"Rope, Straw, and Feathers are to Sleep on" Summary

This article interviews four women who recall their first beds. First, Mrs. Algie Norton describes her straw and feather beds from childhood. Made from rye straw or duck feathers, cloth was used to sew a "tick" or mattress, which was then filled yearly. In some cases, these ticks were laid on homemade bed frames, made from wood, with a rope bottom to provide mattress support. Mrs. Pearl Martin next describes her feather and straw beds, one of which she still owns. Weekly, Pearl empties the straw from the bed and allows it to lie in the sun. She also mentions owning two feather beds, one belonging to her mother, and one belonging to her husband's mother.

Next, Mrs. Gatha Nichols explains that her mother raised ducks and...