Something for Everyone at the General Store

Getting to the general store wasn't always easy. The early county roads weren't paved. They were often muddy and full of ruts. It made for a very bumpy or messy ride. It could take a good part of the day to get to the general store and back. But a trip to the general store was something everyone in the family looked forward to. Father came to buy tools and building supplies to fix the barn and maybe a new shaving brush if he had any money leftover. Mother came to buy spices, coffee, and trade some fresh eggs for buttons. She wants to fix up her best dress with new buttons that she heard came in from France. The children came to try on new boots for walking to school, while Grandpa is along to buy a pair of reading glasses. Grandma came too, to buy a better ink pen and ink well. She spends her evenings writing letters back home telling everyone about Kalamazoo.