It's been at least 40 years since we've been able to burn leaves. As a child, it was one of those wonderful rituals of autumn: the smell of leaves burning, watching the flames. . .choking on the smoke. Apparently, burning leaves was not good for the air quality---especially in a city like St. Louis which was seriously struggling with air pollution.
When I started thinking about burning leaves, I thought of my favorite fall story in my school reader Friends and Neighbors. (double click on the page to read the story---back arrow will bring you back to this page)
I do have to say that this neighborhood was obviously more affluent than mine---No one hired someone to do yard work! (OK, we have hired help now, but no one in my 1940-50's neighborhoods did)
Hmm, Dad hires Zeke who then cons all of the children to help him rake? Was Zeke's real name "Tom Sawyer?"
That was the BEST part---he baked potatoes in the leaves! How fun would that be! Not only did I not have parents who could hire someone to rake their leaves, I had parents who wouldn't let us play with the fire or put potatoes in the fire to roast! Every year, I begged them and every year they just rolled their eyes. . . even when I dug out my book and showed them it could be done. Seriously, doesn't this look like a fun neighborhood?! There's even a kid with a stick playing in the fire!
I also like stomping through the leaves, but Mom said it made my shoes dirty. . .
To avoid any copywrite issues---all of these images were from:
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