The H ouse Warming

When a new house was built it was “warmed”: this was a kind of dedication. The neighbours would gather and congratulate the own- ers, and spend a social evening. This usually took the form of a

This picture is the residence of the Superintendent of the Experimental Farm, Charlottetown, and is inserted through the favour of Superintendent Dr. J. A. Clark.

dance and supper. This being an infrequent occasion in any one fam-

ily in the settlement it seemed to justify a little more freedom than ordinary merry-making.

Father and my older brothers built a new frame house; it was probably the first frame house built in the settlement. It was a rare occasion when we left the old log house and moved into this fine new one. I was in high glee and helped all I could to move in. We had things in. place before night. The neighbours would. not occupy a new house without a housewarming. The family were all at home and we were enjoying the evening and putting the finishing touches on the arrangements. The floors were smooth and everything looked nice. The new wood smelled sweet and our voices sounded clearer than

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