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A. Varesano interviewing Anne Timko -1- 7/19/72 Tape 22-2

AV: So, what did the men do in the household? For example, young boys, what were they supposed to do?
AT: Well, usually bring in the coal, or little chores around the house, that was their line of work.
AV: Were the chorese of the boys different from the ones of the girls?
AT: Oh, yes, the boys would usually do the outside work, and the girls' was on the inside, do dishes or sweep or something like that, you know. Dust, that was the girls' work. It was different from the boys'.
AV: Did the boys tend the gardens?
AT: No, the older people usually used to do that. They weren't interested in that!
JT: (her son, Joh, speaking in the background) They was interested in girls!
AT: Oh, no. Not little boys, John!
JT: Oh, you don't know, there Mom!
AT: I guess I don't!
AV: So, did the boys have to go off to help their father chop wood?
AT: Ask my son. Joh, did you hear that one? Did the boys have to go and help their fathers chop wood? Tell 'em how you were choppin' wood. Oh, I don't know how old he was, about how old were you at that time, John, do you remember? He was only a young boy yet, and Mike was a kid, I don't even think Mike was goin' to school yet. And John was choppin' wood, and Mike- Joe went up to help, and Mike was the younger one- he wanted to help, too. And he was choppin' the wood, and they were picking it up, you know, to put it in the woodshed. And as they were pickin' it up, and John swung the ax, and the ax flew off the handle, and hit Mike's head. Boy, did he have a gash in his head. Oh, my gosh, that was terrible. They often talk about it. But it wasn't John's fault, the handle just got loose, and the ax flew off the handle and caught him in the head. So they had to take him to the doctor, and he got, I don't know how many stitches he got into his head, because it was in Mike's hair, and you know, it was dangerous if he wouldn't had those stitches. That was the kid only had so many accidents. All serious ones! And one day he said to me, It has to be me, Mommy, it's always only me! It was him, he always got the most of everything. He was so unlucky.
AV: Did the boys have certain times that they had just to work, and then other times that they could play?
AT: No, they'd drop playin', they felt like doin' anything they were told, they would do it when they had their spare time. They weren't really, you know, say that, well you have to do your work. You'd tell them to do it, but still they'd go out to play first. And then they'd come back in to do it, if they thought of it. If they were pushed again. If they weren't pushed, they wouldn't do it.
AV: That's just like them!
AT: Yeah, And bring the coal down from the coal shed. Mine didn't like to bring it down. Then, my husband won't bring it either. Said he has kids, let them bring it. And I complained to my brother, and he said, You know what to do with them? He said, Let them go in bed, and when they're asleep, he said, get them up to go and get the coal. I says, Mike, I couldn't do anything like that. Well, that's the only way you're gonna teach them, he said, otherwisethey won't, they'll always forget! But I never did that with them, though. I'd go up and get it myself!
AV: So, your sons never had to get the coal from the back shed?
AT: Yeah, they'd bring it, they brought it on occasion, but most of the times they'd forget. You know, like children, like to go out and play, and they'd forget what their chores are, what they're supposed to do.