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THE
FLOUR SACK
   
BY
COLLEEN B. HUBERT
IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,
WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS
WERE STAVED,
WHEN WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS
RAGS,
AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR
BAGS,
AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WERE WAY
OUT BACK,
A VERSATILE ITEM WAS THE FLOUR SACK.
PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S AND GOLD
MEDAL, TOO
STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE
AND BLUE.
THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;
THE FLOUR EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE
SWEPT.
THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A SACK
THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.
THE SACK COULD BE FILLED WITH
FEATHERS AND DOWN,
FOR A PILLOW, OR ‘TWOULD MAKE A NICE
SLEEPING GOWN.
IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL
BAG,
OR BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A
NAG.
IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,
THAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK.
BLEACHED AND SEWN, IT WAS DUTIFULLY
WORN
AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF
ADORNED.
IT WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND
SLIPS.
AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED
STRIPS.
SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE
HOUSE OR SHACK,
FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR
SACK!
AS A STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE
JUICE,
TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD
USE,
AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A
BREAK,
TO HELP MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,
AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A
CRACK,
WE USED A STURDY, COMMON FLOUR SACK!
AS DISH TOWELS, EMBROIDERED OR NOT,
THEY COVERED UP DOUGH, HELPED PASS
PANS SO HOT,
TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,
AND FOR MEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO SEED.
THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK
THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!
WE POLISHED AND CLEANED STOVE AND
TABLE,
SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO
GABLE,
WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED
POST,
MADE COSTUMES FOR OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)
AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.
FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR
SACK!
SO NOW MY FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU
AS CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN DO,
”BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMER'S GLUE
AND PAPER TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?”
TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T
LACK,
”GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR
SACK!”
(Feed
sacks too!! Remember???)
Most all
these girls'dresses were made from Flour Sacks...
[NOTE: This was copied from a recently-circulated
e-mail.]
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