The next day, he came in and reported on the gully. He had the cover made. We still didn't know what it was.

The last thing was the "paint job."

Still, we couldn't figure it out. What had to be plimmed? What had to have paint?

After three days, he said, "I got her finished. She's out on the brudge."

That meant the "bridge," the steps outside the back door.

He said, "Come out and see what you think."

We nearly knocked each other down, getting out to the brudge. Lo and behold, what should be there, but a water barrel!

That was essential. Everybody had to have their water barrel. This water barrel would be kept filled. In the summertime it would be out of doors. Then it would be moved in on the steps. Then as it got colder, it would be moved into the back porch.

When it got cold and everything would freeze out there, it would be moved to the corner of the kitchen.

This was the gully.

He said, "My son will see that it is full all the time. You won't have to worry."

That was true enough. He used to come and chop our wood for us. He would bring the water and fill the gully. I could always depend on him.