Aunt Mary's Memoirs: XXI

Living so far out in the country, away from the city streets, it was surprising the number of tramps, beggars and peddlers who would walk back the lane: brush salesmen, coffee and tea men, and also spice and ointment dealers found their way there to sell to the farmers' wives. As Pop went out every day he usually brought home the meat and extras we needed, and growing our own crops we were more or less self-sufficient. Mother shopped for some of our clothing in Manayunk at Fosters or Proppers department stores and she made most of the clothes for us girls herself. For larger items like coats, hats, a good dress, or shoes, and suits for the boys she would take a trolley from Manayunk and ride into town. She liked Strawbridges and Gimbels, and had good taste in her selections, with the result that she always dressed neatly and so did her children. We didn't get too many clothes but when we got new things they were good and were made to last.