Aunt Mary's Memoirs: XVI

Occasionally we played in the barn. Hay was stacked high; there was an opening or chute by which the feed was thrown down to the cattle below and this formed a ladder-like structure. We could climb up this and jump in the soft straw. Of course, this was not allowed because it was dangerous but we did sneak a few hours of fun now and then.
My father would never allow tramps to spend the night in the barn as he knew of too many fires resulting from granting this privilege where the stables, barns, livestock and sometimes the houses of farmers were totally destroyed by a carelessly lighted pipe or cigarette. He would send these hoboes to the house for a hot meal and then they must be on their way.