Kerosene Lamps

My Grandmother’s sister lived out on Pounding Mill Branch, that is what it is still called. An old house, no electricity, but that was okay, we didn’t need it. We had the sun during the day and the kerosene lamps at night. Now we didn't use much kerosene because we went to bed when the sun went down, sometimes we would sit on the porch and swing if the moon was full. At around 6:30 we all got ready for bed and then at 4:30 AM we were up to the smell of breakfast. There were no street lamps or lights anywhere, when it was dark, you could not see your hand in front of your face so why stay up. The old heater had a little extra coal on it but the feather tick mattress was almost all the warmth you had. Each room had its own stove, so the flicker of the flame was all the light you had. It was good times and peaceful times also.