In February 1868 Great Grandpa Dotson, wife Martha, arrived in a section of, Texas, which was later known as Hearne, Texas. They brought with them their six children, three boys and three girls. Also all they owned - the slaves, animals (horses, cows, sheep and hogs), fowls (chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys and guineas), all the farm equipment: plows, shares, harnesses, etc.; the furniture and clothing.

In the midst of a regular forest of huge oak, elm and hickory trees they built a large four roomed log house - it even had halved logs for the floors. Across the whole front was a wide porch (known as a gallery) which also had a split log floor. This home was built a good two feet from the ground.

There was a "dug" well. It was dug with pick and shovel. It had an outside framework cover (several feet above ground). This had a top with two hinged lids (could be closed and nothing could get down into the water). There was a roller pulley hanging above, which had a large rope over it. The rope had a big wooden bucket on each end of it. When an empty bucket went down into the water, a full one was at the top (and vice versa). Someone had to manipulate this. The wooden bucket seemed to give flavor to the soft, cool water. This let each end of the rope have a bucket: as one went down to fill the other came to the top. A regular round bucket was used and usually it was of wood, which seemed to make the water taste better. 

Wild gourds grew on vines among the trees. Their seed pods were within a round (almost coconut shaped) pod at the end of a long hollow stem. This ball could have a side cut off and its insides scraped out and it became a dipper for these buckets of water. A great taste! Many people used these hollowed gourds within the home, especially in the kitchen area.

Uncle William and his wife Sallie stayed on and lived in their first place to stop-later known as the "Old Place". This was on his share of the combined property.  

Many tall trees were left around the house. Some of these had long rope swings. Lutie loved these for some of the older cousins would push her and she'd go up, up, up so very high! Pearl, who was nearer Lutie's age would stand in the same swing, with a foot on each side of Lutie. She could hold onto the rope (above Lutie's head). She would bend her knees as the swing went back, then straighten them (and push) as it came forward. The faster she'd push, the higher they would go. 'Twas known as "pumping" and didn't Lutie (as well as Pearl) love that? And it was another way to spoil a little girl, who loved to come and 'spend the night' at this home.  

Among Uncle William's children were Ollie, Lula, Daisy, Edna, Exa and Pearl with a brother Grover, being the youngest. He was a teasing clown-like person and was forever playing pranks on the whole Stewart family and they loved him dearly.

Once as a young boy, he'd had a bad dream and the "old boogerman" was about to get him. He waked and was sure this boogerman was hiding under his bed, stood up in bed so he could jump out and run to his mother. He stood and as he jumped his toe caught in the vest pocket of one of Uncle William's vests (bad been used as piecing in a patchwork wool top or quilt for the bed). He knew he'd been caught, so he let out a Comanche yell.

Once he sneaked up on Mama, who was milking a cow. He grabbed her on both sides and let out a yell. She pounced up and almost drowned him with her pail of milk. He was in school clothes so had to go back home and change.

This should have been a lesson for Grover! Many years later after WW I was over he'd come home, bought new civilian clothes but hadn't seen Mama. Newly "dressed up" (a blue serge suit) he slipped up on Mama and Tot who were at the wash tubs. Mama was wringing a big sheet as he hopped out and yelled "Boo". She wrapped this wet sheet around him!

"Cousin Ida! My new suit! It will shrink!" Still years later, as Jewel and Lutie sat in Palmos Cafe in Hearne, they saw Grover at the counter. Such fun as they had (as the three ate and reminisced). He'd recouped from pneumonia and said "If I ever get it again, I hope I die". He did both the very next year.

He was always thirsty after walking through the woods from the Old Place – by our home – to and from town. The bucket of drinking water was always low or empty and he had said, “If this house ever catches on fire the bucket will be the first thing to bum” .

Post Toasties was a new breakfast cereal so as he came in one; day, he announced “As I came I saw was-tasties building nest-testies on the post- toasties” (wasps building nests on posts).

Uncle William, who looked like Colonel Sanders of fried chicken fame, rode a horse and came by our home often.  He’d stop and visit.  It was he who named Fannie “Tot”.  He’d ask “How’s my little tot?”  And so her nickname became Tot. 

Lutie remembers Mama's ironing the "all over embroidered" white dresses for the family to go to a tabernacle meeting. As she sad-ironed the dress she'd hang it over a chair, near the fireplace so it might dry more thoroughly. Em came bouncing by, knocked a chair or two over. Several dresses received bums or scorched places. Lutie had never seen Mama cry before - but there were tears as she saved the dresses. Uncle William came by; Mama gave him samples of the dress materials; he stopped at "Easterwood's Mercantile" and bought the cloth for Mama. She remedied the dresses and the girls went to tabernacle the next day. 

Lutie remembers once (after Uncle William's death) Grover was told to herd their hogs into our corn patch. Neil was the renter that year. He saw the hogs, blew on the conch shell for Berry Lee to come; he gave her the gun! She was furious; rode a horse as near as she dared; slipped up on the hogs; let fly with both barrels of the gun. It knocked her down and scattered dead hogs all over the place.  

Lutie, Link and their three children bought the Hearne property many years later. Saw Gussie Reed, Edna Wilson, Lula Shields and Aunt Sallie at that time.  

Frances Cordelia Dotson Belcher was the owner of the property north and a bit west of "The Old Place". She was the one in the migration group that held all of them up in Biloxi, Mississippi when her baby, Ida Ann (Lutie's mother) was born. She ("Fannie") then rode side-saddle carrying the baby (in arms). Said 'twas smoother riding than in a wagon or buggy over the rough roads. Her horse carried two large over-stuffed saddle packets (presumably baby clothes but 'twas the cash for the whole move).  

She didn't divide her property until all six of her children were grown and Ida was given the acreage, later known as "The Little House" in this story.

Aunt Sue's (Cud Moseley), property joined Fannie's and extended into Hearne, where Aunt Georgia's (Tom Breedlove) connected and extended northward. Lutie is not sure but thinks Uncle Jack's (Aunt Kate) was north of this. It went beyond Elliott, Texas.

Lutie remembers the Stewart girls playing "hide and seek" at Aunt Sue's home, which had been newly carpeted. 'Twas the first wholly carpeted home Lutie had ever seen. Floors were wooden, so carpets were laid in nine foot strips and held down with sharp carpet tacks. These were somewhat like paper staples - very sharp and much longer. A bare foot with a carpet tack was no fun. Aunt Sue's home had hinged French windows which were half opened. It was a warm day and these girls really had been running and hiding (both inside and out) through these windows. Later Aunt Sue and Uncle Cud moved closer to the "Sand Hill" and will be spoken of in the story of "Sing".  

Aunt George (Uncle Tom) Breedlove were in a hill top home near where the Stewart's lived at a boarding house. They will be told of there.

Uncle Jack (Aunt Kate) had a huge peach orchard and she asked Mama to bring all the girls, her empty jars, etc. to can peaches. A boyfriend of Lutie's took the whole outfit to Aunt Kate's and they worked with peaches all day. Huge trees - many of them - too many peaches and lots of work! Lutie's little brothers climbed trees; the girls had other jobs. 'Twas a profitable day for everyone and the only time that Lutie remembers of having gone there.  

Uncle Jeemes (James) died before Lutie was born. His property joined Uncle William's on its northeast side and extended into the area, now known as Blackjack, where huge blackjack trees were numerous. His widow was Aunt Mollie (sister of Sallie - Uncle William's wife) so the children were double cousins. Lutie remembers Cousin Sam, who was the only redhead in this huge family. Lutie remembers Cousin Douglas and his wife (Autence Timmons); also the sister Cousin Fannie Nunley. Her husband, Adam Nunley, brought a wagon of produce to Heame on Saturdays. He would park it and sell from it during the day. Once he stopped by our home to invite Tot and Lutie to "go-spend the week" at his home. There was a daughter, Pearl, of Tot's age; then Emery; then Ethyl (who was Lutie's age) and Leonard. These five kids really had a ball. They took their shoes off and played "hide and seek" that evening - in the yard! There was no grass; the ground was clear but there was much shrubbery! What fun they had! Cousin Fannie came with brooms (made up of a wild stiff grass) and they were told to sweep the earth clean - from "way out and back up as you come". She was not going to let God see barefoot tracks on her yard, on Sunday morning!  

They, too, owned a "pump" organ where Pearl could play chords and they sang from one Hymnal. One song Ethyl refused to sing. She was sent from the room and she cried. When the others finished the song, she was told to sing it ~ - all five verses. Through tears and sobs she did it. Lutie shed tears (so did some of the others) but all sat quietly as she did as she was told.  

Lutie and Ethyl were sent to the field to tell Emery and Leonard to come home for dinner. They went and when the horses were unhitched from the plows, Lutie was hoisted behind Emery on his horse while Ethyl was put up behind Leonard. They were barefoot and, of course, were astride the horses; holding the boys, around their waists to keep from falling off.  

What a lecture they received: "Nice girls don't ride astride and nice girls don't put their arms around boys". Plenty of emphasis on the word "nice".  

Cousin Fannie was an excellent cook. She used only long bladed "butcher" knives - no small bladed ones! Once Tot said "You scare me with those big knives”. Cousin Fannie turned towards her - with a big knife in her hand. Tot ran down the Public Road (Highway) with Cousin Fannie and knife behind her. Tot was screaming but Cousin Fannie was laughing. They ran almost a half mile!

That whole area is full of members of "reorganized Latter Saint" people and the central meeting place has a very large arbor. This arbor is covered with leaves from the wild grapes and used for a "Tabernacle" - a meeting place during the summer. Mama took her family there each year and it was there they came to know their kith and kin.  

Aunt George Breedlove and Uncle Tom lived only one half block from us when we lived at the boarding house. She was one of Grandma's sisters and he was a one armed veteran of the Civil War having lost his right arm there. Nevertheless, he was quite a violinist and fiddler! He'd hold the instrument between his knees and tune it with his left fingers; put the bow between his knees and bend a bit forward swinging and fingering with his left hand. He played classical as well as "western" or country music, often singing songs for us. He'd sit on the porch and we'd perch like so many little birds on the steps. They had a son - Maston (a handsome man) who did not live in Hearne, but sometimes visited them.  

They had a daughter, Lula, who was Mama's favorite cousin. She married Gus Larkin and they had a family of girls: Gussie, Alva, Floy ("Baby"), Lillian ("Sissie"), and Lula ("Little Lula"). When the baby came, Cousin Lula was bleeding to death! Cousin Gus came for Mama who had a two week old baby (Jewel). They went and Cousin Lula asked Mama to take Lula and raise her. Lula was a blonde and Jewel was quite a brunette. Such a lovely twosome of babies and how we all worshipped the two. Little Lula stayed in our home until three years old when Cousin Gus came and took her. 'Twas a cold day and he'd brought lovely new (thin) clothes for her. She caught cold so Mama had to take her back for several months - until she was strong again. 

She and Jewel were classmates in school and when group pictures were made, they were always together, and snuggled like a couple of kittens.  

One time when Mama had all of Grandma's sisters to a "spend the day", Em and Lutie went for Aunt George, she had a white ruffled cap on her head. People often slept in a cap. During the day Grandma jerked the cap off: there was the thin white hair with black streaks in it.  

"She's tried to dye her hair".  

"No such! My head itched as I was polishing my shoes. I rubbed the places with the brush."  

How they'd all laughed!

Cousin Gus came to visit quite often. He was full of wild tales - some of which he repeated and often changed. Papa was overheard to say to Mama, "Gus has told these stories so often - I'm afraid he really believes them!"

Gussie was his oldest daughter and was the one on whom we'd often call when needed. It was she - to whom John telephoned from Dallas when his daughter, Lucille, had been badly burned when she upset the Christmas tree lighted with tiny, real burning candles. We had no telephone at that time, so Gussie came to tell us. She met Link (visiting) at that time and was so impressed that he stood whenever a woman was standing.

Many years later when Link and Lutie were buying the farm she said "I can't sleep all of you but I can eat you." Which really amused all of us.

We stayed nights with Aunt George in Calvert and ate with Gussie. She baked hot rolls for us nearly every day. A good cook and so sweet about having us and tolerating our three! Years later we visited Gussie in a small apartment and she begged Georgia to come live with her there. Georgia had been recently widowed but insisted in staying in her own home. 

Ida was only twelve years old but she knew that George was the most marvelous person she had ever seen: tall, broad shouldered, black hair and mustache, gleaming white teeth, a wonderful smile and beautiful blue eyes. She was pretty in a quiet, prim way - even though she was quite a tomboy, when such people were not at all popular.

"I'll not go to school another day" she thought as she rode side saddle on Duke, the gentlest of horses, with Berry, her younger brother riding behind her.  

Berry said aloud "I'm so hungry I could eat Duke".

Ha! A bright idea came to Ida, "You may have my lunch, if you don’t tell on me! I'll not go to school today!"  

This became her habit. Berry had two lunches, Ida escaped school and her Mama was none the wiser.

Four years later, there had been many dances and, of course, Ida was there. Square dances with "fiddle" music and George was not only a good dancer but, with his marvelous voice, was a great caller. Ida was a popular dancer and George vied with many for a few dances. One proposal was sufficient for Ida to answer with the magic word - "Yes".  

They began married life but George found that the school year was too short, so they lived in "halves". Rented land and house; planted and raised a crop that would sell and then when harvested half its profit was given to the land owner. This was called share cropper. George was a good carpenter and cabinet maker. So with several jobs he kept busy and Ida could not only help with the crops - growing but had a garden and plenty of animals.  

Babies came easily for Ida was very healthy. She breast fed them and kept them to the breast until all the teeth were in. Thus the children were about two years apart.  

There was Georgia Virginia: Mama's people were from Virginia and Papa's were from Georgia. After all, Grandma Stewart's name was America French. Why not keep history in the family? Next came John Winton: John from Grandpa Stewart; Winton from Mama's brother. Third was Berry Lee: Berry from Mama's brother and Lee was Mama's only sister. Forth was Ilda Dee: both names were "made up" by Mama. llda died while quite small from cholera morbis (ate the wrong foods). Next came Fannie French: Fannie is another name for Frances; Grandma Belcher was Frances Cordelia and was called Fannie all her life; the French came from Grandma Stewart. 

Mama had to "round up the cows" because they had broken a fence and were in the\neighbor's pasture. Riding side- saddle like the expert she was, she rode to the back door and called to Kizzie for help. Rushingly, she barely made the bedroom when the baby was born. A girl!

She had such a pointed head and was terribly discolored - jaundiced. When Papa saw her, he gave a Latin quotation with the word "lutius" in it.

"What does lutius mean?"

"Dark brown, evil, foreboding ... She's all of that!"  

"Lutius is masculine but Lutia is feminine."

With pencil and paper Mama played with the words, but 'Lutia Stewart' did not quite ring correctly. With the 'a' changed to an 'ie' the music was there. Lutie Stewart.

Abe Mulkey was a traveling revivalist and Mama had heard him often, His wife was Louisa (long i) and he often referred to her by name.  Lutie became Lutie Louisa Stewart.

Years later, because Lutie hated the long 'i' in her middle name and didn’t really care for the 'a' either, she went to the large family Bible and changed the 'a' to an 'e'.  

The inks were not the same. Everyone had to have a birth certificate. Jewel had inherited the Bible. Rather than lug the huge book to the Courthouse, she tore the pages out. Mamie Skaines, who knew the Stewart family, made the certificates for all and Lutie's was with Louisa as her middle name.  

Mama never did meet Grandma Stewart (Papa's mother) but they corresponded often. When Mama had a baby corning she told Grandma that she hoped it was a boy so Grandma suggested the name Clyde for it. But it came a girl so Mama put Ema with it and this baby became Emaclyde Stewart, often called Em.  

The next baby - a bit over two years later was named Paul by Grandma Stewart. He, too, came here a girl, so Mama put Leah with it and she became Leahpaul Stewart, nicknamed Pete.  

The next baby appeared on Christmas Eve - another girl.  Merry Christmas! Thus she became Mary. She was a precious jewel, so Jewel was added. Mary Jewel Stewart, known as Jewel.  

James Marvin became a son very like Papa, in many ways. Both names came from relatives on Papa's side of the family. He was Marvin.  

Harper Cole came next. Both names were surnames in Papa's ancestry. He was known as Harper.

When this last  baby came, the oldest children resented his coming. There were enough children as it was. Mama permitted them to name - except she wanted her maiden name of Belcher given to him. Georgia V gave the name of Samuel, for one or Papa's brothers. John was a reader of Oliver Wendel Holmes so his name was Wendell. Therefore Belcher was dubbed Samuel Wendell Belcher Stewart but was called Belcher.  

Tot was the mother of two children, Zoeleta and Mace Tungate Jr. These two were like younger sister and brother to all the others. They were Zoe and Bub in the family and were at the farm during the summers.

Zoe couldn't say Lutie - it was Doodle. "Aunt Lutie" became Ankie Doodle - sounded so much like Yankee Doodle so it soon became "Unca Doodle" and was a permanent name for Zoe to use for Aunt Lutie. Pete became Unca Pete. "  

When summer came, the teacher - sisters and all came home, so Tot (who couldn't come) took these two from Galveston to Houston, on the Interurban, put them (wearing placards with their names) on the H&TC train to Hearne.

In Hearne, Zoe (she was boss) would ask for Mr. Hall. He was the taxi driver (a Ford, called a jitney - cost ten cents) and was well known. She would say "Hello, Mr. Hall. Take us to Grandiddy's" and he'd do it. Mr. Ike Hall got his two dimes and some of whatever fruit or vegetables were handy. Mrs. Hall would laugh and tell any of the family how much she appreciated these two Tungates' visits to the Stewart farm.  

Bub was always given a new straw hat. He hated a new hat, so by the time the train arrived he'd have the brim's edge off and the whole brim unraveled - to the crown! Those limp stringy things didn't bother him. He wanted to be a cowboy but not with a New hat.  

Zoe still lives and is beside a lake in Sugarland, Texas where the whole clan has met many times in summer.  It is home for the group as age overtook everyone.  

When Ida was to be married, one of the slave mothers (Katie) gave her daughter to Ida. Kiziah (Kiz-i-ah) known as Kizzie. She knew how to cook and keep house which she did for Ida. Therefore Mama (Ida) had more time for animals and outdoor life and cared less for housework.  

Kizzie had huge lips - the lower one exceptionally large - which Lutie tried to grow. She'd often roll her lower lip -"to look like Kizzie". She was great with the children and they adored her.  

There was a steep incline behind Bussey Hill. The railroad climbed this hill with much huffing and puffing. There were several farms south of that area so there were crossings over the tracks. Whistles were blown for each crossing. Fuel for the engines was wood or coal and these fires must be piled high, causing much black smoke. Kizzie said this black smoke stuck to the clouds and, whenever there was enough, we'd have rain.  

She also told the children that thunder and lightening were made when God rode in his chariot: the thunder was the rumble of the chariot and the lightening was when God used his whip to make the horses go faster.

She taught them to play rag dolls: a piece of folded white cloth rolled into a pencil-like roll with a pinched or puckered up piece of bright cloth. This white made the head; the colored made a blouse and its tie made the dolls hands. Now another piece of colored cloth - a bit longer than the first is gathered and bunched to the end of the first. This is tied with larger band of cloth - a belt. A bow is added to its end and in back of the doll. To make a child or girl doll - the head is somewhat smaller and the roll shorter. These dolls can stand if the skirt part is mad~ stiff and can sit (if folded a bit).  

Doll houses were made of wooden apple (or produce) boxes. Each box is a room. Windows could be cut, ising glass were the window panes. Usually had no door unless a second box (or room) was added. Saw a hole in the two boxes! Put one box on top of the other made a two storied house. A broken cup, from the house, made a chair. Considered quite gorgeous, if a cushion were made of "scraps" (from Mama's sewing) to fit its inside. An empty wooden spool (from Mama's sewing thread) made a table for this chair and almost any piece of broken glassware (from the garbage heap in the ditch) would serve as a lamp or an ash tray. People smoked a lot and all homes had trays or receptacles of some sort to receive the ashes.

To make other furniture, it took much imagination and frustrated trials.

Roads were made (drag a hoe blade) and buggies - sardine can - its lid could be the top; teams of horses were corn cobs. A matching pair was a prize. Dressed up dolls went calling (via buggy) and the conversations were those of grown-ups.

These houses were outside - sometimes close together - but most often apart (so no one else could see improvements being made). These furnishings could be put inside the wooden boxes and could be stored overnight, preferably under the house for shelter; then brought outside next day and probably placed elsewhere; generally under the shelter of a tree. It was a splendid game and a quiet one.  

On rainy days, or bad weather, it was paper doll time. The magazines had great pictures - especially the ones bought for sewing - and there were dolls for all ages. These were carefully cut-out and placed, according to the age group, in card board boxes. The box that once housed a man's tie could hold the largest dolls (and did!). Lutie remembers Mama's trying to think which girl received the last tie box. Or any of the others, for that matter.  

Tot, being the oldest at home, had the most of everything, it seemed, and had more ideas. She conceived the idea of keeping dolls within the pages of an old magazine. It worked great and was easily stored.  

They played on the floor with chalk, which was easily cleaned up. Doors and windows were laid out. A doll entered through the door. The furniture was most often made up of cardboard, which when cut and folded could make most anything. Cardboard was therefore very precious. With slits, slots and much maneuvering one could make most anything. Elaborate colors were made with crayons. Glue was a premium so a small dish with flour and water did the trick. The chief cry was "scissors" and Mama really had trouble with her sewing shears, for they'd get "borrowed" and no one would remember who used them last.  

The paper doll paraphernalia was stored under the beds. So much, so many girls, and so little room to store things,  

Kizzie once took four of the girls to the cotton field. Papa never planted cotton, but a renter did. There were many (fifteen or more) Negroes in the field, each with a long heavy tarp sack with its strap over the pickers shoulder. They sang as they worked: one would sing a line or a couplet; then the others repeated it. The different tones of voice made good music. The rhythm was super. Made them pick faster. Lutie loved this singing although (at times) it sounded like so many chickens cackling at the same time.  

A cotton plant is dark green and it develops lovely yellow blossoms. These turn into bolls that are very hard, dark green shells. As they ripen they burst open and the entire insides is white and fluffy with black seeds scattered in it. This white fluff is what is picked and put in the long sack, which drags along, on the ground, behind the picker.

There is a weighing scale at one place at the ends of the rows of plants. One person stays there. The sack is heaved up by a hook on the scale and its weight is written onto a paper (generally a leaf in a book - a ledger) then weight of the sack (alone) is subtracted. The picker is paid according to this weight as it is recorded in the book. When "pay day" comes, these weights are added for each picker.  

The picked cotton has been emptied from these long sacks into a large "high sided" wagon to be driven to the cotton gin. Machinery picks the seeds out and the white cotton is pressed into bales - weighing over 100 pounds. These are bought by milling companies to be made into cotton clothes of various thickness', also dyed into different colors, patterns or stripes.  

Kizzie sang with the others, but she didn't take the children there any more!  

She loved to bathe the children and especially liked to wash, comb or brush any of the girls' hair. The hair of Afro-Americans is quite coarse and stiff; hard to deal with and inclined to kink and tangle.  

Kizzie passed away (pneumonia) when Lutie was about ten years old. Lutie (and the other children) asked that the powder be washed off her face. Death changes the color of their skin - a sort of ashen grey.  

There was a Green Brown, who had been one of Grandpa Dotson's slaves: he came often "to see Miss Ida" or to "make Miss Ida some wood". He would go to the wood pile - outside in the yard – and cut the long tree length wood into fireplace or wood stove-length. The family could expect Green whenever watermelon time came. He loved them, ate many and always left carrying two (one under each arm). He was a preacher and often gave the children a sermon or two (as he rested while cutting).

Lutie had three other experiences with cotton: in 1919 when teaching in Stanton, TX. She was challenged to bring the school's standard of "D" up to "A". There was no library at all. Mama sent her about twenty classics from home and the whole school had a holiday; they picked cotton for the day. It was "long staple" kind (larger bolls and more cotton) but grew on short plants. Most everyone went on knees all day, but the library received enough books and that helped her English rating rise from D to A.  

In 1942 as she taught migrant children (parents followed crop gatherings) she had a wonderful 4H girl of 12 years who picked the cotton; carded it (took its seeds out); pieced two quilt tops (from scraps of cloth left from her mother's sewing); used the cotton as "filler" and quilted a full size bed top. Reversible (either side could be used), she received a reward, a six-day trip to St. Louis for a Spring Gathering from all over the U.S, expenses paid for her mother and herself. Her quilt was among items that were auctioned and it brought her $100.

In Marana, AZ, in 1946, her Sixth Grade class brought empty cotton boll shells: painted them in various colors; made boutonnieres of them for Christmas, using a tiny red or green bow on each. Very pretty.  

The "Little House" has a large dark door plus a tall window, at whose base is a window box full of lovely purple petunias. Through this door is a large room - a living room-bedroom combination, where the most outstanding piece of furniture is a huge bed, which had come from England with Grandma Dotson's family when they came to America to live.

On this bed lies Mama with Emaclyde, the new baby. Lutie, now nine months beyond her second year, has been promoted from the cradle and now sleeps with Tot, her older sister. Lutie's side of the bed is next to the wall but she has climbed over Tot and is now standing in her nightie by Mama next to the window. On her tippie toes she is watching the water slowly coming toward her. Lost Creek is overflowing its banks and the water has already crossed the two acre orchard of plums. Mama is very worried but Lutie is delighted. When Mama asks why, the quick answer is "When it reaches here, I'll put my feet in it."

Grandma Belcher (Ida's Mother) decided that since her children were grown-up, married and all were away from home, except Aunt Georgia (Mama's sister), she would divide the acreage she had been given by her father (Great- Grandpa Dotson) when he portioned his huge acreage among his children.

Mama's land was forty acres of flat sandy soil, south of "Lost Creek" (so named because it changed its channel whenever flooded) but Grandma kept the creek on her property.

The family called the house that Papa built on it "Little House" because it was exactly that. It consisted of two rather large rooms with a lean-to on its east side: the larger of the rooms had a chimney on its south side - with a window each side of it. This chimney had a lovely mantle over its fireplace. The front door and its windows were on the west side of the room. A door on the north side connected the two rooms while on the east side a door led into the lean-to which was the kitchen and dining area. This lean-to had a rather small room (cut off its south end) so that John (the only son at that time) could have a room to himself. Thus there were four rooms but no porches. A quite simple and cheaply (but well) constructed home for the growing family.  

Later, because of the need to store things, Papa lowered the ceiling in these two rooms, put. a make-do floor over it. There was a "trap-door" in the second room and one climbed a ladder to get up there. There were two tiny windows: one by the chimney end of the house, (the south side) and one in the north end. One could see during the day time, whenever it was necessary to go up there. He extended the roof on its west side. A porch was added. This made a shelter in using the front door.

The fireplace room had a bed, and some living room furniture and was referred to as "the front room".

The second room had four big wooden beds in it. The foot boards were rounded-topped and whenever Mama went to town (and was to be gone most of the day) these wooden bedsteads became horses. Saddles were brought in and kids rode horses most of the day. Quite a scramble when it was known "Mama is coming!". All was in order when she did arrive.

These beds were filled with sleepy, happy children, often having more than two in a bed. Two larger children could sleep in regular position with two smallest children at their feet. These two slept across the bed with their feet towards each other. Four in a bed? Why not? Unless restless it was easily done. There were six in the family, when the house was new and more were to come.  

Furniture in the lean-to had the cook stove, a working area, a big wooden box for the wood and a "slop bucket". This bucket caught vegetable trimmings, the scrapings of plates (left over food) and dish water. It was emptied into the trough for the hogs. Under the window, on the east side, was the wash stand (to wash before eating) and close to it was the working area with cupboards beneath it. A very long dining table with its benches were across the room. (Benches let more children eat at the table.) Chairs were against the wall. Papa and Mama sat in chairs and another was at the "head" of the table. A small bench was at its foot.  

John's room had the only single bed - a metal cot that could fold- a small, but tall mirrored dresser and a chair.

All was rather sparse but substantial and the necessities.  

Lutie remembers walking, with Mama, down the long - narrow pathway in the front yard, from the front gate to the door. She had a very inquisitive mind and questions came easily, often and quickly. Mama had so much patience and she answered.

"I want to know north and south and also which is right or left" was the double demand.  

"We are facing the door, north is on our left side - you can guess which is south or right" came the puzzling answer."

"Why?" 

"If you know the right hand - the one you use most - it is on the right side of your body and above your right foot. The other is the only one left." And they laughed. She had only to remember that the right was on the south and often thought of their walk.

There were no trees in the front but there were many flowering plants. There were several big trees in the back area. There was one - a big hickory - near the bored well - but quite a distance from the house. It had a long rope swing hanging from one limb and the children often played there. One had to go through a gate to get to it, for it was really inside the barnyard.

Once - late in the afternoon - they were called to "come in" because the horses from the pasture were coming in. They rushed towards the house but Pete was the slowest one. One horse knocked her down. It was "Hobson" so named because he had one knee that was quite "knoblike". He sprang over her, stopped immediately (seemed to know what he had done) came back and put his nose down to her. Waited until she got up, before he went on - following the other horses.

There was a very large and spreading pin-oak tree, a bit further from the house. The children often played in its shade. Wet weather would sometimes cause the sandy soil to become boggy. One good milk cow, "Daisy", got into a bog and it took several men, a lot of effort and time to get her out of it. These boggy areas are called "quicksand" and have great suction. She was pulled out by ropes and a "sling" was made for her body. It was like a strong harness and she was hung in it - under this big tree - leaving her legs and feet free, but just above the ground. It was her exerciser! The children pulled grass and tender weeds to feed to her. She was such a lovely Jersey cow, with large, kind eyes! The children loved to feed her.

They had a pet goat, "Billy", whose specialty was to run up the see-saw board to give someone a ride. Often, when the rider was up in the air, he'd jump off and run away. What a bump for the rider!

There was a Polly Parrot who could almost carry on a conversation! He seemed to know so much. A big wind storm came one night and Polly's body was found the next morning - about half-way between the smoke house and the home. Mama assisted in funeral arrangements for Polly (very near where the body had been found) so she was "buried with honor" amid many tears.

To the south west of the house and in the open field was another shady pin-oak tree. Lutie remembers it, for once the family witnessed a black man running across the open field to it. He was an escaped convict from the Westbrook Plantation, in the Brazos bottom. He was being chased by bloodhounds. What an odd sound they made as they came, "trailing the scent" and yelping, or baying, as they ran. Men on horseback were with the dogs. They took the man away.

To the north of the house and between it and the creek, there was a large orchard of wild plums. They were loaded with fruit each year, which the children picked.. Plum jelly and jam were made from them and "put up" (sealed) in quart jars for use during the year. Eaten in so many ways, Lutie remembers the jelly being used like icing between layers of white cake. "Jelly cake" was a treat.  

Papa became a "car whacker" for the Houston and Texas Central Railway (H&TC). This was a branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. That meant he had steady work, as well as steady pay, and his job was "carpentering" as he was with a group of men, who hammered and repaired boxcars for the company.

The Little House became the home of families who would work on the farm and keep the Stewart family with fresh vegetables. 

The home, in town, was near the Wheelock Road and railroad crossing, where a man with signal directed traffic (either walking or riding) across seven or eight railroad tracks. This was within the Railroad Yards where trains were assembled so the crossing was used often.

Across the street from this new home lived a small family, whose daughter, Beulah Snell was Georgia V's age and classmate and they often studied together. There was a son, Freddie, who was in Lutie's class at school. He was frail and spent much time in bed. Often, when Georgia V was to go to Beulah's to study, Lutie went to play with Freddie. His room had a closet in it, for clothes, but he had it full of trains. He had every conceivable kind of cars; many straight and curved tracks; switches (they allowed different trains to go on different tracks); engines; stations (or depots) galore; and men in all types of railroad clothing. Since the room was for him, alone, Lutie fastened his tracks to the floor. Each time she went the tracks became longer (or more entangled) which pleased Mrs. Snell. This allowed Freddie to play longer (when by himself) without her having to watch over him.  

The first people to live in The Little House, or renters, when the Stewart's moved closer into town, were a Polish family, the Pivatos. They had two little girls, who owned a small trunk each. These were a novelty for the Stewart girls. Trunks in their family were large and heavy. These little ones held the toys and clothes of the two children. They had many tiny boxes in the till of each trunk and were quite proud of their "jewelry". It was all from the "prizes" in the Cracker Jack boxes. The girls spoke Polish and it was a problem whenever they played with Lutie and her sisters.

Mr. Pivato grew the vegetables, etc. which he brought to Mama while she "ran" the boarding house. The distance for the girls to go or come caused them not, to see each other often. Mr. Pivato often came early and milked the cows for Mama. When she had too much milk she would fill some of those small syrup buckets and send them to the Ice House, for the making of ice cream. Lutie enjoyed taking two of these buckets for the men at the Ice House always gave these "bringers" an ice cream cone.

At the farm ice cream was made in a big two and one-half gallon freezer hard to turn - and was a popular desert - especially after the family moved to the Big House - on Sand Hill. The peach orchard furnished lovely fruit and peach ice cream was often made.  

The next renters were a black family, Hence and Sarah Taylor plus their daughter Rebecca and her husband Neil... They had a son, Tamp, about fourteen years old and twin daughters Bigum and Lilum (big woman and little woman). Never knew what their real names were. They acquired these names because one was so much larger than the other. 

The Stewart girls had an orange sweater to hang in the sienna bean weeds behind the outhouse. This was a signal for the twins to meet them at the creek (ran between the two houses) and catch crawfish. Everyone would wade in the shallow water, but these twins could catch more crawfish. They were not the least bit afraid of those big pincer-claws! Those things can really hurt. The tails of these were cut off and brought home where Mama would put them into one of those syrup buckets, scale them and fry them. A good supper! Quite a treat - or change from the regular food.

Tamp did not meet but he would run errands for Mama. He rode "Old Kit" - a white mule, gentle, old and lazy. Tamp rode her with spurs on. Her tail would go round and round whenever he spurred her and she would go faster. Tamp became quite ill. It was meningitis, and the Little House occupants became quarantined.

Mama would yell across the creek to Sarah who would tell her how she was suffering and what the doctor was doing. Mama would cook food for the eight of them. Two or more of the children would take it (in the pans where it was prepared) to the creek, where some of them would come later and get it. They would put it into their utensils and leave Mama's. Then some of the Stewart kids would get them much later in the day. Another place would be used for the next exchange of this kind. He lived about a week, suffering terribly. Lutie can remember all this and then the hearse and family left for his burial.  

Bigum and Lilum wouldn't come to the creek for a long time after that. They never did go to school. Tamp hadn't gone either. There was no compulsory education at that time.  

Neil would come to the aid of the Stewarts, when needed. There was ~ conk shell, which was hard to blow. Berry Lee could do it and she was the one to call Neil. 

These people stayed in the Little House for several years. Planted cotton one time and when many people came to pick it - there was much singing. One person would sing a line, then they would all sing it. Their various voices made a very different sound for the whole thing.  

When Georgia V had accumulated enough units in High School, she applied for further education in a teacher's college (Sam Houston Normal Institute in Huntsville, Texas) and was accepted.

Across the street from Aunt George and Uncle Tom Breedlove was a whole city block - owned by Mr. and Mrs. Morris. The land sloped down, almost to the railroad tracks. At the upper end of this block was a three storied big white house with many rooms to rent - especially to men working for the railroad - known as the Big House. Each room was furnished with bed, dresser (with mirror), a washstand (with its china wash bowl and pitcher), slop jar, a table and chair. This was a typical rooming house.

Below this "big house" and nearer the railroad was the boarding house which had a living room, four bedrooms, a huge dining room and a large kitchen. The house had a wooden floored wide porch on three of its sides. It was screened and rooms could be rented from it. Folding beds, mattresses and bedding were stored in one room in the "Big House". These could accommodate men who needed only short rest periods, at night time.

Behind this house was a two storied house: the lower floor was the "wash house" where laundry was done. It had two tubs, water, a furnace and even clothes lines (used during bad weather); the upper floor was a two roomed apartment where the "help" for the boarding house could stay. Minnie and Elta King with their younger brother, Willie, lived up there.

Into this boarding house, the Stewart family moved. It was a bit further from school, but the children could come home for lunch and it was closer to Papa's work.  

It was a whole block of nice green lawn - kept well mowed by John, who was now sixteen years old. He was a "call boy" for the railroad men and this job paid well. His voice had deepened and (because of his size) he could pass as a grown man. He kept the lawn in good shape and he played games with his mob of sisters. There was a croquet court and everyone loved the game. The large porch was a roller skating rink. Each one could skate and there was room for all. John could put his feet wide apart and Lutie would catch her ankles and roll between his feet.  

There was a "Thomas Edison Graphaphone". Yes, with a huge beautiful "morning-glory" horn! It used cylinder records which came in square ended cardboard boxes. The lids to these boxes fitted well and were quite difficult to take off or put. back on. John laid the boxes on their sides, glued them together and removed their tops. Stacking these caused them to take up less room and the name or the record was put on the bottom edge of its box. Easier to find and easier to slip the record out. Much lovely music came from this hand-cranked machine and many new songs were learned. The "boarders" often donated records to the overwhelming number.  

Through the managing here (and Papa's continuous job) the family bought Grandma's home and "The Sand Hill" became their next home. The remainder of her property was gradually bought and is still in their name.

Mama managed the food with the two King sisters. In the kitchen with her; vegetables and fruit, in season, were brought from the farm (still managed by people in the Little House"). People from the rooming house ate here, as did people from the slaughter house. There were no reservations made, Mama never knew how many would be there to serve.

Cousin Sally Boswell was a dress maker. Ready-made clothes were thought of but too expensive at that time. She became Georgia V's seamstress at her own home or at Mama's. Such a lovely wardrobe as Georgia V had.

At Christmas time that year, as Georgia V was on her way home (by train), there was a heavy rain and a railroad bridge washed out. An engineer telephoned Mama to ask permission to bring Georgia V, in his engine, on home. Engines burned either coal or wood. When she arrived, she was a mess - as were the clothes she wore.  

Since Mama dressed Lutie in red (or shades of red) and Emaclyde in blue (or shades of blue) they were delighted when Santa Claus brought Lutie a red tamoshanter, Em a blue one.

A tamoshanter is a big fluffy cap to be worn for warmth or 'looks'. They are much larger than the head and have a big fluffy tassel on top. These two were made of fur-like, long fibered material, quite silky, smooth and unusually shiny. They have a knitted and fitted rim that holds them to the head.

A carnival came to town and the Ferris wheel was terribly high to these two little girls. Brother John is now sixteen years old and loves to tease his sisters. When the wheel gets them up to the very top, he bribes the operator to let it stay (Still!) up there.

Emaclyde is frightened but is determined it should come down. She rocks it a few times and has Lutie screaming. Now she takes her beautiful blue, fuzzy tam off and throws it down. This makes John a bit uneasy but he's paid to let the wheel stand still.

They eventually are allowed to continue the ride and are glad to have their tams once more.

Uncle Bob Belcher is a fireman on the Hearne and Brazos Valley Railroad which is a ninety-five mile track that runs between Hearne and Burleson - through many plantations that use the rails as a shipping means for their varied produce. Uncle Bob receives 'free' tickets on the one passenger car on this train which runs daily. He gives Mama two tickets, which are given to Lutie and Emaclyde.

The ride to Burleson was a new treat to them so they rode quietly and without incident. There was no time in Burleson. The engine was ready for the return when they arrived.

Uncle Bob transferred them to the 'return' train and they were soon on their way. There was no air conditioning. All windows of the one passenger car were open and the girls were absolutely alone in it. Emaclyde became more venturesome and stuck her head out through the window. She probably would have quit at once except that Lutie became overly bossy about her keeping her head inside the window.

As the train went around a curve, they could see Uncle Bob in the engine.  Em pulled her tam off and waved at him outside the window. The tam fell.

Oh me! Lutie quickly threw her beloved red one out also. She knew Mama would punish them, so thought; "If I throw mine - maybe she won't punish both of us".  

Mama cooks, but disliked all housework. As she cooked she would sing, or by letting her lips be loose she could blow and hum at (the same time) and could mimic any soprano or tenor horn. The children would stay away and listen. If anyone entered the kitchen, the horn music would quit.

She would rather have the kitchen to herself, but if a child entered, it would never be sent away. Her favorite command was "take care" as someone would be in her way or was snitching bits of raw dough as she made cookies.

Butter was plentiful. There was a big 5 gallon crockery churn, with a lid that had a hole in its center, for the "dasher" to go through. The wooden dasher was made with a long handle, about the size of a broom but much shorter. Its lower end had a crossed piece of wood, which had a hole in each side.

As one pulled the dasher (up and down) the milk and cream moved and this movement caused the cream to coagulate and rise to the top. When this top seemed to be compact - it was ready to be "taken out" into a bowl. This taking was done with a spoon (preferably wooden) and the same spoon was used to "wash" the butter several times. One used cold water to rinse it. Then salt was added to it and it was "done". The milk left in the churn (buttermilk) was poured into quart sized crockery bowls, which were put into the refrigerator to cool.

The refrigerator was a piece of furniture. It was of wood with a door opening outward - in its front side. There was a door on top with a metal pan shaped to fit lower (it had a hole to drip) to hold the ice. It was known as an ice box. A twenty-five pound piece would fit in it.

The front door opened: two (or three) metal shelves could be inserted. With the larger crocks there was generally no room for even one shelf. Food could also be stored in this area.

The stove was a huge cast iron one with four lids (eyes) on top, with a two and a half gallon water tank behind its pipe. This pipe had a damper, which helped regulate heat from the firebox. The firebox was in front, with two of the lids directly over it. There was a handled lifter for these eyes. It lay on the top of the water tank, so it could be picked up as needed. It had a small door on its right side which was partially above the big oven door, which opened on the same side.

Fires were made under these first two lids - and within the small door, ashes were removed. Paper was crumpled and placed in its bottom; then small splinters of wood (kindling) or corn cobs; then a few pieces of wood. Strike a match to the paper, adjust the damper. Be sure the door was closed.

There were several cast-iron pots. One could be set down in the eye of the stove and would cook much faster than if on the back of the stove over a burner with the eye on. These pots were seldom washed on their outer side because they were smoked by being next to the blaze. Any other pot or pan that was blackened was scrubbed clean. Most often there was no cleansing powder but cooled and dry ashes would be abrasive enough to do the trick. The iron pots were kept on a shelf, attached to the wall behind the reservoir.

The oven was quite large under the whole stove top - and had three rod-like racks to be used within it, according to what was baking.

Grandma often sat upon a stool near the oven so she could "parch" her green coffee beans, which were then ground in the coffee-mill (which was fastened to the wall above the wood box). 

She also roasted or parched peanuts. The girls would go to the peanut stacks (these plants were stacked rather than baled and were near the barn so the animals could have their roughage in the winter), fill their front skirts with peanuts, bring them to Grandma and she would put them into deep baking pans to stir and roast. Next day she would sit before the fireplace, shell these nuts and remove their tissue-like roasted skins - throwing shells and skins into the fire.  

Later that day the food grinder was screwed to one of the wooden back steps (to be out of the way of the kitchen). One girl wound it as Grandma put the nuts in. Made the best peanut butter, which was not on the market at the grocery stores. There was an extra pan placed on the ground - to catch the oil. Oil could be bought in grocery stores and Mama often used it in her cooking.

Lutie reached her twelfth birthday to be told by Mama, "You come with me to the kitchen and today you learn to make a pie".

She went happily for she had watched her mother and knew exactly how it was done!  

Oh me! Was she ever in for not only a surprise, but a "shock" - they were to make not one pie but six!  

The sifter seemed much heavier when full and she managed to spill some flour before she'd ever turned the handle on it. The mixing bowl was quite large too. Why were these things so much bigger and heavier? Because she'd seen but not handled them. Mama was very patient with this unusually willing adolescent, as she talked, demonstrated and assisted the awkwardness.  

To mix for six pies, there is a very large amount of flour, salt, oil (or fat of some sort) and baking powder must be mixed (by hand) and the hands seem to tire so quickly. It was the first time for Lutie to get her hands into sugar sticky, soft, slimy mess!  

Next a big blob must be put onto the floured board to be rolled quite thin. Not too bad a deal!  

Now to lift this thing, soft dough over a pie tin - and not have it tear apart. It took several tries before the first tin was fitted. Five more to go.  

Oh me! Lutie is ready to quit but there is no place to quit because there are five pans and a big ball of dough!

Mama has the filling ready for these these tins.  To fill the raw dough, Lutie spoons the filling into each.  

The top or "lid" to the pie was a trick but Lutie masters it (in quick order) and the crimping of the two layers of dough - around the edges of the the pan was easily done, for she seemed to balance the pan on her left hand really well.  

The oven is large and can hold several pies. Lutie put one in and was ready to call it "a day". Five more to go!

These were done quite slowly and she was taught how to remove one pie and shuffle the others so one more could go into the oven.

The distaste for this sort of work - it was labor for Lutie - is still with Lutie. She seemed to always have as much flour "about" the kitchen as she had used.  

Papa often went into the kitchen before the evening meal and when Lutie had made only biscuits (using flour) he would say, "I know who Bridgett was this evening".

There is a silver lining to this dark cloud: there is more dough than is needed. Cheese is grated and (with hands and fingers) squeezed into this dough. Much salt is added. Then the dough is rolled thin. One doesn't care about the shape for with a knife it is cut into strips and put on a cookie sheet. It is ready in a few minutes and can be eaten while warm (or cold). Yes, it is "cheese crisps".  

The room was large, having tall walls - known in the South as "high ceilings" five windows and two doors. The furnishings were what was once considered "the finest" but were only the essentials. There were four double beds of the heavy wooden variety, two of which had come with Great-Grandma Dotson's mother from England. A huge double-doored cupboard took up much of the remaining space. These doors had mirrors, which was the primping space for the seven sisters as well as any extras who might be visiting - whether by night or day, by weekend or the week.

Bedrooms in those days had no closets so this cupboard was the closet. Behind the doors hung the stiffly starched dresses belonging to the whole group. Below the doors were two large drawers that extended to the back of this huge piece of furniture, housing all - and we do mean all - the underwear, hose, handkerchiefs, purses, and sleeping garments for these girls. Items were folded carefully and each girl realized that her small area of drawer space must be kept just so or she would not appear as well groomed as her sisters, especially in public. One kept a "good front" and must never "let down".  

Pete, whose real name was Leahpaul, always brought home the diseases, unknown to the group. She "broke out" with these glorious red spots during the night. Mama was conscious of her restlessness and had moved Jewel, the youngest, into the bed with Berry Lee, whose week it was to sleep alone in the fourth bed. It was peculiar that these movings seldom awakened the one being moved or the one who was receiving a new bed fellow.

Much laughter when the six discovered the "red" sister the next morning. The one hand mirror was brought to her so she might appreciate the reason for the others calling her "Indian Pete". Being a brunette, she resented this new nickname, but laughed also when she saw her reflection. Inclined to hysteria, tears came and her breath came in short gasps, which turned into snorts as she fought to control herself.

Everyone had been exposed, especially Jewel, and next Berry Lee. In short order the cases of measles beg~ to pop out and soon there were seven cases in the room.

Mama was strict as to the behavior of her girls but she did have other duties to perform. Each time she left the room, two girls became watchmen at the doors. Five nighties went flying into the air as five girls rushed to the mirrors to see "Who is the reddest?".

During such a period of confusion - quiet pandemonium - came little Lula and Sissie, the cousins from town. This was their chance: if they caught the measles they would have to stay.

Little Lula was like a sister to these girls. Her mother, Mama's favorite cousin named Lula, died at Lula's birth and had asked Mama to rear her baby with Jewel, who was two weeks old. The older girls were delighted to have "Little" Lula and she was an eighth sister until her fourth birthday.

Such rubbing, hugging, and loving of naked red arms and bodies as did go on, with much stifled giggling of course.

"Here she comes," came the cry from the watchman by the door. The five nude bodies became encased as all seven girls went under their covers.

"Little Lula is here" exclaimed Jewel. "Where?" asked Mama.

"In the dining room" came a chorus. The two cousins were allowed to stay with Mama and the three little brothers until their daddy, Cousin Gus, came for them later in the day.

This group of girls were very much dismayed that the two cousins didn't automatically get sick with measles. Three weeks later they did, for it takes that long for the incubation period.  

In the South, the smokehouse is a very important building: freshly butchered meats are smoked, or salted and then stored or hung within it, along with other foods.

The walls had become worn, smoked and dirty. These had been removed, new ones erected, but the same pits and grills were there. The first coat of paint had been applied. It wasn't paint at - rather a kind of thinner, known as "white wash".  

Under the wide grape arbor the big long tables, as well as crockery jars and many tools, were waiting to be put back inside at a later time.

It was a long bladed knife, worn quite narrow in its center because of years of much use and many sharpenings on the big wheeled sharpening stone - the grind stone. How Lutie hated that job of turning the wheel as Papa sharpened a tool of some kind.  

On this day here came eight year old Lutie, meandering around by herself. This does not happen often. She looks around. There IT is among many others of similar type, but IT is the largest. She picks it up and swings it. Swish! What a glorious sound! Over her head - to the left - then to the right! Whee! Swish! It went exactly along the sharp corner of the new house where the two boards came together. Off came a long splinter of whitened wood.  

What had she done? Oh me! Did she ever move quickly and quietly! Down went the knife in its exact place on that big long table. And did she ever scoot away and disappear! No one had seen her!

Mama questioned but Lutie knew nothing. She had been alone and unseen! She simply could not admit that she had done such a terrible thing. The big chunk lay where it had fallen - the horrid wound showing on the corner. Why confess?  

Night time comes. Papa is in the library where he often confers with his children-one at a time. This leaves each one a chastened human being - meek and smaIl - but a more learned person. Lutie still shook her unruly curled hair and denied all knowledge.  

Mama is busy with supper and the big wood burning stove is doing its job. Papa half sat on the edge of the wood box near by. Lined up, close to the outside wall, stands five of .the sisters. Papa lifts the new broom and says to .the girls "Someone used a knife on the comer of the new smokehouse. I'm going to push this broom before you and the guilty one will dodge." That's all he said and that's exactly what he did.

"Swish" went the broom - very close to the five faces! Lutie stood stiffly and the others dodged. "You are all dismissed."  

Lutie angered near the screened doorway while the others went back to their play. She could hear the laughter of her parents and heard Mama say "She stood like a wooden Indian, didn't she? I do believe you could have hit her with the broom and she wouldn't have batted an eye."  

The moral to this experience is that big people know when little people are swallowing the truth.  

She opened the door and smilingly greeted Mama and Lutie. She was a tall slender lady of perhaps twenty-four years of age. She had gorgeous blondish hair, done in braids around her head, revealing a broad forehead. Beneath neatly trimmed eye brows were brightly glowing blue-grey eyes; a slender nose above not too full lips, which smiled easily; white even teeth and a rounded chin, above a slender neck.

Those lovely eyes and smiling lips corresponded with a very smooth, gentle and understanding personality. As she moved easily on semi high heeled slippers among the many small children, she guided them in tender tones of voice using her hands, of course.

Hands? What hands! Long slender fingers extended from equally long slender hands; white hands - quite white with large blue veins! Lutie had never. seen such hands - not too large - but those long fingers and the large blue veins!

What did she wear? Lutie was not clothes conscious - never did develop that trait! Who cared? This was just the most striking person Lutie had ever met.

As the day progressed Lutie could not keep her eyes from those hands. After the day was over and she was home with Mama once more, she remarked "I want to have hands with long fingers and blue veins like Miss Nanny's and I want to teach little children like Miss Nanny does. I want to be a school teacher."

Many years later, perhaps 18, Lutie taught in her home town of Hearne, Texas, and Miss Nanny came visiting at the same boarding house where she had stayed as she taught those three years in Hearne. Lutie heard and went to see her. Miss Nanny, who had now reared a family, remembered Lutie as her assistant teacher those many years before. Lutie had grown long hands and fingers with big veins - not white hands but of her own particular color.  

Miss Ethel Brady was the teacher of the Second Grade. She had the "honor" of giving Lutie several swats with a paddle for talking. Why was she talking? Beau (Kathryn) Mosely sat behind Lutie. Her sister, Tiny, sat in front while Marguerite Lane was across the aisle. Since all these girls had studied at home, they brought paper dolls to school. Lutie' s lady doll was calling on Beau's lady doll and these two girls were having a good chat. Miss Brady punished Lutie and the other girls cried also. Willie King ran like a turkey to beat Lutie home and tell on her. So she caught it again. She was a somewhat timid child except when she knew something unusual and then she was disgusting in brazenly revealing it. It was instilled in each child "be the best one in your class" and each one tried.

Miss Effie Taylor taught Fourth Grade and Lutie recalls her teaching lovely songs: "Where the Sunset Turns the Ocean Blue to Gold" was one. She had the class make scenes (in art class) using varied colors of construction paper - no scissors! They tore ragged edges and these became mountain tops - the first ones being the darkest colors. There were 64 children in the class and Lutie is sure not one of them had seen a mountain. In later life Lutie never saw mountains that she didn't remember Miss Effie.

The 64 dwindled after this year. There was no compulsory school attendance law. Some came because there was no field work at that time of the year for them to do. Lutie often wondered what became of these older boys (some were shaving) and girls.  

Schools beginning was a nightmare for Papa and Mama: the books, pencils, paper, ink (there were no ball-point pens) pens, notebooks, composition books, drawing books, colored pencils and scissors (if each child had lost the ones of the year before).

There were no free textbooks, but each child had carefully guarded the books of the year! No markings in them, no tears, no folded pages - and generally one knew some other child, who had been in the grade and could buy (second hand) from the child. The people were almost always very careful and books were almost like new. Paper made covers were put over the hardbacks or cloth covers were made for them. Even then there was much cash to be had, for there were at least five of the family in school each year.

Books were not the only expenses for there were extra supplies; ink - a bottle for 5 cents could begin the year for the whole group. Each school desk had around hole in its upper right corner. This held a small glass receptacle with a lid. Ink was poured into this holder and the lid closed. This ink well was a good place for a boy to put the braids of a girl sitting in front of him. A bottle of ink could fill several of these ink wells and a member of the family went from classroom to classroom filling these. There were no fountain pens: a "pen staff' for each child (somewhat longer than the average pencil) and several "pen points" were supplied for it. There must be one pencil, perhaps a pair of scissors, a twelve inch ruler, a box of colored pencils, a note book (a covered "slick" papered affair), a jar of glue (small bottle with brush inside - its handle coming through the top of bottle), a compass or protractor for the older children, a scratch tablet, a "slick" tablet (for writing with ink), perhaps an eraser and perhaps a pencil sharpener. All in all it cost about $1 per child. A pencil box was a great thing to possess: wood with a sliding lid. These supplies could (and often were) be used up and new ones replaced them. Oh, there was a drawing tablet - it cost at least 25 cents - for the drawing of maps and even earth strata ( when one reached the stage of physical geography - a middle school course.)

These supplies were hoarded, guarded and much frugality was practiced during their uses. The "left overs" were used at home during the summer.

A kerosene burning lamp was on the dining room table each night and the school kids were clustered around it. Mama heard lessons for some and the older sisters and brother helped each other. Many ideas were exchanged and mistakes corrected.   

They spelled to each other as they walked to school. They recited poetry, (much 'memory work' was assigned) and those multiplication tables! How they drilled each other and laughed or cried over their mistakes.  

Once Jewel had memorized "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat" and was ready to do it all to the whole group at the table. No one had helped her and she had not recognized "gingham". She began, with her big round eyes sparkling, "The gentleman dog --". Everyone laughed and it just broke her heart. She cried very hard. Such a let down, after she had learned it all - the whole thing by herself. 'Twas splendid though, that she didn't expose herself to her classmates.

Each child had a "book satchel"; made of cloth, preferably quite heavy material. It was cut square and had broad bands that could be placed over the shoulder. This strap went onto left shouIder with satchel hanging down on right side. It held books, papers, pencils etc. but not the lunch.  All books went home each day - to be brought back next morning.  

The lunch was carefully prepared and placed in a picnic basket: had to be big enough for five or six children; held sandwiches, hard boiled and peeled eggs, fruit, if grown on farm; roasted peanuts in packages, yams - big, soft and well wrapped; cookies or muffins (cupcakes). How Lutie hated it when it was her turn to keep this basket.  

Children in each classroom passed through a cloak room into their classroom. Here the baskets were left on the floor. Coats, hats, scarves etc. were hung on walls of this room. At noon, a monitor (appointed according to seating arrangement within the school room) either passed out the coats and lunches, or held them up (one by one) for the children to claim. No other family had a big picnic basket. Most children carried a small basket with a single lunch.  

The Stewart family sat together to eat. There was a red and white (or blue and white) checkered cloth on top. This was removed and napkins were passed around. Each child helped him or her self to the basket's contents.

The whole month of August was "Play House" time. The barn must be cleared for harvest time, so I'm sure - now (in my senior years) we were permitted to clear all things out and sweep it. Thus, it became ours to play in. Since we played rag dolls or paperdolls anywhere - this was a real outlet. Such cooperation! We did not ask for (or think of using) the house brooms, so such a mixture of old brooms and brushes would come out of hiding. We did not designate who was to work where but each "went to" with a vim. A board in the floor could be found somewhere (it was usually the same loose one!) to be removed and all trash would be swept through the "hole in the floor" to fall on the ground underneath where the chickens would scratch in it - or eat from it. From their scratching, as they ate, it would soon be gone.

There were rats and mice galore in the barn so we used pitchforks, or seed forks and pinned them to the floor - to kill them. A broom was handy to corner one and then fork it. Cruel? Sure! Lutie poked a fork through her left foot below big toe and Tot had to pull the fork. Spent some time soaking it in Epson salts water that night. Uncle Bob Belcher had given them white mice and after they released them, they'd intermarried with the gray mice and rats. Such fun! To be the one to discover a spotted mouse or rat was an honor!  

Old broken up furniture made our New Home furnishings. A chair minus a leg was propped on bricks; a piece of quilt or bedspread made its cover. If lucky enough to find two such chairs of equal height - they became a sofa. Boxes were good too. There were no heavy cardboard or corrugated board then, so apples came in wooden boxes, as did many other products. They had a huge supply of them as Mama found many uses for them and they were stacked "shelf like" in the back of the smokehouse. They were theirs to use.

"You must be sure to put them back." This was no problem for us at all. Empty kegs were also used as round tables beside chairs brought from the house, as were odd utensils to eat with, or pans to "pretend like" cook with. Once even had an old "wood stove" top which we hoisted onto boxes and it was real to us. Old worn oilcloth could be table covers. Bed? Such fixings: corn husks or hay from the stacks covered with pieces of carpet, etc. could do nicely. Extra pillows were to be covered with some of our discarded (ragged) clothing.

If clothes were outgrown the next in size could wear them, so nothing was really discarded. If not to be worn as is - it could be "made over" - and generally Jewel inherited that one as she was the youngest and smallest. She said the first dress she could remember - made for her only - was for high school commencement.

Food: Jewel went to the store. Poor kid! She'd be gone for hours and return with bull-nettle pods. We'd be delighted! The whole group would sit on the floor to prepare these! The bull-nettle is a wild and prolific weed. Yes, it's a nettle and how its foliage stings! One takes two sticks and carefully gets the dried seed either side of the pod (it has three seeds in it) and snaps quickly (to get all three seeds rather than have it explode and then lose all three seeds). This pod is fuzzy and sticks also - each seed must be exposed by snapping the pod open- with your teeth! Each seed has a white tip and it must be cut or bitten off. Takes a lot of doing but so worthwhile for the part left to eat is nutty flavored, also buttery or fat tasting. We'd name the bowl or dish - all kinds of fancy names as we'd sit grown up fashioned to chat as we'd heard Mama do with her lady friends. (Gossip grown-up style.)

Once as they played house, a mad dog came and went into a horse stall, attached to the bam. As it came, Berry Lee called to the group to stay there. Everyone ran for home and the last one out slammed the door so hard it came on into the inside of the barn. Lutie was inside and scared half to death. She couldn't get the door to come inside some more, so she could squeeze out. Nor could she make the door go on through so she could get out.

Berry Lee used the conch shell and here came Neil, on a horse, and bringing a gun. He told Lutie that he was going to shoot the animal and that she should not look. He killed the stray dog and buried it before he went back home to the Little House.

This group of girls never lacked games to play: hop-scotch - a rectangular marking on the ground with each end marked off and then marked in half; the center of the rectangle was larger and was marked from comer to comer. A flat piece of glass or a flat rock (remember this is a sand hill and rocks were few) was the "thing" to throw. One threw the "thing" in the manner shown by the numbers then the person throwing must hop on one foot to pick up the "thing", then throw it into the next area; pick up "thing" - never letting foot down. Do all the way across then come back (without throwing) still not letting foot down. Must not step on any line the whole time.

Another hop-scotch was circular with places marked off into squares of small rectangles. One hopped around putting foot into these box like markings - all the way with no stepping on markings. It was called "Around the World".  If lucky a place could be marked, the hopper could put foot down and rest there next time this person played. These two games were made in the shade of the house - east side of the house - in the afternoons.  

"Jump the rope" was popular. If one end of rope could be tied to something one person could throw the rope and the others would form a line while following. If there was no place to tie one end of the rope, a person took that end. Two people to throw - the others to jump. Aunt Pink was a good "rope jumper" and often played with the girls. Her children were too young to jump rope.

Hide N' Seek was always popular and especially in late afternoon when shadows didn't reveal the "hidden" one.  

"Tag" or "you're it" was popular if the weather was not too hot.  

No marbles were played.

"Mumbley T Peg" was not popular for it seemed too dangerous and they were a careful bunch.  

After a good rain the "gully" (made by water in the 1900 flood with steep sides of clay) was a great place to play. One could use a hoe or shovel and dig rooms for the rag doll houses. Each girl would make three or four houses because it was fun to "dig" the areas. They also found that a chunk of clay could be carved. Mama often sent some of them back to gather her round tipped kitchen knives. They carved engines, box cars, Pullmans, cabooses, etc. Never could make them run or roll but it was fun to carve.  

A good "sporty" game - especially for girls who hadn't visited the Sand Hill before - was riding the willows. Many willows grew by the creek. The idea was to climb up as high as the tree would take you before it would bend. Settle yourself and it would go up and down. Stride or "side saddle" it was fun.  

Real playing cards were not allowed "on the place". "They were for hobos" because the children found some along the railroad track as they walked back and forth to school.

A good "card" game was "Authors" (pictures of authors and their writings). One matched these into couplets until all cards were gone. The person with the most couples was the winner.

"Old Maid" was one game with its own cards; another was "Flinch" and a game of "piggy flinch" was played. One put their hand on nose - then the others followed, as they saw 1his person. Many sore noses and much laughter. They shuffled the cards by turning them face down, on the table and everyone mixed them around - drew the number of cards needed. They were never dealt nor was there a dealer. This was an "early evening" game, by lamp light until Papa called "Good Night".

The whole family often sat (during the twilight time) on the front porch. It was not very big so the steps (seven of them) were used by the children. Mama would often sit .with them but Papa always sat on his big comfortable Morris chair. He could sing by rote ~ do, re, mi, etc.. He'd give the "pitch" for the song; Georgia V. would give the chord on her guitar and the air would fill with the music made by all. There were three paper backed song books "Twice Fifty-five Plus Community Songs" - so the girls would gather around these - in order to sing a whole song. They had memorized many of the first stanzas.

Aunt Sue Mosely (one of Grandma Belcher's sisters) and her husband Cud owned land on the north side of Stewart's farm. He was the town's pharmacist, owned one of the two drugstores and made photographs of people. Once, Mama took us "dressed up" to have pictures made; she with Pete the baby; Emaclyde and Lutie; Tot and Berry Lee; John and Georgia V. The pictures had "paste board" backs, were small and very good.  

Uncle Cud would pull a black cloth over his head and as he went under it behind the camera which was on a tripod, Em got scared and cried. Therefore he thought the pictures wouldn't turn out well. He took one of Lutie alone. 

Was she ever prissy and proud and the picture showed it! They owned a share of the original Dotson homestead and could hear the singing. They'd call by telephone and ask for certain songs and their requests were met.

The telephone was of box type with mouthpiece attached, fastened on the wall with its receiver hung on its left side, had a crank so one could call without bothering the operator. We'd answer to one long and two short rings. This was really a community phone: a party line. The number of long and short rings told us who was being called. Mama had so many relatives within this area; she knew each one's rings and often listened to - or butted-in on the conversations.

This bulletin sized paper song book had many of the "old time" songs - no music was printed but Georgia V. needed only the chords for her accompaniment. One song often was requested; "We're Tenting Tonight on the Old Campground". Another; "Just Before the Battle Mother" made Lutie cry - for it ended with; "And I hope you'll not forget me, mother, if I'm numbered with the slain". That word "slain" was the trouble; Lutie had seen the animals of the farm branded: the men would rope the animal, throw it onto the ground, on its side. A fire had been built and a branding iron was heated. This iron was the only one of its kind and was meant for only one owner. The heated iron was held to the animal's left or right hip and the fur was burned off leaving its shape. Grandma's brand was "J" which meant 7 and J - Papa bought her animals and he had a K attached. The brand was then "7JK;" and showed well on all the animals (called: sevenjaykay).The word "slain" meant branding iron to Lutie; she thought the soldier had been branded with a number! She'd back away from ti1e family and go shed a few silent tears by herself.  

There were round songs in the books and that was really fun for all the family. Divided into three groups they would sing "Row, row, row your boat" etc. There were several of these and the singing would end with "Goodnight Ladies"."

Good old days, much closeness! There was no radio, no TV and the movies were "silent" type. Words came on the bottom of the screen (often read aloud by older people when they accompanied children who did not read). There was a piano, played by a person who could "fill in" for fights, rides - even laughter. This was some local person who was paid by the owner of the "show" house. The price for seeing the movie was generally a dime. Peanuts, popcorn (usually Cracker Jacks) were a nickel each. These dimes and nickels were hard to acquire so if one went to a movie and could eat while watching, 'twas quite a date.

Lutie once accompanied Mama on a trip to town and wandered around in the stores as Mama shopped. During the trip Mama walked to another store. forgot about Lutie. When Lutie couldn't find her she cried "I want Mama!".

"What's your Mama's name?"

"Mama" until Lutie thought of Uncle Cud. "Take me to Uncle Cud's" and someone did.  

When Lutie was eight years old and Tot was ten, Mama gave a day party for the two since the birthdays were in September, twenty days apart. Janie Covington came, found Ruth Williams, and coaxed the information as to what her gift to Lutie was. Then Janie had Ruth take it back home so she could bring it to Janie's birthday party which was to be next month. Ruth had been a sickly child and Mrs. Williams often came to Stewart's to get Lutie to sit by Ruth's bed and read Uncle Remus stories.. Ruth's favorite was "Why the Turkey Buzzards Head is Bald".  

Many years later after the funeral of Pete's husband, Ruth came to Lutie to tell her that the one tale of Uncle Remus still was in her memory.  

Ruth's brother, Elsie, had to bring Lutie's gift to her - later in the evening, after the party.  

Ruth William's birthday party came the second day our quarantine had been lifted. Emaclyde, Leahpaul, Jewel and Marvin went to it. Lutie stayed home to care for Harper and Belcher. 

Mrs. Shoap, from across the street, came to sit with Mama by the bedside. When the party group returned, Mrs. Bowling sent Marvin, with one of those gallon syrup buckets, to get water - at Mrs. Shoap's home. This could be obtained from a faucet on her back porch and did not bother her, or anyone else who might be there.  

Her son, Henry, age 14, came in with his little rifle - had been hunting rabbits on the prairie nearby. He emptied the gun, refilled it and leaned it beside the house. His brother, Marion, (Marvin's age, size and fellow classmate) was there when Marvin came for the water.  

The schoolhouse, had green shutters over the windows and were closed at night. All were getting old and the old shutters had been removed and put in stacks in the school yard. The smaller children were taking these slats; older boys whittled them into pointed ends. They became arrows and the little kids played games of "cowboys and Indians" using these as weapons.

Marion saw Henry unload the gun and saw him lean it towards the house. He picked it up and said "hands up" to Marvin. Enough said! The bullet buried Marvin's party tie within his breast.  

Lutie heard the shot as she came around the house; rushed to Marvin and tried to lift him. He was too heavy. She was there when Mama, Mrs. Shoap and the others came. Mama lifted Marvin to the porch. His lips mouthed the word "Mama" but no sound came. Here, again, was a task for Mama - but bigger than the fire or Tot's illness!  

The home in Georgia had a still. The slaves gave George (Papa), the youngest, liquor that was still green - not ready for real drinking. This made him drunk and he could never again drink, as other men did. One "dram" would "put him out" and he'd go to sleep. This lasted quite a few hours before he'd be himself again. 

Marvin was Papa's image: even had his walking pace, which was irregular, for he (Papa) had suffered a broken ankle, in his teenage years, that gave him sort of a limp. Marvin had that same limp. His death greatly affected Papa, whose friends brought him whiskey, instead of flowers. He was sober for the funeral service but would wake, bathe, dress, eat a bit - take a drink and go to sleep. Mama broke many bottles that were brought to him, but she could not get him back on schedule at all. 

When the family moved she left his clothes, etc. in his round topped trunk which she'd saved from the fire; the folding cot and a change of linens, its covers and a chair. Left these in the house, where all had experienced so much.  

Someone took him and these possessions to the smokehouse on The Sand Hill.  

Thanksgiving time came. Emaclyde and Lutie talked it over with Mama and decided they would go get him. This they did. Brought him home and as he said grace at the table he promised God never to drink again. He not only kept this promise but at the next service at the Methodist Church, he renewed his vows there and sang as lustily as ever. His deep bass voice could easily be heard in any group singing. 

Papa never whistled, but he did hum and often broke into song while at work. He played a Jews harp really well.  Always carried one.  

Another thing he carried was his "tooth-pick" made from the quill end of a goose feather, with another one "trimmed to a point" inserted inside it. This was his tooth brush. He died with a full set of perfect teeth.  

There was a huge iron kettle: held about twenty gallons of water; had three legs that were part of it; sat on bricks or rocks - to elevate it; and a fire was built under it. It had four uses:  1. Wash clothes. 2. Make lye soap. 3. Make hominy. 4. Boil water to scald (dead) pigs.  

1. Wash day was really something! first, one built a fire under the kettle. Three zinc tubs were turned up for use on a wooden bench - placed beside the smokehouse - to shelter from the weather. One tub had a rub-board: a fourteen inch wide flat board with ruffled or fluted metal on its front and based on two legs. This propped on the inside bottom back edge of the tub with its top in front and up above the front edge of the tub. The metal ridged part was about six inches below the top of the board and inset a little. This held the homemade soap.  

One started with the sheets, which were put into six gallons of cold water in the first tub and rubbed up and down on the board - using soap on any spots that might be on them. When wrung out they were ready for the kettle with hot water and plenty of soap, to be punched with a broomstick. This movement also removed soil. After boiling, they returned to the first tub to be rubbed, wrung and put into tub two to rinse and then tub three which had bluing in it. This made white things whiter. They remained in tub three until all clothes had been through this process. There was a large dishpan from the kitchen that held the starch water. Every dress and shirt went through it. The water was then emptied onto the dirt to keep dust down or harden the soil (or could be used on flower beds). 

Each piece must be hung on a clothes line in the sunshine. Sometimes white clothes didn't become as white as they should (cup towels, etc.). They were spread on the grass and left overnight. The dew seemed to bleach them.  

The two clothes lines were wound and hung over a large hook fastened on the smokehouse. Take one down and unwind as you walk across the yard to a tree where the end was tied high around the tree. The other line was done the same and tied around another tree - at almost right angles to the first. There were two long poles, with a slit on one end, which slipped under the lines to lift them higher - after the clothes were on them.  

Sheets were folded and fastened (on the hem edges) with pens to the lines. Being on a high hill, there was much breeze and things dried quickly. The fold helped the two people that were taking them down, because they could finish the folding quickly there by the clothesline. Dresses, slips, petticoats and shirts were hung bottom end up so the breeze could move them to dry.

There was a narrow red, paling fence with intertwining wire around two sides of the back yard. About one foot above this fence was one strand of barbed wire. This was because animals (especially horses) would stretch their necks to reach over and eat the Bermuda grass in the yard. Long stockings were hung on this wire: a barb was the clothes pen; put the barb through the top, flip the stocking over and it was hung. To take down, flip the stocking backward and the barb would let loose. The red pickets would hold socks: hook the sock top on the picket, flip it over to dry.  Flip it backward and it came free.  

Each girl knew which room she had kept during the week; its pillow cases and scarves were hers to iron - as well as her own slips, petticoats and dresses. It was easy to gather one's own things from the lines and leave the others - often with only one pin holding. The dish dryer for the week had cup towels and dish rags to get down, fold and put away. The dish washer took towels and bath cloths.  

Clothes to be ironed were hand sprinkled with water, rolled and put into one of the tubs. Each girl did her own and knew her pile. All ironing was done using two ironing boards and the sad-irons, which were heated on the top or the kitchen stove. Two people could iron at a time but must remember which iron was hers.  

2. The soap was made by using lye, made from hickory ashes and fat (from frying bacon or rendered lard) and water. Lutie never understood the ingredients, but some of the older children spent time - stirring the mixture in the kettle and keeping the fire going. This soap was let cool; cut into whatever size or shape one wished and was hoarded.

3. The making of hominy was done by carefully selecting good grains of white dry corn. These and ashes were added to the boiling water in the kettle and boiled all day, stirred often with a big, flat paddle like board.  

4. At hog killing time, the kettle was full of boiling water and the dead hog was dipped in (if could be) or laid on boards and boiling water poured over it. People with sharp knives scraped the hair off its body. This, being firmer, was easier to do than when its insides were out.

The hog was hung (hind part up) on a tree limb so it could be cut open and disemboweled. The heart and liver were deftly separated. Papa, before the fireplace, would place slices of this fresh liver over the coals and it would seer quickly. A bit of salt was sprinkled and the kids would eat it while seated on the floor with their plates and cutlery on their laps.

Lutie remembers one year when they trapped snow birds, which Papa dressed and cooked over the coals. The trap was near the barn, with a long cord attached to it. Whenever a bird (or birds) went inside to get the corn bait, pull the cord and have a bird or two.

That fireplace was where they sat cracking hickory nuts. They're very hard; a flat iron (used to iron clothes) turned upside down and held between the knees made a good tool. Lay the nut (some were almost flat sided) on the iron and hit with a hammer. There were often smashed fingers! The inside meat must be picked out. Mama had large and strong hairpins, which were better than nut picks for getting the goodies. Each child would crack and eat - throwing the shells into the fire. Yes. They'd fly around the room, but someone would carefully sweep before all undressed for bed.

Papa and Mama slept in the fireplace room. Papa often had crampy legs and would get up and walk in the dark. A little piece of hickory nut shell would be like a knife to his bare feet. His exclamations called for stifled giggles. In later years, one could say "Jesus Christ" or "God Almighty" and all would laugh.  

Hello there! Let me introduce myself for I'm sure you have never seen anything like me.  I am a 'dresser-robe': yes, a dresser-robe, similar to a wardrobe. I'll tell you later how Lutie's mother acquired me.

My outsides are made of walnut and my long beveled mirror is on the left side - not on the top like a dresser. Yet I have a dresser part, perhaps three feet square, and it is below my mirror, just like a real dresser but closer to the floor. The robe part is made of drawers - five of them - with round knobs for pulls and they are on the right side of my mirror. There is a small drawer below the mirror and the whole thing has a long drawer across it with four rollers for feet. It makes me fit closely to the floor.

I'm a very useful piece of furniture in the Stewart household and l've witnessed many things here. I'd like to tell you of one. It's quite a story sol shall begin at the beginning. 

Emaclyde has a boyfriend, Landon Layne, whom she calls "Layne". She met him in the town where she was teaching and they became quite serious about each other. They have been corresponding daily all summer and this has made life miserable for the two younger brothers, who have the job of "going for the mail". This means they have to catch a horse, often chasing one, for the horses are loose in the pastures and don't want to be bothered; then saddle the animal, get on, and ride to the Post Office. The horse must be "hitched" while one goes inside for the mail or to mail anything. Then back home, the horse must be unsaddled and the saddle put away, as well as the bridle and the blanket. This is quite an ordeal for an adolescent boy who would rather not be doing any of these things. Days are long, hot and monotonous, and boys only want to be left alone.  

These boys often went under the barn and hid her letter before mailing it, sometimes for several days, and she raised cane! Or they would hide some of Landon's letters to her. Then there was war! Each would worry as to where the letters were or why they arrived so late.  

Landon was to come to sand hill, his first visit to our home to visit Emaclyde. These two boys decided it was time to get even. They put two rope loops under the grape leaves in the grape arbor to sling him up by his feet if he walked by, or if that failed, they loosened the barrel staves to scatter the hammocks so they would fall down if he sat in it. They'd get him!

Lo and behold! When Landon came, he brought each boy a pearl handled pocket knife. Quick as a wink, down came the rope loops and the hammocks were re-hung.  

Harper was still feeling he had to get even with Emaclyde some way. I'm lucky for I got to see the first of this and to listen to the rest. Harper came in and started fooling around in the girls room where I am, and found two hair pieces, called switches, belonging to the older sisters. These can be tangled with real hair brushed or combed over them to make a filler for a roll of hair on the back or sides of the head. He experiments but they won't stay on him. Then he finds a hat and pushes the hair under it. Ha! Now for some rouge, powder, eyebrow pencil, and lipstick. 

About this time the girls surprise Harper as they come into the room. When he explains his need to get even with Emaclyde, they agree to help. He fits himself into one of Lutie' s dresses that Em hasn't seen and puts on Mama's shoes. They are high heels and he totters about a bit as he first practices walking in them. Of course there are beads and earrings to add, but he's become a rather nice looking girl. For the final touch, he finds a pink parasol, of all things, and now he's ready.  

He must go down the hill on the west side and meander a bit before coming up the hill on the north side (the front of the house). It makes no difference however, since Em and Landon are not looking outside anyway. Harper rings the doorbell and everyone, watching, keeps quiet so Em must answer it.

"Hello! I'm Margaret Mooney, Is Jewel home?" Harper speaks in a soft voice. Margaret is a newcomer to Hearne and Jewel has told everyone about her.

Em is not prepared. She calls loudly for Jewel, who doesn't answer (of course). So Em invites 'Margaret' into the living room and introduces 'her' to Landon. Landon feels sorry for this shy, timid 'girl' who doesn't appear at ease. Harper sits while the other two make light conversation. 'Margaret' doesn't say anything.

Suddenly Landon bursts out laughing and says "Harper, that was super! You make a good looking girl but girls don't sit with their knees so far apart." I was listening as were the girls. I must tell you my mirror has a center contraption that lets me tilt forward or backward. I tilted a bit to show my laughter. Of course, no one say this because they were all laughing.  

There was no running water. There was no bathroom. Do these people stay dirty? No. 

There was a tin (metal) wash pan outside on a wooden bench- for washing hands quickly. Towel on a rolling rod above it.

In the dining room there was a wash stand. This was a two-drawered, one-door piece of wooden furniture of about thirty-two inches in height. Above it (built into it) is a wooden rod for the towels or wash cloths. The wooden top is covered with water proofed oil cloth. On it sits a large glass or ceramic bowl and an unusually large water pitcher to match. Water must be brought from the well (in the yard) in a bucket. The pitcher being full is a must! At all times. It is a handy place to wash hands before sitting at the table to eat. This hand washing takes only a small amount of water. After ablution, soapy water goes into a bucket that sits on right side of washstand - on the floor. This is to be emptied later - in the yard or on plants outside.  

To bathe, one needs some privacy. The kitchen! Why? The room is small - can be isolated - and can be used without inconvenience to anyone else. Pour water from the pitcher into a bowl, take it to the kitchen where hot water from stove's reservoir can be added, as needed. One takes cloth, towel, soap, underwear (at least) ahead of time. How often? As often as three times each week; oftener, if wanted, always before going places. So it is a place used often - in the evenings - as the children study around the dining table.

A better way to wash was to fill a "wash tub" by the well; let the sun shine on it all afternoon, get someone to help you lug it into the kitchen. Now fold yourself down into it to bathe. Rather tight quarters, as one grows, but a better way to get the water to "flow" over the body and one sorta soaks in the tub. The younger children can bathe outside (in the yard) especially in summer time.  

Saturdays are always "Head Wash" day. Castile soap was used. The first rinse water had vinegar in it (to help remove the soap) and the last water must be cold (to close the pores!). Everyone preferred to do this in the afternoon, then stay in the sunshine to dry it. The whole washing often took place at the bench by the back doorstep.

Mama wore a moo-moo type of dress. Yoked top with sleeves (long or short), the bottom was full and gathered or pleated to the yoke. When dress became too old, its bottom was sewed shut - a bar put through the sleeved top - and it became a "dirty clothes container". Each one put his or her own soiled clothing in one of these dress-bags - awaiting Saturday's wash day.

Water at the Sand Hill came from a "bored" well. A hole was drilled into the earth until second stream of water was reached. The pipe 2' across would be enclosed in wood (most often square in shape). A big pulley was put (well above my head) inside this boxlike tall structure and a rather heavy rope was put over it. The water bucket was cylindrical, quite smaller than the hole and it had a valve at its bottom end. One held onto the rope as the cylinder or "well bucket" was lowered. Could hear the cylinder bump, then give it a second to fill and begin pulling on end of rope until bucket reached top where one could grasp the top loop. Then lift with right hand, letting left hand tip it to empty it. Cool water and very soft. We hated its being in our front yard, but had found (many years before) that water near the back of the house was hard, never clear and brackish tasting.

Once when Link was calling on me, "Em was "the cook" and she asked first Harper and then Belcher to get her a bucket of water. Papa and Link were on the front porch, a lot of teasing ensued and the boys asked her if Link were a man or a boy. Seeing her chance, she said "Take this bucket to the well and if he offers to help you, he's a man. Otherwise ,he's a boy". Such a lot of giggling between the two boys until Papa scolded them. (If bucket should be pulled part way up, dropped and pulled again - several times - it could (and often did) muddy the water.) Anyway Link didn't respond at all.  

We (Link, the three kids and I) often visited Uncle William's daughter cousin Lula in her home. Once she said: "Lutie, Mama's on her porch. Go down there and see her". To the end of the block - we five went. She was on her porch with a bare foot snuggled into her lap trying to get a grass burr thorn out. When she saw us, she delightedly exclaimed, "Oh Lutie! Where did you get him. Ain't he cute?" And I thought our three would die laughing. They teased Link about this for many years.

They had an organ, which was foot peddled to make it play. They knew so many songs and they'd sing them. How I loved that "The Riga Ma Snake"; "Ole Aunt Polly" and many I'd never hear anywhere else.

When we bought the farm we visited Cousin Edna in her home - very near where Gussie Reed lived. Went in the back way because it was nearer.  Here was a long back porch with a set of perhaps six steps the whole length of the building. No rails! I stepped about in the center and it went down to rebound and pitch me upward. My, how I flew up those steps. She laughed! Her husband Jess had been a carpenter. "You know the cobbler's children are the only ones who have no soles on their shoes." That was the day I found Cousin Lula, who greeted me with, "I just finished the last of my cornbread and milk". How I'd have loved a glass of that.

Pete once prepared such a glass at my home in Tucson and was called to the telephone. When she returned, Don had finished it and said "Mother - what was that?" He'd never even seen such.

One time when Tot, Berry Lee, Jewel and I went to a sandwich shop near Tot's motel in Woodville - I saw corn muffins. So I asked for three or four and a glass of milk. Soon nearly everyone in the shop was eating the same. The owner came up to me with "I've never bad such a run on my muffins".

A new girl came into this unusual room: fat, blonde, carrying a pink parasol- quite sure of herself which really appealed to Lutie, who was developing too fast and had become very self conscious! Her speech was peculiar to these Texans - she came from Iowa. Before the day was over (two recess periods and one long lunch time) Lutie and Iscah became real pals. She lived about three- fourths mile from Lutie, in a rented place; her father a Veterinarian; a lovely quiet mother and six younger brothers and sisters. She walked (around the roads) about one and one-half miles rather than try to crawl between the wires in three different fences she'd have to pass to then walk only the three-fourths mile to see Lutie.  

The Sand Hill family gathered (in buckets) fruit or vegetables each morning (while the dew was still on it) and hoarded it within the smokehouse for refreshment any time of the day. Lutie had picked many tomatoes, cut stem end off, squeezed the juice into a half gallon milk crock (hulls, etc. went into "slop buckets" to be given to the hogs later in the evening). She had added salt and pepper to her taste and was drinking from the edge of the bowl when Mama said, "Here is your new friend - come to see you".  

Yes, Lutie was surprised and sort of mortified at being caught drinking from the bowl; rather than from a glass. Quickly she tipped the bowl's other side toward Iscah who drank as if were nothing unusual.  

These two girls had synchronized voices; Lutie's was soprano and Iscah's" was alto. Their duets were often needed at church, weddings etc.  

When Lutie married, Iscah's family moved back to Iowa and they lost sight of each other for several years. Many years later, Iscah came to see Lutie in Tucson - hunting a new environment and place to teach. Lutie drove the Buick and took her to Globe, AZ, to Elsie Hogan's (with whom Lutie had taught her first year at Ft. Lowell School and whose place (as principal of the school) she [Lutie] had taken). Through Elsie's help Iscah became teacher of Spanish in Globe High School. Later she went to Phoenix, AZ to become Dean of Girls in Phoenix Union High School; retired and ended life at Lake Johnson in West Texas.  

Lutie taught school in Hearne before marriage. Mamie Ballinger (half sister of Lucille Welch's and cousin of Frances Cummings - two of Lutie's classmates from the first to seventh grades) was the first grade teacher; Lutie was assigned to the second; Iscah had third and Thelma Talley (Emaclyde's good friend and classmate) taught fourth. What a year! They gave Lutie's announcement party that year and it turned out to be a surprise shower. Mama dropped a pot of boiling coffee, the morning after party, scalding her foot and didn't get to go. Jewel went with Lutie. It was at the home of Mrs. John Moss, who was a close friend of the Stewart family and when the Hearne teachers, "these three", sang "All for You" and gifts galore came into view - stoic Lutie broke into tears. Surprised all the guests as well as herself!

Iscah took a written examination after her graduation from school and received a teacher's certificate. Lutie, after failing Latin and Algebra and having to repeat - let Iscah graduate with the regular class in High and Lutie was one year later. Through the correspondence between these two girls (or should I say young ladies) they kept in touch. They often wrote: silly letters, with cartoon-like drawings to illustrate and Mama was thrilled to get these epistles. Iscah often came home with Lutie from school and church on Sunday. In fact they alternated - Lutie was at Mateer's one Sunday and she was at Stewart's the next Sunday. Great fun and much singing - Iscah played piano. Lutie did also but hers was inferior to Iscah's. They wrote during school term and saw each other in the summer time. Iscah was always at Stewart's whenever Georgia V. or Berry Lee came home. They taught elsewhere and came home for the summers. Once, as Berry Lee, who taught in Big Square, TX - way, way out west, opened her trunk in the hallway she told the clustered group, "The trunk top has live animals in it so stand back". Ha! They came closer. The top - a till (sort of a drawer) had flour sacks that were wiggling. She lifted one, opened its end and out came hundreds of horned lizards. No one had seen one - let alone so many. Kids and lizards scattered everywhere.

The little animals, often called horned toads, eat ants (hundreds and hundreds of them). Since she had bought so many that area has plenty homed toads. They are not harmful to people, do not bite but, if provoked, can squeeze out a drop of blood-like liquid - from the eyes. The farmers and gardeners were grateful to Berry Lee.

One dressed differently - when one compares with the clothing of today: both with the youngsters and with their elders.

A child wore a body-waist: a close fitting sleeveless and neckless garment that covered to the waist. It buttoned in the back (or front) and had two buttons (one on each side) for the panties. The panties (known as "drawers") had four button holes (to be attached to buttons on sides of waist). The front side of the drawers was straight while the back side was either gathered or elasticized. Its sides were hemmed closely and its legs (fitted closely - knee length) had lace or ruffling of some sort. These garments fitted next to the body, and were changed daily. They carne to the top of long stockings, which covered the knees.

In winter there was a petticoat of cotton flannel - often colored - which had top like the panty waist and came down to the knees. This kept the body warmer (on the cold days). In summer the petticoat was of soft muslin (white) and had elaborate ruffles as its bottom hem, neck and often the sleeve holes. The hem could be of plain ruffled muslin. It may (and often did) have ruffled bottom. There was a lace insertion which had both edges plain and straight. This sometimes had islets (or holes) manufactured into it so that ribbon (generally colored) could be laced through it. The tops of some of these "fancy" bottomed slips could be lace with insertion also. These slips (whether cotton flannel or muslin) had to be ironed by its owner, after washing. Slips (petticoats) were changed each time the dress was changed - at least three times each week.  

The school dresses - of calico or gingham were made to fit with seams large enough they could be "let out" as the owner grew. If the material faded (yes, it happened sometimes, if the new material hadn't been carefully selected) then the seams could not be let out. Each dress had a rather wide hem - for the same purpose; to be let down as the owner grew taller. Here, too, should the material fade - the dress could not be let down and this was saved for the next sister, as she grew up.

Expensive? Not really! Materials cost ten, fifteen or twenty-five cents per yard and most dresses needed only two yards - if that much. Lutie, Emaclyde and Leahpaul were the exact same size so Mama often cut and made "three of a kind"! The winter flannel slips were all alike so instead of buying the flannel by the yard, which was customary, she would buy the whole bolt. 'Twas a bit cheaper this way also. She (using the machine stitching) would "brand" slips; "L" for Lutie, "E" for Emaclyde and "P" for Leahpaul. Each girl looked at the left shoulder of the slip to get her own. Panty waists and panties were also labeled. This kept down any commotion which might arise from soiling, the tom places, etc.  

Mama used the sewing machine almost daily the whole month of August. Each girl needed at least five new dresses (to begin school) with at least three slips; four or five pairs of drawers; four or five panty waists. Each one needed at least two nighties for sleeping. These were of muslin except the winter ones made of heavy cotton flannel. These, for winter, were colored but the summer ones were generally white.  

Shoes? This was a real problem because feet outgrew them often, or they could not be patched or half-soled. They cost between $2 and $3; were often high buttoned or high topped and laced for winter time and were of either brown or black (most often black). Papa got a standard (of iron) with different sized soles (also of iron). These soles were of different sizes, so he could use them for different sized shoes. The soles (or bottoms) wore out earlier than the tops. !f a top had a hole - the shoe must go to the cobbler, who had a machine that could sew leather and a patch could be sewed on! One outgrows soles fast and the shoe couldn't be used by the next child. A person's foot is different and it was thought to wear and bend differently. One did not inherit the older child's shoes.

There were no raincoats! One bundled into the winter coat and carried a huge umbrella. These umbrellas were black, large enough for two to easily walk under (often sheltered three).

There were overshoes of rubber which fitted snugly over the shoes, but could be removed when one entered the house. One watched where one stepped for hard earth or rocks could cut holes in these rubber shoes and they were considered very valuable.  

On the head - boys wore caps or hats in the winter but the girls wore "fastinators". These were of knitted wool, generally brightly colored and often had beads or "pearls" woven into them. They really were flat scarves: peaked or pointed in front (over the forehead) and shaped somewhat triangular. The long sides were often long enough to come around the neck or throat. Winters were often cold, wet and nasty and one in this family walked almost a mile to school.

Boys' clothes were different from today's also. They (as small boys) wore white shirt like blouses with a draw string above the belt line. Pants were close fitting and were short (above the knee). Their Sunday (or dress) clothes were the same kind of pants, but had a "Buster Brown" coat. This came just above the pants and was of heavier material. Bottom, was tailored with a belted middle.  

This was summer clothing and a boy wore a narrow crowned, large brimmed straw hat that had a narrow elastic cord to go under the chin. This hat (very similar to that worn by young girls) had a narrow dark ribbon around its crown and two streamers hung down the back.

Winter clothing for the boys used wool or worsted material knickers-pants and a matching or contrasting jacket. Boys wore these knickers until they were quite tall. Some had their first long pants when they graduated from High School.  

Winter dresses for girls were made wool - often it was of plaid design and its main color was of velvet; made into a square yoke at the throat.

One seldom had the luxury of two coats. The same coat, used for school was used for Sundays - or better wear.

Stockings had to be above the knees and the drawers should meet them. Stockings were held up by elasticized garters (a piece of elastic sewed together making a circle a bit smaller than the child's leg). Stockings often wore holes within themselves (either foot or leg) and could be darned. This was a tricky and often tiresome job, To darn a hole, one had to sew threads across it and then sew the threads from the other side of the hole, letting the needle guide the thread over and then under the first threads. Grandma had a winter's job each year. She not only darned but patched dresses. She made lovely patches for her stitches were quite small. Anyone with a patch made by Grandma was as proud of it as if it were embroidered.  

The dining table is extended to its limit. There are three chairs at its "head end": one for Papa at end; Mama is on his left with bread plate between them (Papa liked hot biscuits so this comer of the table was nearest the kitchen); the other chair was what the girls called "the guest chair". The other chairs were placed near the walls of the room and benches took their place. A short bench at the "foot" of the table was for the two youngest boys. These benches could be (and were) placed under the table (between meals) and were out of sight except for meal time.

Often when time was short, before a meal the table would be set for the next meal. There was a tall "silver" container, called a canister in the center of the table.  It held a tall container of vinegar, a smaller one of oil, salt and pepper shakers, a small jar of prepared mustard, a paprika shaker and anything used on salads. Plates were in place but upside down, until each person turned theirs over. Flatware was in place, as was a napkin in its holder and most often a drinking glass, which was also upside down until almost "sitting down" time.

Whoever was the dish dryer would do all this as she dried what was used the meal before. Then she and the dish washer would spread a fresh table cloth over the whole thing. Looked a bit queer unless one knew why it was done.

When meal was called, two girls lifted the cover, folded it and put it in sideboard drawer, then turned and filled the glasses with water, sweet milk or buttermilk. Papa and Mama were the coffee drinkers. Can't recall tea - ever.  

Before the family was called the food had to be in place. Roasts, etc. were cut or sliced before being placed on two platters: whatever was on one end pf the table - there was a duplicate one on the other end. So it looked like a double setting. This caused less passing of food and less confusion. Older girls helped the little boys until they became big enough to pass the loaded dishes of food.  

Most often, the family stood until grace was said by Papa - or if he sat, the others did also. All chatter, laughter, etc. quit automatically.  Papa and Mama conversed - she stayed home and saw to the farming and such, while he was away all day. They "caught up" at the table - and made plans for the next day. The children were quiet, could whisper and ask for dishes of food to be passed. The biscuit plate went back to the kitchen after each round.

Visitors, especially anyone coming for the first time, were overwhelmed with the sight of this long "double" loaded table of food and dishes.  

Mama used the dining room for her sewing. Yardage goods - of many varieties and colors - were stacked on the sideboard. The dining table was used as her "cutting board"; old newspapers (and paper bags) were handy patterns as were the magazines she used. the "Delineator" and "Butterick" were the fashion magazines. The girls would decide which picture to have her dress made like. Mama often left this magazine picture open - on the floor- by her sewing machine chair. These magazines were later "cut-up" - 'paper dolls' for the girls - and hoarded into a large collection by each girl.  

She could look at a picture, call the child close to her and, with sharp scissors, and a piece of paper (or bag) she could cut a pattern that would fit. My! How cold those scissors were!  

Her sewing machine "Domestic" - a treadle type - sat in the hallway where she could have the cooler air through the hall from the south to the north.

Mama sang as she sewed. She had a lovely soprano voice and her songs were of all varieties and the children learned many of them. Lutie recalls "The Old Rugged Cross".

The farm extended along way to the south and just beyond its southern fence was a high and rather spread-out area, known as "The Bussey Hill". There were rocks of any kinds, sizes, colors, and shapes. Therefore it was a "No-No" place to the children.  

This place became the hill in "The Old Rugged Cross". "On a hill far away. . ."

"Stood an old rugged cross."  

Lutie, in imagination, could see an old, rough, splintery tree trunk with a cross of the same wood, size and condition - being joined somewhat like the logs in the building of "The Old Rugged Place" home.  

The person for whom the garment was being made stayed close by and Mama gave them many little jobs to do. When Lutie was about nine years old, Mama decided she was old enough to stir the swill barrel. This was a huge metal barrel - a hogs head really - and was situated in a corner where two fences came together. These fences were made of strands of barbed wire, very closely placed. One side hemmed the hogs and the other had the piglets. The barrel held the swill for both sets of animals.  

A person climbed up by holding onto the center fence-post using the wires as stepping places. This was a tricky thing to do. One placed each bare foot carefully between the barbs as one stepped up. The fence had been there so long that most barbs had either been removed or bent down.  

Lutie reached the top and very shakingly put her hand out for the long handle. This handle reached the bottom of the barrel and had a head on it like a giant hoe, except this one had holes in it. Why the holes? To more completely stir the bottom contents of the barrel. Many kinds of grain, covered deeply with water, were allowed to soften, sour and even ferment under the heat of the summer sun.  

The barrel had two holes near the bottom of it, which would let the water, and some grain, out into the troughs. The big hole would let this flow into the big trough where the hogs fed and then they went back down the hill to the willows. The second hole was smaller and let mostly the watery part of this concoction flow where the piglets could have it. They were not allowed to go down the hill, but stayed within their enclosure, known as the "piglet pen". Papa was the one who pulled the plugs, "bungs", in the evening and Lutie had seen him do it.  

In later life, Lutie thought of the "swill barrel" and its horrible odor each time she had a whiff of beer (whether the real beer or the smell of it on the breath of a participant).  

She had never climbed up before and the sight frightened her and the smell simply turned her tummy over. In her fright the thought of what might happen if one of her feet might slip and she might fall head-first into all that sickening, slimy, messy, stinky liquid! She never forgot this first climb or smell. How it really did hit her!

Sundays were a day of rest in this family. Papa had been reared in a staunch Methodist home and these are Lutie's remembrances of his home. All things requiring labor were put aside and the day was the quietest as well as the longest of the week.

The whole family rose at the normal hour, had breakfast at the usual time, spent until about 9:30 AM getting ready for Sunday School and Church. Sunday School was at 10:00 and Church at 11:00 but if they were to walk they should not have to rush the walk. In bad weather - to get that many to ride it took a team of two horses to pull the carriage and two more to pull two buggies. No one liked this mode of travel for it meant "hitching" the animals and making them stand before going. One couldn't ready and go hitch horses. Double changing of clothes. These animals had to be hitched near the church - not an easy task, for other people drove to church also. The animals had to wait the two hours; had to be unhitched when the family got home. So it was best that the whole group walk. John used to say "The chimney fell on the rest" when the gang was on its way.

Each child belonged to a class which furnished a pamphlet sized booklet with the lesson for the day and each child knew the lesson with its "Bible verse" for memorizing these verses were often recited as they dressed. Papa went but Mama stayed home with the youngest one or two.

The group came home together, often with one or two others (to spend the afternoon) and again there was no rush for the return walk.

One Sunday, a friend of Lutie' s (who went to another church) was waiting to talk a bit, Papa did not slow down, so she walked with Lutie. Her Mother had seen Mama in town the day before and they talked of Mama's vegetable garden. That Mother had a boarding house and she had the idea that Mama send fresh vegetables, by buggy, to her home twice a week. This girl was to tell me that I could make money this way. 

Ha! A great idea. I was eleven or twelve years old. The next morning found me and Em in the buggy with its back end full of vegetables with cantaloupes and watermelons under the seat. They delivered to this boarding house where most of the produce was bought. Then the two girls decided to drive about eight blocks further to another boarding house and try to sell the remainder.  

It worked! They were in business! Street peddlers? Yes, you could call them that. They bought a bell (on a handle), would drive to someone's door, ring the bell and sell something. They felt somewhat degraded but it paid well.

Mama would take the change, go to a store and come home with many pieces of material for the new clothes for the corning school year. Lutie is sure it helped pay for books, hose, shoes, etc. as well. Was ever grateful for this girl's Mother's thought and they were grateful for the produce as well

On Sunday not even a pair of scissors could be used, no needle could sew, books could be read, pictures could be drawn and colored, only quiet games could be played - no hop scotch, hide and seek - nothing to make noise. It was a long, quiet day.  

This seventh grade year (Lutie is now 14 and the year is 1912) Mama had bought through mail order - "Bellas Hess Company" - new winter coats for all and the frosty morning made everyone wear their new coats. The seventh grade had lost its teacher (Miss Cora Bathea) from meningitis and the class was almost quarantined and had different passing and recess periods from the others. A new teacher couldn't automatically be found, so the class had four teachers until the Superintendent of Schools (Mr. Hodges) took over. The first man teacher Lutie had and she was simply scared of him.

The switch engine for the Southern Pacific gave a fire-signal, which was taken up by the Cotton Compress Company whistle. That was Hearne's way of fire alarm. Lutie' s class room had just risen to leave for the recess period. Mr. Hodges said, "Sit down. There's too much confusion."

The classroom was upstairs and Lutie could see her home on its hill and it was ablaze.

This home (the "Big House") had been built of hand hewn cedar (in the days of slavery) and was a huge eight roomed house. What a gorgeous blaze! She didn't say a word but how she did make tracks! On the way, as she ran (with this new coat on) she took it off and hung it on a fence post. She was ahead of the others - who did the same thing. People, buggies, horses, etc.. were hurrying also. Her one thought was of Mama and her two little brothers. They were seated in Papa's Morris chair (from the porch) at the foot of the hill.

"Where's Mama?" Lutie asks.

"She's up there. Isn't it pretty? was the reply.

Men tried to keep the children back, so Lutie scooted way to the east and around to the back of the fire.

Two years before, Mama had a man dig a hole about twelve feet square and four feet deep within the yard and had filled the hole in again after laying fine-meshed chicken wire within the open space. Wire was added to this on top - making it into a rabbit pen - so the nests could be underground. This was a more natural way to raise rabbits.

Previously she had used wooden hutches above ground, which proved to be too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.  

When Lutie told the men that this was a rabbit pen, they took the posts out - on the fire side (should have been the other side - but maybe not). The animals ran into the fire! Rabbit screams are so like a child's screams. Lutie and these men knew what was happening but the others thought that some child or children were in the fire.  

Mama had an iron pot of collard greens on the stove cooking and (as was later decided) the damper in the stove was open and a spark (or many sparks) had burst into the bedroom through the open door connecting the rooms.  

This room was a bedroom in summer because of its south windows which let breezes in. It was the dining room during the winter. Could warm some from the heat of the wood burning iron cook stove.

Mama found two of its three beds ablaze. She shut doors - put a feather bed mattress and its top covers into a roll top trunk and also pulled three pictures from the wall before closing the lid. She pushed the trunk off the porch; ran into the hall - gave Central a ring and then pushed the sewing machine off this same porch. Breeze was from the south. The machine lost a drawer but the trunk and its contents were OK. The only things saved from this whole house? No! She pushed Papa's chair off the front porch telling the two little boys (aged 6 and 4) to pull it to the foot of the hill, to sit in and stay there. They did.

An empty house - on the south side of Hearne had to be found - as near the sand hill as possible so animals could be cared for while vegetables and fruit could be brought from the farm. They went to a small white house next door to cousin Della Brock! People came from everywhere bringing furniture, and all sorts of things - especially food - kerosene lamps even. Kerosene was bought in a one gallon can with a spout on it. The family made it through the night OK and next day found a larger house - across from cousin Della's and moved into it. More things being brought.

There was a dug well on the porch just outside the kitchen door. Who could ask for anything to be handier? This well had not been used for some time and should have been pumped dry - fresh water could then be used. The health authorities should have taken care of this. They had not done so. The family moved into this house. It was the very same place Freddie Snell had lived many years before.  

Since the family had been accustomed to two bedrooms, the third one could be rented. Mr. Bowlin, a barber, and his wife took it.

Tot became ill. 'Twas typhoid (from the water). We were quarantined once more. Mama was Tot's nurse and their room was across the hallway from the other rooms. Mrs. Bowlin became manager, in Mama's place.

This was really all uncalled for, because there was city water piped into homes. The landlord had not connected with it. The family got water from Mrs. Shoap's place - caty-cornered across the street.

One of Mama's friends introduced her to a beneficial outlet: the Larkin Company! To belong to it one paid a $5 fee and must order through its catalog at least $5 worth of goods. This could be almost anything from spices up - in grocery department; cosmetics; threads, etc.; materials (all sorts from the thinnest to tapestry); canned goods and more. For each $5 there was a profit-sharing certificate. A thick catalog for these to be "traded" to the company.

Mama received certificates galore. Often a person, who didn't want to trade hers, would give them to Mama. For a certain number of new members, she would get certificates. She began to trade hers; one was the chiffarobe-dresser that is a story told about in this book.

A Dresser-trunk was one: the lid to this was hinged in its center. The front edge of this lid was at the bottom of the front of the trunk. Its lock was down there. Lift the lid and it all becomes a dresser. The mirror is on the inside, which is now above the trunk. Below the mirror is a box-like shelf-half! The other half stays on the trunk. Makes a set of two of these shelves - each with a button-snapped lid. Quite handy. The trunk hinge is between them.

There are three deep drawers that can pull out and one shallow one (at the bottom) which one gets to by pulling the bottom drawer all the way out. The whole is papered in a lovely pastel patterned paper and each drawer has two leather pulls. This trunk went with several of the sisters (first to college and later to the first year of teaching). Was lost in a fire when Jewel had it, and her boarding house burned.

Mama received a rather large kerosene-burning pull-down lamp - called a "lectrolier". It had a decorated ceramic or glass bowl shaped shade. It hung on three smooth rolling chains. It was hung over the dining table, sent a wonderful glow over a large space. Much studying or "lesson-getting" was accomplished below this lamp.

There was a smaller lamp, of the same type, a chained pull-down, which hung in the front hallway and was often complimented on by newcomers to our home.  

She received a wicker type settee - quite sturdy and attractive, as well as useful. There was another of these - much larger and heavier - which had double cushions. Remove the upper one; a drawer came out from below; the other and a cushion could be placed on it. This made a double bed. The drawer could be disconnected and the mattress added. Then, there would be two beds. Very similar to the studio couch, which came into use many years later.

She took a liking to the silverware. We had a silver fruit bowl (on a slender base) - just right for one-half orange; silver cream and sugar bowl; several silver serving dishes and two sets of tableware.

When Lutie and Link were going to the University of Arizona they met a Larkin - great-grandson of the founder of the Larkin Company. It's a small world!  

High school consisted of Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Grades. Lutie is in Seventh when the home bums; they move into town, into a rented house, which all felt was a disgrace. There was a dug well - on the porch and just outside the kitchen door. What could be better?  

Tot, the sister just older than Lutie, developed typhoid fever. This well should have had its water pumped out because it hadn't been used for some time. The family is quarantined: Lutie, as well as her other sisters, studied and passed the final examinations - except for Lutie's Latin and Algebra (these are difficult to study alone). The Eleventh Grade was added to the curriculum but she still had to repeat Seventh Grade!  

Berry Lee came home for Christmas vacation, Georgia V. went to a house party at one of her friends' home. 'Twas customary for all "the group" (meaning Tot's, Lutie's and Em's friends) to "see" the person off on the train. All felt it odd that Berry Lee insisted all the girls wear hats that night - but they did.  

She told everyone "good-bye" until she got to Lutie. "No good-bye for you. You're going with me. Your clothes and books are in a trunk and are already aboard. Tell them all good-bye".

What shock! Bill Edwards, who sorta dated Lutie, climbed aboard also. He had a Southern Pacific Railroad pass and could ride as far as Waller, Texas on it. That's almost to Houston, where Berry Lee and Lutie would change trains to go on to Sour Lake. He did just that - much to Berry Lee's disgust! Lutie often wondered if this move were not made to break up whatever might have been between these two "teenagers". But the family was having a depression (before depression became fashionable).  

In Sour Lake, Lutie was the "New Girl in Town"; being a sister of not one but two teachers helped boost her also.  

It was a small High School - only twelve students in her Eighth Grade. Sure! She entered Eighth Grade and both her sisters helped her in the evenings to "catch up" with her group. Georgia V's teaching Latin proved great - although Lutie was still rather strong on that first year - she had been in class almost four months. She breezed along well.  

In this group was an Indian girl with her heavy braids of black hair. She was very smart and quite witty. The Algebra class kept everyone on his or her toes because there was one boy who could not say "arithmetical" correctly. It came out "arithmetickle". Juanita, knowing this expression would be in Bob's problem, would be sitting on the front of her chair - one hand on each knee - in great expectancy. When Bob would use the term, she'd let out a laugh that would sound to New York. The whole class (teacher included) would be ready for this performance.  

Social life among teenagers was something also for Lutie. Movies, silent of course - especially Friday niters (cost ten cents) were of the continued variety. She remembers "Neil of the Navy" especially because Link and she began it together and they saw every episode.  

Mrs. Wilson's T Model Ford (Tin Lizzie) which they all called "Jane" had a lock that could be picked with a hairpin. Link and Lutie would walk to the movie; his mother generally came later, they'd pick the lock and take Lutie home and Link would be back before his mother was through with the movie.  

Late on Sunday afternoon Epworth League met at the Methodist Church. A big number of teenagers would be there. A walk afterwards or a ride in Jane was the finale to that. 

Did you ever go to a Box Supper? It's a great way to "raise" funds when needed. A girl prepares "box lunches for two"; puts them in a box; decorates its outsides and it is bought - in auction - by the highest bidder. Don't always get the right buyer but can arrange to sit with others.

Home parties on the weekends were fun. "Tacky Party, Hobo Party, Cowboy Party" or just plain party.

These were always well chaperoned and there was very little hanky-panky going on. One (to be popular) guarded behavior strictly.  

Grandma and Aunt George spent some time with Uncle Bob and Aunt Pink Belcher, who lived near Bremond Texas. A neighbor of his coaxed him into planting sorghum cane. The two men set aside too much acreage and the yield was terrific.  

Mama, always looking for adventure, decided she would take her whole group via covered wagon and go help make sorghum molasses. Papa made the bows for the wagon and she sewed the cover.  

What fun! Bedding, clothing, large containers (she wasn't sure what would be needed) and the ten children were seated on the floor of the covered wagon and, with Mama driving, the two smallest boys and Berry Lee beside her, they were on their way.

Grover Dotson, the cousin living closest to us, begged to go but she wouldn't let him. He rode a horse and went more than halfway with us anyway.

Grandma was so excited that she had Uncle Bob hitch a buggy and they came to meet the group. The whole area was surprised at what Mama had done, so a real reception was held.

Lutie was sure that the whole thing was historic. Huge grinding wheels were laid on their sides about four feet above the ground. They were over a big, deep metal basin and were turned by two mules, who went around in a big circle, outside these crushers, and their harness was attached to a pole that turned the wheels.  

Stalks of cane were cut by men with long sharp knives and their outside sharp bladed leaves were stripped from them. The bare stalk was placed (big end first) between the crushers, making the juice within the stalk pour out into the container.

While this was in progress, several women had a fire blazing under three long metal vats. The juice was transferred by pails, to these vats and began to cook. The women stirred it (to keep it from scorching for this juice is very sweet).  

This went on all day with neighbors, friends and sight-see-ers crowding around. No one was excluded and since it was done in the open, anyone could come and watch.  

Late in the evening the vats would have had contents emptied several times - poured into big wooden barrels.  

Of course, there was "sampling" done all day long. Each one came with spoon and dish to get a bit from the person stirring. Let cool and then taste! A great treat! Hot molasses! Not syrup! Molasses is much thicker, heavier, browner and stronger tasting.  

When the family was to leave on the third day, Uncle Bob gave "the boys" a brownish puppy, because it was off color to all six of the black ones. He also had a baby pig for them. The smallest in the litter, often it is a "runt". They left with Brown Pup and Piggy Pop. After we arrived home the pig was given milk and his sides puffed out really big. Belcher, the youngest brother said "If you'd poke a pin into him he'd pop". Therefore, he became "Piggy Pop".  

These animals became "following pets". They did just that! Brown Pup played and Piggy Pop needed his chin scratched. That was the way the children pleased him the most. But Brown Pup mimicked the boys. They would straddle through the wooden slats in the big gate to the pasture; he would jump through and "laugh" back at them. They would put hands on the red picket fence and vault over, he would jump over; sit and "laugh". They would cartwheel and he could do that but when they stood - on their heads - he would sit and howl. Mama knew when 4 o'clock came. Brown Pup sat outside the front yard gate, looking toward the school. When the bell rang for school dismissal he would go to the big pasture gate and wait for the children.

He was a good watch dog; he would follow Mama's directions! She would point at a chicken, or any poultry and he'd catch it for her. This was done very quickly: he would hold it in his front paws, put his head on it and lie really quietly. He died while following the boys down the lane. Everyone cried as a grave was made for him there.

Belcher hurried to Mama and wound up the tale of woe. "Everyone cried but me."  

She answered, "I understand. Go wash the tears from your dirty face!"  

When the home burned all the children looked for and called Piggy Pop. He was not to be found. He came grunting in at about dusk. He apparently had run down into the willows by the creek. He lived (in a lot) in town, growing too fat and Mama finally sold him to a butcher. He couldn't follow in town; the lot was too small for him to exercise; he ate. Pigs do make good pets.  

Cantaloupes and watermelons are great products of sandy soil - Papa planted many acres into melons.

The whole family had a good habit of rising early and gathering fruits or vegetables while the dew was still on them. They were cooler then. These were hoarded (collectively or individually) within the smoke house to be eaten whenever the person wanted them.  

The Stewart home was "open house" all summer but especially when the watermelons were first ripening. The family shared liberally.  

Sliced cantaloupes were in huge platters on the breakfast table quite often. Watermelons were a mid-afternoon treat - like the British tea-time.

Papa was quite particular in the planting and growing of watermelons, and was most successful. He planted only Collectly Sweets. These were thin skinned and very sweet.  

One year all the growers of watermelons were to ship them all over the state. Papa did not get his planted as early as usual (for some reason - Lutie doesn't know) so did not ship melons, but had an over crop, it seemed.

Pete had spent the school year with Aunt Mollie Johnson (one of Papa's sisters) in Glenn, GA. She lost her husband and asked for "one of your girls" for companionship. Mama had never been to Georgia, so she and Papa decided they'd go (via train) and bring Pete home.

Lutie had been in S.H.N.I. in Huntsville that year, where Georgia V. joined her for summer school. Georgia V. had an appendix attack, was sent (via train) to Houston for an operation. Lutie accompanied her - although she (Georgia V.) was in the baggage car (on a stretcher). Berry Lee met them in Houston; stayed with Georgia V. and then took her to the Sand Hill to recuperate.

She came! Yes! Brought two friends also - one had two small sons. Berry Lee took over (all of this) even to tolerating Henry, the Black boy, who became a real handful after Papa left. 

There were hundreds of watermelons! Berry Lee hand painted a lovely poster and posted it in the Post Office. 'Twas a slice of watermelon and directions on "how to get them". Trucks, buggies and wagons came. People were delighted. She had them drive to the "Turn Row" then walk to get the melons. "No breaking, eating or damaging melons or vines". They would "load up" then stop by the house, where she priced each melon. Then they'd pay.

Papa was delighted with her managing and it really paid bountifully.

Berry Lee made cottage cheese. Using cheese cloth she hung some under the grape arbor shade and the boys (Harper and Belcher) really gave her trouble about that. When the large bowl of cottage cheese was passed to them at the table, we heard, "Aw! It's just clabber".

Watermelons are planted in well plowed soil. The plows must go north and south over the land; then east and west. hills (places to put seeds) are about six feet apart and well fertilized. They don't need the hoe, as do the plants that are in rows. Whenever a rain or shower came, the family would go (en masse) watch carefully not to step on vines, and hand pull any weeds. The vines have large leaves and quickly cover over the earth, as the blossoms come and melons follow.  

One time, the band boys (after practice) came to Papa's melon patch: they stole, they tramped vines, burst and ate only the hearts out of melons, then went home.  

Papa was simply sick! Who could do such a thing? He found the mouth piece of one young man's horn! Then he knew the culprits. They paid and they paid plenty.  

Once, as Lutie was to begin her third year of teaching in Pecos, TX, a fellow teacher, whom she'd just met, offered her a ride "to see the area at night". The driver was a High School boy, as was his partner, and they'd had this young woman as an English teacher the year before. 'Twas a moonlit night and they drove slowly, explaining things and places to Lutie. They stopped in a narrow lane with a barbed wire fence on each side. A dirt road in a truck-farming area. The boys got out, crawled through one of the fences and disappeared. When they returned, each had a watermelon under each arm. Just as they crawled through the fence, a gun began to fire. Lutie yelled as though hit. She realized what was going on. They drove off. Later, they ate the melons and she tried to forget it.

She had a friend in Willis.TX. whose friend, a Doctor, was in Pecos. He'd been told of Lutie and they had several dates. On one of these, he drove into the same area as she had been before. She told him of the experience and how she'd felt guilty as if she'd picked the melons. He stopped at a lovely home and insisted that she "go in" with him. It proved to be his half brother's home. He was the owner of the watermelon patch and they still had a good laugh over the episode. 'Twas not the first time for this man and he'd shot "into the air". Laughed heartily about Lutie's screeching as it was the only time he'd had this repercussion.

Many years later when Larry and Lutie had taken three of Jerralee's children to Fran's in Texas, she had acreage within a certain radius of a lovely lake which gave her the privilege of using the lake. She took the whole shebang in her station wagon. Pillows, cushions and bolsters were used to sit on.

There were other people at the lake. One group who were leaving, came over and offered to leave watermelons for this bunch of children. They even sliced them. My! How the gang ate. They'd take a slice and walk with it to the garbage cans - and have it ready for the can by the time they reached it. Got some cute Kodak snaps of them (unposed) in wet bathing suits, with melon juice all over the place.

On their way to Fran's, Larry had bought melons from a road-side group so he knew how well each one liked them.

Both Papa and Mama were fond of horses. Mama's first one was a baby foal, whose mother had died at her birth. Mama was a little girl, but insisted that she could raise this long legged baby. Gave her the name "Snowflake" for she didn't have a black hair on her. Through a homemade contraption of cloth and tarpaulin, the baby could suckle warmed cow's milk and Mama had a continuous job on her hands. Snowflake followed like a dog and with the constant feedings grew up really fast. Mama taught her as she fed her, when Snowflake was large enough, a saddle was put on her back.

Mama was quite a tomboy. Wild indigo grew on the farm. She gathered indigo seeds, flowers and even leaves and put them in a deep pool in the creek.  When she thought the water was blue enough, she rode Snowflake through it many times.

Grandma was sewing (she did beautiful stitchery) when she heard terribly heavy footsteps and the whole house seemed to shake. In came Mama leading a blue horse with deeper blue mane and tail.

Grandma fainted! This she could do quite easily. She always carried "smelling salts". 'Twas a square bottomed (but round topped) small jar. Her grandchildren liked to sneak a look into her "satchel" and to get a sniff of this stuff. It would nearly knock their heads off.

Under Mama's patient guidance she carried Mama and danced to music. Mama used a riding quirt (a short handled stinging whip) and tapped Snowflake's front knees. They were quite a team. Once many years later when a circus was in town, there was to be a parade. So Mama (on her side saddle) rode Snowflake and received much applause. Snowflake disappeared that night and was never found. The family always thought the circus people stole her.

When Georgia V. was to teach her first school, she received a contract with the Black Jack Community School - five miles from home. She could live at home and commute. She decided on the buying of a mare - hoping to have a herd of horses. Penelope was a dappled grey, quite gentle and a good buggy animal. Papa furnished the buggy which had isinglass curtains (to be snapped on in bad weather) which were used in winter time. Two big red bricks were put in fireplace while Georgia V. dressed and had breakfast. These were wrapped in cloths, put in bottom of buggy to keep Georgia V's feet warm; a lap robe was tucked over her knees and legs.  

Penelope's first foal "Gloria" was a pet and wanted to follow anyone who came into her pasture. Once a chicken hawk had been scaring Mama's chickens and flew off into a "fenced off" field of corn. Berry Lee got the double barreled shotgun and was going to get it. Here came Gloria, slipping up on Berry Lee. 'Twas funny to watch! Berry Lee would slip along, perhaps twenty steps, then turn around to make Gloria go back. Soon she was close enough to shoot and when she did - she shot both barrels. Gloria was very close to her and turned a double somersault as she tried to get away. The force of the shots (both of them at once) knocked Berry Lee down. Through the dirt and dust one couldn't see the girl, the colt, or the bird for several minutes. Yes, she got the hawk! Gloria quit slipping up on people and Berry Lee left the gun alone for awhile. Her shoulder was black and blue for awhile, Gloria. had peculiar hooves. They turned up as they grew and she had to be shod more often than the other horses. The hoof would have to be cut off and filed quite a bit before a shoe could be fitted on her.

Papa liked horses. He demanded a matched team for the carriage. Certain horses were better as saddle animals: one was Night - slick black with a small star in forehead - long mane and tail. She had the saddle gait of single foot; pace, etc.; was quite gentle and easy to catch, when in the pasture. Once as Lutie strolled around by herself (which didn't happen very often) she saw Night and decided she'd ride! Caught her easily, petted her and led her by the mane to a willow, which bent by Lutie's weight, she climbed on Night's back and away they went at a good clip (Lutie guiding her by the mane). They came to a shallow but wide ditch and Night rose to the occasion, leaped it gracefully leaving Lutie sitting beside the ditch. Night came back and waited for Lutie to rise then walked quietly beside Lutie to the home. It really hurt Lutie and she didn't try that again.  

"Alice" was the best buggy horse; not too hard to catch and harness but rather slow in going to town (could come home like a runaway locomotive). Once in the switching of her tail 'she caught the lines under her tail and did she ever move! Thus the girls learned to lean over the foot of the buggy, catch a few hairs on her tail - put the lines under and then could go to town in a hurry. Didn't have to do this on return, as she seemed to know that she'd soon be free and she'd move fast.  

She made a big noise as she ate her feed in the evening. As the family ate at the supper table, they'd hear Alice bite and chomp her corn (it was corn on the cob), she'd often kick the sides of her stall as she ate.  

Lutie took a class in history, when in Sam Houston Institute and her teacher was a Miss Kirkland. As the final test was being held Miss Kirkland ate an apple - making as much noise as Alice and her corn. Her desk was up on a rostrum - was elevated two steps above the class. The apple made Lutie think of Alice and when Miss Kirkland's foot hit the inside of her desk Lutie snickered! 

"Miss Stewart, see me after class." 

Lutie did and told her why the suppressed laughter. Miss Kirkland laughed also.  

Once as Avis Mateer, Iscah's sister, came across the pasture Hobson was close. Avis caught her; using her bare toes on Hobson's big knee - Avis climbed aboard. Mama was delighted for she'd done similar stunts before she married and she loved Avis. She would have punished any of us had we have caught Hobson and ridden him.

Mama had oodles of Rhode Island chickens. These are very large chickens and good for laying big eggs. She could go into the barnyard and call "Chicky, chicky, chicky" and they would all come running. Therefore she was the person to scatter the corn that the girls had shelled for them.  

Lutie once broke up a rooster fight and one of those two never did forgive her. She carried a big stick whenever she went into that area, for he would "spot" her and come charging.  

This call for chickens didn't bother the geese, ducks, turkeys or guineas. Each seemed to recognize its own name. "Goosie, goosie, goosie" brought the geese to its corn. "Ducky, ducky, ducky" brought the ducks while the guineas waited for this call "Potrack, potrack, potrack" and the turkeys (always last for they dominated the whole area) when "Turkey, turkey, turkey" came.  

There was a lower clay hill north of the Sand Hill. It had the family cemetery on its top. Cantaloupes were planted on its side one year and they were marvelous. Uncle Wint (one of Mama's brothers) talked Papa into digging a pond at the foot of these two hills. It had enough clay to hold water and the geese and ducks loved it. There was a lone crane that came each summer. Bub was scared silly of this long legged thing, although it never bothered with him. It merely came down to eat and swim. Papa gave Bub small boxes of dried raisins to carry in his coverall pockets "to make him brave". It did appease his fright: whenever the crane came, Bub would get the raisins, begin to eat them and not run away.  

Iscah (Lutie's best pal) had a little brother, Robert, who came with his mother - to visit Mama - and he saw the goslings. He cried when it came time for them to leave. He, too, could not say "Lutie" - called her "doodle". When Lutie stopped to see Iscah, Robert asked, "Doodle, how the goosies are?"  

The family never knew when there' d be roast fowl, of some sort, for the evening meal. Brown Pup could catch one for Mama. She loved to surprise the mob.  

Geese have lovely soft down, especially on the chest so Mama would have Brown Pup catch the geese (one by one) in the springtime and she'd "pick them" - get the down feathers before summer came. Pillows and feather mattresses were made.  

Eggs from these birds were plentiful and were cooked many ways. A goose egg is huge and the big picnic basket often had one hard boiled goose egg in it. A curiosity for the other children at school. Eggs, as well as fowls of different kinds could be sent to a store, after calling via telephone, as to what could be handled and how many. A quick way to have cash when it was needed.

Hens loved to slip away and lay their eggs in a hidden area. Soon the hen would be clucking and Mama said she was ready to "Set". This means put her on a nest full of eggs - to herself - and she'd have to keep them warm for a period of time until they hatched. When Mama would hear a clucking hen, everyone watched her to find where the hidden nest was. Sometimes a hen with over a dozen chicks would appear. Mama would be disgusted that no one had heard this hen before time.  

She bought a Sears Roebuck kerosene heating incubator one winter. It had a clear glass top and the whole family had the fun of seeing 144 baby chicks come out of their shells.  

Lutie became the chief mother hen. Since the house was high off the ground, an area was chicken wire fenced off (smallest wire mesh Mama could buy). It was Lutie's job to crawl under each day and see that each chick was housed in its brooder.  

Mama tacked cloth in rows onto the inside of a box top. This cloth was torn into strips, making it the mother hen's feathers. There were very few chicks lost so it became a yearly thing. These chicks had plenty of air, feed and water - western sunshine and grew more rapidly than when cared for by a hen. They had more frying size birds at one time which set well with the family. Have you ever eaten fried chicken for breakfast?  

There is a vast difference between a sweet potato and a yam. The yam is darker meated, thinner skinned, much sweeter and is very moist when cooked.

In spring when Mama sees the eyes of the yams were beginning to sprout, she had Papa build a "hot house" or a "cold frame" for her. It was a bit over three feet wide and was 25-30 feet long. Boards around its edges; it was filled with rich soil and Mama would cut the eyes from the yams as she prepared them in the kitchen. This was a wide V shape in the yam, leaving a bit of it (as food). These were planted in the cold frame which was on the ground south of the house - to get sunshine all day. There was a top for this frame of meshed chicken wire to lean from the front edge of the frame and elevated on its back edge almost two feet up on the "footing" of the house. Then a glass top was over the wire. The glass helped keep the heat inside and could be removed, while the wire kept birds from bothering the plants. They came up and vines ran from them, filling the frame.  

When the first signs of spring came these vines were cut into about eight inch pieces; land (several acres of it) were plowed with soft heaped-up earth between furrows. When the children reached home from school, everyday clothes were put on and everyone went to plant yams.

The smaller children could lay these pieces of vine over the humped up soil - about six inches apart. The next person came with a blunt stick in hand; poked the vine piece with this stick; struck a bit of loose earth over it and went on to the next one.  

The next person had a pail of water (one of those syrup buckets) and a dipper or cup. The job was to pour a cup of water on this "batted down" piece of vine. 

Doesn't sound like much of a job and it really wasn't with so many to help do it. Then sticks, buckets and cups had to be brought home and put away for another year.  

Lutie had a tune and words for her vines: she'd poke it and sing, "hope you don't live" as she hopped to the next with the same refrain. Silly child! These yams meant much for family food all year. There are many ways to cook yams and they are very healthy. 

During the summer, the vines had to be turned on the top of the row, so a plow could come down the row and pile more dirt up to the plant. In the fall of the year, a plow was pulled right down this hill top and yams were unearthed. Only the best were gathered and taken to the house. Hogs were herded into this field to get the cut or bruised as little ones.

Now a potato bunk is built: the largest ones are placed on the ground in a circle with others placed on top - in a pyramid form. Seal over this: corn stalks, with leaves off are laid carefully on top, making a teepee. More dirt is piled on top of this. When cold weather comes this dirt keeps the yams from freezing.  

When yams are needed in the house, someone comes to the bunk, digs a hole between stalks at the ground level and pulls out as many as are needed. Then dirt is put over the holes and a new one is made next time. The yams above naturally slide into the empty space.

Mama's small hands were very strong but she never sliced anything away from her. Always with a stroke towards her. She would peel these yams and slice them, toward her, in thin slices; used three skillets and fried these. The best pan cakes, flap-jacks, or such you ever ate. 'Twas a marvelous breakfast. A baked one in a school lunch basket was a treat.  

Since Grandma was there most all winter, she often had smaller yams, baked in the fireplace coals, but warm in the ashes as the children came home from school - cold as could be.

What was better than a hot or cold yam?

Sand protects the yams so well as to winter time so it was decided that the onions (this sandy soil grows such big, bulbous plants) should be buried in the sand under the floor of the corn crib. Whenever an onion was needed, any child could get several from under the sand.  

Corn is essential on this farm: the livestock use it for feed; the fowls need it; and the family uses it, especially in cornmeal.

The first man behind a plow makes a shallow trench with loose dirt on each side of it. Anyone of the children can plant the corn - it is normally called "drop the corn" for that is what this child does. Usually bare footed (the newly plowed ground is fresh smelling and very cool to the feet) the corn is dropped - one grain and about eight inches apart. Should two grains fall - that is permissible, one can be eliminated when the first hoeing takes place.

There's a second man with a different blade on his plow. This covers the dropped corn and leaves a slight hump on the top of the ground. It takes two men and a child to plant this acreage.

In a few days the plants stick their heads out of the soil but it is not ready for the hoe until it is three or four inches tall. Then all the girls (who are at home) come. Each is armed with a hoe to cut any weeds or grass - heap a bit more soil around each plant and pull out any extra plants (should there be two or more in any place) leaving the biggest plants.

This is not hard work, for Papa has sharpened the blade of each hoe, using a long, heavy hand file, and with several people in the group - each time they go one long row, it leaves quite a slash in the whole area. At the end of the row, a turn around area must be cleared entirely. Water has been brought (in one or two of those little syrup buckets) so the children can work until noon. They usually go to the farthest distance to begin this job and each "slash" through brings them closer home.

They go home for lunch (called "dinner" on the farm) and a test period (often a nap time) before returning to the job. They work until early dusk when it's a rush to fulfill the usual chores before supper time.

When the plants are about two feet tall, tassels form at the top from which pollen falls into the open tips of the upright ears which catch the pollen on silks inside to create the kernels on the cob.

This pollinated corn grows rapidly and is closely watched by Papa and Mama. To judge its development, the tips of several ears have their husks pulled open so the kernels can be seen and sampled for ripeness. Some are taken to the kitchen to be husked (called "shucked") and the silks removed.

Now it can be boiled or roasted. Grandma called this "parch". She often sat near the oven, as the meal was being prepared, and turned these rows of corn as they browned. The family called this "roasting ears" or for short, "roasin ears", and with salt and butter they preferred this manner of cooking - rather than boiled "corn on the cob".  

Kernels could be cut from the ears - using a very sharp knife and scraping the final bit from the cob. This gives creamed corn and can be prepared several ways before eating.

There's a third and most used way of the family's use of corn. Corn meal. As the children worked at "evening chores" each day (after school) the best ears of corn were piled aside - in the corncrib - to be used for meal. On Friday afternoons these ears of corn were carefully shelled and put into a gunny sack (a big bag made of hemp) to be taken to the Miller on Saturday.

A full bag was put into the back of a buggy to be removed by the Miller. One could do any errands demanding "downtown" attention and return to get the meal. This could be ground into coarse, medium, or fine meal. The family preferred fine. The Miller kept a portion (his pay) and the remainder awaited. He said he had no trouble selling Stewart's meal.

Cornmeal is used in so many ways by the cook. Of course, corn meal bread is first and foremost - while stuffing for a roasting fowl was second. There's nothing more refreshing than a glass of cold butter milk with cornbread crumbled into it - eaten with a teaspoon.

Dried corn on the cob is put into the stalls for the horses and mules, also given this way to the hogs. It has to be "shelled" (taken from the cob) for the geese, ducks, chickens and guineas. Cows can eat the husks (shucks) for they need more roughage. The cobs, left in the stalls, are used for starting of fires in the cook stove, the heaters and the fireplaces.

Corn is gathered in the Fall of the year, and is quite a task. A wagon is driven down the third row of five - allowing a person (pulling the ears from the stalks) to work on two rows at a time - helping with this third row which has been bent over by the team and the wagon. When the wagon-bed is full, it is taken to the barn and this is thrown into the corn crib by means of hand and seed forks - wide blunt ended forks within a wide frame, mounted on a handle.

Once more the wagon goes to the field and the same row is used for its progress.  The men use sharp knives o r scythes (half circled blades on a handle) to cut the tops of the stalks (with the dried tassels still on) and pull leaves from the lower stalk. This is roughage for cattle, mules and cows during the Winter.

If the tops are extra healthy they are often taken into the left arm as the right hand cuts them off. When arm seems full - a long leaf from a stalk is pulled around it and tied. It is then thrown into the wagon and is easier handled for storage and to give to the animals for feed. The tops keep more juice in them than the rest of the stalk.

The stalks, some leaves and much corn (smaller ears) are left and livestock is turned into this area for the winter. Good forage for all.  

This is a plant whose tops and roots (tubers) are useful to all farmers. The tops make super roughage for winter feed as well as when green while the tubers are used by animals as well as people.

The planting uses a humped up row of soft soil with a furrow in its center. Like corn, the raw peanut (usually has two kernels) is what is dropped one every eight inches or so apart and then another plow is used to cover these up. Takes two plowings and one person to plant.

In a few weeks, this field must have its weeds and grass removed and soil pushed around the plant. This field gets a second "chopping" before it is finally developed.

A plow turns the plants up out of the soil but someone completes the job by turning the seeds up to the sun - in rows. They dry and then are raked or seed forked to be put on wagons and brought to the barnyard. Here they are stacked or heaped into as few places as possible. Therefore a "peanut stack" is generally rather big around its base, and as high as it will stay put.  Cows like to eat at about their own level so a stack often looks queer for its sides are indented at about three feet - all the way around.

It is to these stacks that the family acquires nuts for eating (raw or roasted) and are gathered as often as anyone wants to get them.

The nuts are often ground (on a food grinder) and the oil drippings are used in cooking.

The baseball song "Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks, I don't care if I never get back" is really true when one develops a keen taste for the nuts,

Once when Lutie and her three children were stranded in a chair car on a Texas and Pacific train in west Texas, Thomas, who had an unusually clear voice, announced, "There's one thing I'm going to see in Texas this time. It's a peanut tree."

"Show it to me" says Lutie among all the laughter. Long before that incident, when Lutie was teaching English and Latin in a small school in west Texas, she could not find peanuts in any form. She and her new roommate, Ethel Mann, met "the train" (as passenger trains were called) and asked for the butcher-boy (one who sells all kinds of things on the train) and when he came to the door - he pretended he didn't know what peanuts were. "Goobers" said Lutie, and he produced some in very small packages. She bought all he had. Several children of the classes heard this and nicknamed her "goobers".

"It's O.K. out class, but don't let it slip in the classroom" and it never did. 

Perhaps the most important crop on this farm was peas. Peas grow on a bushy, leafy climbing vine so the proper place to plant them seemed to be between the corn plants. As the corn grew into a stalk, the vine climbed the stalk, growing many leaves as well as pods.

There are many varieties of peas: whip-poor-wills, crowder, black-eyed and many more. The family liked the black-eyed peas best, so they were planted in the corn that was nearest the house. The youngest peas (not developed) were known as snap-peas, because instead of shelling them - they could be snapped and opened (similar to beans) and were often mixed within the shelled (or older) peas for cooking.

The girls took bags, buckets or baskets for gathering - or they cupped the fully gathered or pleated skirts and filled them with peas. This was done late in the afternoon and they often sat and shelled (or snapped) peas for the next day's dinner. Let the peas fall back into the skirt "lap" and the shells, etc. dumped into one or two receptacles - to be emptied for the hogs.  

With such a large family, it took a lot of pea shelling to fill one of those iron pots for cooking. They don't swell when they are green, but they do - if they are dried - later in the year. They are seasoned with salt and pepper and salt pork is added, instead of butter. Covered with water, stirred once in a while, they boil by the hour until ready to eat. Served, most often, with cornbread rather than biscuits or other bread.  

In the fall, when peas are dried (in their shells) and still on the vines, the family gathered them, using a bag with strap over shoulder. These peas were put into wooden barrels or into gunny sacks (hemp bags) for storing.  

Often on a windy day, a tarp was spread on the ground in the barnyard. These dry peas are poured on the tarp, then flat slatted sticks were used to hit them, causing the shells to burst open and the peas to fall out. The shells were easily separated, but the finely broken parts (chaff) was another problem. Taking a flat fronted shovel, throw these into the air (over the tarp). The wind removed the chaff and the peas were gathered from the tarp. These peas were stored in large crockery-ware jars or in gunny sack bags for eating during the winter.

The plant part is left on the corn stalks and eaten by the animals during winter forage. 

The cooking of dried peas is a bit different. One soaks them in cold water, overnight before adding fresh water, the seasoning and pork. They are covered with water and cooked a la green peas.  

The year is 1917 and Lutie is 19 years old. Our country is at war and there must be a graduation ceremony. Since everyone is so war conscious, this small class chose green and yellow as their colors; Black-eyed Susan was their flower; their ring was a rather cheap silver one and since the Baptist Church could seat more people than any other place in Hearne, the "Exercise" was to be there.  

Lutie was Valedictorian and her dress was of French organdy with valencine insertion and lace. Mama worked many hours on it, for it had a shawl collar that wound around the waist; so there were long bias edges to cover. 'Twas really lovely!  

Harper, Belcher and Jewel picked field daisies by the thousands and took them to the church (in wash tubs - so they could be in water - and not wilt). The church was beautifully decorated and our motto "After the battle - victory" was centered above the stage.

After the ceremony Lutie and Papa had a very serious talk regarding her going off to college and about his assisting the financing. He argued that college was not necessary for "you and Link will marry, there will be children and you'll be busy making a home and rearing them".  

Nope! Lutie did not give up! So it was decided she should use the $75 that her brother John had sent - with a note "for college use only" - as a graduation gift.  

Since Georgia V, her friend Mrs. Cullens from Sour Lake, with her daughter Marguerite, were to go to Huntsville where Mrs. Cullens would be "housekeeper" for them all - Lutie should join them. After all; dividing expenses would make it more reasonable and Georgia V. could assist her in "selecting courses".

If this worked well Lutie would then see Mr. Philen at the Valley and Merchants Bank to get a loan, mortgaging anything from the farm that he would deem necessary. "Whatever you borrow, you'll have to pay back."  

She leaves the Sand Hill and will return (as a visitor or vacationer). This she often does and when the farm went up for auction - she and Link met with the others at the Courthouse in Franklin, where it was decided that Mama's piece of inherited property would be released. Then Link and Lutie hired another party to bid for them and he won.  

Aunt Georgia (Mama's sister) later bought the house, had it moved closer into town, where it later burned.  

It is now 1998 and Lutie is a widow, past 100 years in age, and still owns the farm in Hearne, Texas where it is rented pasturage for a man from Gause, who is grazing cattle on it.