Walking to the Outhouse

My memory of the outhouse is using great-grandma's cape. My mother kept the cape hanging in a corner of the kitchen, to be used by all members of our family for our trips to the outhouse. 

Great-grandma's cape was a heavy plush fabric with heavy lining with a large hook and eye at the neckline. It was so warm to wear on the walk to the outhouse, but what I remember most is that it draped around my body completely, making me snuggly warm as a queen on her throne. 

Mrs. Fred H.F. Duin
George, Iowa

Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.