PLAYING BASEBALL, BADMINTON AND BASKETBALL

On a fine spring evening, after the chores were completed, many of the young people would assemble in one of our pasture fields for a game of baseball. They had no proper bases, balls, or even uniforms. Some were wearing rubber boots, but that did not bother them. They were only interested in playing ball, so the boots were not a distraction. There was always some arguments involved because they had no referee. However the good outweighed the bad and the fun and laughter continued to exist.

At the same time, our children kept an eye on the barn door, to see if their father was done of the chores. When he did appear, they quickly threw the ball in his direction, and he responded in his fatherly way.

Joe would bat the ball out into the field for them, while they played a game known as 500. They were delighted with his expertise, and thought that he would have been a real “Babe Ruth” had he been given the chance to play ball professionally. He could curve the ball through the air, and drive it out of sight. The children stood in awe as they watched the ball disappear into the distance.

It was such a delight to hear the children cheering when someone scored a goal. Sometimes they were carried away when a home run was in progress, and jumped up and down, as they waited for the ball’s landing. Playing ball with the Blue Jays would not have given them any more satisfaction.

When the sun began to fade into the west, and darkness was upon them, the children from the neighborhood left for home cheering if they were winners, or booing if their opponents won the game. At the same time, they were making plans to return the next evening for more fun.

After the baseball season was over, the badminton rackets appeared and the children became alive with enthusiasm. It was now late in the spring, and the hay would be depleted in the barn loft, so it became a court for the badminton players to use.

The barn loft measured thirty-three by seventy feet, and was equipped with groven tongue boards. It was like having a gym in your own back Yard. The boys would set up a net, and using the rackets and birdies, played for hours. The children in the neighborhood joined them to participate in

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