My Early Years - Ilona Toko

An essay for English Class - Grade B+

My Early Years by Ilona Toko

Ilona Toko

MY EARLIER YEARS 

   I don't remember very much about the first few years in New Ipswich. I don't even remember moving from New Jersey and you'd think that such an important event would be outstanding in my memory. The only thing I do recall is that I spoke no English. The reason for this was that we had been living with my maternal grandparents who spoke mostly Finnish. 

   My first friend on moving to Smithville was Bev Thompsоп who lived just down the road. Probably a small part of my English education came through contact with her. 

   The year before I went to school was one to remember. This was the year I was a marshal along with my sister at graduation. This was the first summer I went to camp, and this was the year three little girls from Smithville gave the boys from high  school. a one day vacation(?). 

   I'll take them one by one from the beginning. 

    I remember Laurine and I walking down the aisle in stiff white dresses with red sashes and red and white batons, in front of the graduating class. It took a lot of preparations and I remember especially the agony I went through when boys from school came after me for rehearsal and when I had to go Into the first grade room after my sister. I was never so petrified in my whole life.

   It was a Finnish camp I want to and I guess I was too young to be homesick or maybe it was having my sister with me. We had classes in the morning that were conducted in Finnish and we had swimming and crafts and the usual things you do at camp. Actually there was no time to be homesick. 

   The third episode that is very clear in my mind that year was the day three little girls decided to go and have a real good look at all the chickens in the chicken-house. Unfortunately our dog tagged along. The dog jumped into an open window and we vainly tried to get him out by throwing stones at the dog. The next minute the place was in utter chaos. The dog was running around barking, the chickens were piling up on top of each other in every corner and were suffocating and those three little girls, Bev Thompson, my sister and myself were running home. The boys from Appleton were called out of classes to clean the chickens and get them ready to be sold because they wouldn't last very long and it would have taken one man many days to get the chickens all ready. 

   This was a time for carefree joy because, come autumn. I would have to go to school for the first time. 

   My first year at school was really a wonder. I think Just about every girl in the first grade was disputing with every other girl in the first grade. What an extraordinary way to start school. But the oddest thing happened in the second grade. Everyone completely exchanged best friends.

    Our second year was full of trips. We took one to the Fitchburg, Massachusetts Fire Department and also to the one in New Ipswich. Another interesting trip we took was to a dairy farm. All the trips were very worth while because I still remember them vividly. 

   In the fourth grade one outstanding thing that seems odd that I should remember is the globe. I don't know why I remember it, maybe because it was the only one of its kind that I had ever seen. It hung suspended from the ceiling and a rope along the wall would lower it when it was needed. Someone got hit on the head with it once ne it was coming down. 

   In the sixth grade we were real hellions. Our class received more lectures by Mr. Pare in one week than any other class got in a whole year. 

   That was the year one of our favorite teachers had to leave. We created a big disturbance about that. 

   This was my final year at Central School and the next fall I anticipated going to Appleton Academy. I remember leaving Central School that spring with mixed emotions. In that one step from elementary school to Junior High one seems to grow up so quickly. One minute you're playing tag or swinging and the next thing you know you're wearing lipstick and bringing homework home. 

   Junior High was certainly a change. I was confused, worried and feeling so grown up all at the same time. I received more detentions in my seventh grade than any other year at Appleton. I was so worried about my grades because I had no idea what the teachers expected of me and furthermore I not only had one teacher as in previous years but I had many. This was the greatest change and it took some getting used to.

Portrait

Undated portrait from the Burton Family albums which were donated by Dennis Gauvin. Google facial recognition identifies her as Diane Curtis.

Formulas

Stephen A. Thayer’s “One Hundred Formulas” was published in 1883. It contains recipes from everything from printing ink to pain killers. Was bread sold by weight? If so is this illegal?

James Roger diary entry

December 20, 1908 (Sunday)

Frost cloudy wind west blowing the snow at times very fine sunset affects.  Cloud crimson and purple with olive colored lines and blue sky above.  Mr. Peacock preached on the “Star in the East”. A good turn out and large choir.  2 extra pieces rendered by them.  David fixing Spofford’s furnace.  I wrote Alice, May & Hamish.  C.E. Topic Christ’s Message.  Mrs. Thayer leader 11 present.