ODE TO THE FLOUR SACK

Do you ever wonder as you look back,
'Bout that life-line of hard times, the flour sack?
At the corners we tugged and unravelled the string,
Then wound on a ball to be used in the spring.

Then plunged in cold water overnight to soak,
On the board we would scrub it with Fel's Naptha soap.
To erase printed colour of varying hue,
"Ogilvies Royal Household" in red and in blue.

Then sewn, and embroidered with colourful flowers,
Keeping happy hands busy for many long hours.
An edging we did, crocheting fine lace,
A gift one could treasure, a new pillow case.

With some dye, and some frills with rick-rack braid,
Many of the things our flour sacks made.
Blouses and slips and aprons to wear,
Bloomers to cover a cold derriere.

Tablecloths, curtains and tea towels no end,
And little rag dolls we made for our friends.
Six sewn together made a good sheet,
Tucked in at the bottom to cover cold feet.

Strong backing it made for a log cabin quilt,
We knew not the texture of satin or silk.
And for store-bought goods we never felt lack,
We made them all from a flour sack.

Written by Violet Carswell
Excerpted from "Talk Time Treasures".