Humor ~ Julie Lence

Most of us enjoy a good laugh. Clutching your sides… tears seeping from the corners of your eyes… a hiccup or two; laughter is good for the soul. This month, let loose a few giggles at unique phrases and housekeeping/life hints from the olden days.

Phrases:

Airin’ the lungs: cussin’

Blow-pipe: a rifle

Fodder-forker: Cowboy jargon for a hay hand or farmer

Educated thirst: a man who drinks champagne or fancy mixed drinks

Greasy-sack ride: a group of riders sent to scour the country-side for stray cattle without a chuck wagon

Huckydummy: baking powder bread with raisins

Idaho brain storm: a twister

Paint the tonsils: to drink whiskey

Ranny: a top hand

Scratching gravel: climbing a steep bank on horseback

Housekeeping and life:

Early rising is one of the secrets to successfully managing, but never exit the bed from the left side. It’s unlucky.

While painting, keep the room ventilated, and eat acid fruits.

If you have clothing that smells bad, bury items in the ground for a day or two

A good husband will eat a cold dinner without complaint on wash day

When at the butcher, be a good judge of chicken. If the butcher doesn’t twist the wing in front of you, do it yourself & pork is unfit for female food. Never trust your stomach with its digestion.

Once must always be pleasant at basket socials, even if the one bidding on your basket is an oaf.    

Blow in the ear to remove a foreign object from the throat.