The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress
underneath, but along with that, it served as a holder for removing hot
pans from the oven; it was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on
occasion was even used for cleaning out 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 old 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 the hot
wood stove. Chips and kindling-wood were brought into the kitchen in
that apron.
From the garden it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had
been shelled it carried out the hulls.
In the fall it was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the
trees.
When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much
furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out on the porch and waved her apron,
and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields for
dinner.
It will be a long time before anyone invents something that will replace
that old-time apron that served so many purposes.
-- author unknown
