A little piece of childhood

Harnessing the pony for mass 1950,
Then there's a thing.

It was common to join Riley's jaunting cart to ride to mass. It was cold and draughty and squashed looking sideways at his feet. They wore well polished black shoes, Cherry Blossom.

But then on some summer Sundays the pony would be got from the acre field before the gate, the bridle fitted and the pony brought to the trap and put between the shafts while he and his aunt waited in the yard. The trap was neat and tidy and just fitted four but just carried three his aunt, Michael and himself. It was quite a jolting ride until the metalled road and he was sometimes privileged to be given the reins. That was on the way home where the pony knew the way.

It was tethered at  the gate and the aunt went with him to the appointed pew in the balcony. Perhaps Michael stood with the rest of the men outside the door entering at the last possible moment.

At the end of Mass over to the general store for bread and sometimes sugar and back to break our fast with eggs and rashers. Careful not to catch the wheel against the pillar into the yard. Oops.


JL Jan 11 11:39