They had dressy aprons for company and the old rough-and-tough work apron, often made of feed sack material.

I think perhaps this story I received from Vickie Miller today just has to be that feed sack one.

“The History of Aprons”

I don’t think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of grandma’s was to protect the dress underneath. Because she had so few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material. It also served as a pot holder for removing hot pans from the oven and was wonderful for drying children’s tears or cleaning dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over a hot wood stove. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company came up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that ‘old-time apron.’

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don’t think I ever caught anything from an apron.

Thanks loads, Vickie. How well I remember, an apron was always on gift lists, Christmas and birthdays.

Love you, and God bless.

Aunt Norie, P.O. Box 265, Tonganoxie 66086; auntnorie@att.net.