LAUGH NOW.
ASTORIASAND
