in her words
See Other Articles below: Mid-wife to an Expectant Sow || Hands of the Saints || A Shopping Spree || Writing Under the Hair Dryer
Free Trip to Gatlinburg Awarded by a Great Place to Dine – 1989
The renowned Little Dutch Restaurant in Morristown, Tennessee was celebrating its Fiftieth Aniversary in 1989.
As part of reaching the milestone, it was awarding the winner of a weekly contest to have “luxurious weekend” at
Family Inns of America in Gatlinburg. Mama's letter on remembering her and the children dining there was chosen a winner.
So she and Daddy headed toward the Smokies arriving in plenty of time to spare. – “Joe” Fred
Yes, the three of us (Bruce, Bill and I) left our home
in Rogersville on April 7 at about 12:30pm. Drove to Morristown to Roy and Marie Turners house. They had so graciously invited Bill to spend the weekend with them. They are very special to us three. We arrived in Gatlinburg at about 3 pm and went all the way through the town looking for Family Inns.
Not finding it we turned and went back up to the other
end. Stopped at a pancake house and ordered pancakes (which we didn’t need) in order to get information about where our motel was. They didn’t know there was one in Gatlinburg. We got back in the car and turned into another street and asked the lady who was collecting at a parking lot. She didn't think there was one either but at my request she told me where the Chamber of commerce was. Of course, we missed the turn off and went to the next block. Bruce parked and I crossed over a fence that was mashed down and went across the field to the Chamber of Commerce office. Sure enough, they did know there was one and gave me a map showing it. In the meantime, a man came to Bruce and wanted to collect $2 from him for parking where he was,
but true to traditions Bruce talked him out of it.
Would you believe that we came right to it. It is almost in sight of Aunt Oleva’s house. It is very new. In the meantime, it was raining, which later turned into hail, but we carried our luggage into the office of the motel and let so relieved that we had finally reached our destination when, you won’t believe this, but they did not have any reservations in our names. Well, George (restaurant owner) had told us if there was any problem to have them call him collect. They did call the Little Dutch, but he wouldn’t be in until 5:30. The young manager said, “Wait a minute and let me call our marketing service.” There he found out that they had set up a reservation for us but had not verified it with this Family Inn. Any how the sweet manager said we will give you room 410, go look at it. If it's not what you like come back and tell me. He gave us a key for 410. We came on up and went in. We must have stood instead for at least 5 minutes aghast at what we saw, still holding all that luggage in our hands.
Finally, we sat down. Wow! You should see that room. A wide, wide bed, four big, tall posters, a beautiful spread on it, beside a big picture window with drapes the same color as the spread. How very wonderful. A beautiful with coffee table, a dining table with chairs to match, all made out of the same wood, a range, refrigerator, microwave oven, sink and all cooking utensils, dishes, etc. Over in the
corner was a large square hot tub. A fireplace in the center of the room, a TV, and of course in the bathroom a tub and shower and two heat lamps overhead. I opened the back door and went out on the veranda and looked down into the most beautiful rushing mountain stream. I turned the TV on and saw scenes of Knoxville and Gatlinburg which got me back on track and away from thinking we were in Paris.
In the meantime, Bruce has pressed a switch, and the fire place started burning, so pretty. We also tried out the hot tub. I got in and helped Bruce get in. After a while we began to get out. I got out ok but that’s only half of the story. He turned in every direction, trying to get up on his knees in order to get out. He said it just didn't have enough things to pull up on. I would pull and tug on him. Using all my strength I was thinking Oh my will I have to go get help to get him out of there. He told me I would just have to go downstairs and tell them, but he did finally get up on his knees and with my help we got him out. No resuscitation was needed. We both agreed that it is a great invention and planned to try it again at another time.
I called down to the desk to see if George had been reached. He had declared that all was well, and we were invited down to breakfast in the morning. Now my mind felt clearer than it had for a long time. We watched Atlanta play the Dodgers and win 6-1. By this time we knew how to work everything in the room except we can't get the microwave open. Oh, well, give us time. We ate our chicken salad sandwiches for supper. I had brought one Sprite and divided it. You would have thought we were eating lobster.
Our bed is really high, and I had a little tussle getting in with my short legs, but Bruce helped pull me up. Our breakfast was Danish rolls, juice and coffee. We are now watching TV. I had to turn the gas fireplace off. Bruce was afraid the logs would burn up. (Ha) Today we can see the mountain
covered with snow but so far it hasn't snowed here. We have a great view of the mountains from our window and the mountain stream below us. It is a cold rainy day, but we have a warm room. Maybe it will clear up after a while. We still haven't got the microwave open.
We drove over to Long John Silvers (which was real close) for our dinner (lunch) and got us pork and beans for supper. I asked Bruce to drive down the main drag. We stopped at Gatlinburg Inn and had a nice visit with Mrs. Maples, Aunt Oliva’s dear friend. She seemed glad to see us. It has rained all day but is real comfortable in our room. We got some things at the store for our supper.
I got back in the hot tub, but Bruce didn’t dare.
On our way home we stopped at Sevierville First Baptist for worship service. The trip was a great one. Thanks again to Little Dutch, George and wife, Roy and Marie Turner.
Exciting Things That Happened on the Farm
The Rogersville (Tennessee) Review wanted readers to share exciting things that had happened on the farm to them. Mama wrote this, but
sadly never sent it in. – Joe Fred
Hundreds of exciting experiences on the farm came my way, but being a mid-wife to a large expectant sow is a very memorable one. My only pig pediatrician came by observing my husband assisting in a similar delivery. This certain cold and blustery night Bruce (my husband) had placed two sows in their farrowing pens with a heat light and being an avid Bulls Gap basketball fan, I urged him and Bill to go on (not one time realizing the Barn patients’ time was so really nearly due).
They went on – I enjoyed an hour or so of my time alone – then I felt duty calling me.
To the barn I went and sure enough a sweet little red nosed infant pig was making
his appearance. I had brought my torn-up sheets with me, so I quickly dried him off and attached him to a place of nourishment. He responded very quickly. I glanced over at the other farrowing pen and lo! and behold! – that delivery had started.
Not even one female hog let the other female hog get ahead of them – from then on, I was back and forth – tit for tat – until eight were born to one and ten to the other – with both mothers and infants doing well. After a while I said, “Woman, you didn’t think you could do it.” It was a sweet and lasting memory and one more experience in my life.
I don’t remember if Bulls Gap won or not, but I know that Katie, Susey and I had won with eighteen 18 living trophies.
1. Hands that have labored to provide a livelihood for family.
2. Hands that that have given encouragement by a simple pat on the shoulder.
3. Hands that have given a feeling of kindness and fellowship in a friendly handshake.
4. Hands that have lifted up some fallen brother or sister back to a closer relationship with their Lord.
5.Hands that have given a cold drink of water in the name of Christ.
6. Hands that have soothed the fevered brow of a child.
7. Hands that have prepared and carried food to a sick neighbor or one in need.
8. Hands that opened the word of God – “Teaching and admonishing one another.
9. Hands that have led little children into the house of worship.
10. Hands that have been lifted up in that “God given” privilege of Prayer.
They thought Morristown was pretty far away,
But Shucks! they said, “we’ll go ‘cause we don’t have to stay.”
Now, they entered that great big old mall,
And didn’t know which way to go a tall.
They saw a sign that said Wal-Mart,
So they went that way and acted real smart.
As they entered, he said “I’m hungry, I want to eat,”
She said, “O.K, go find a seat.”
She took him a tray of real good food,
She said, “you eat that now and be a good dood.”
He said “now don’t you be gone too long,
‘cause I can’t walk because I’m not very strong.”
Then they left when he couldn’t eat any more,
He they he gave her $20 to spend at the dollar store.
That really hit the spot with my Mam Maw,
She thought “Dag gone it; I’m going to spend it all.”
She had him sit on a bench outside,
And she splashed that money like a rolling tide.
She came out of there with great big smile,
Knowing good and well that she wouldn’t be back for a while.
Then they finally found their way out of the mall,
But they couldn’t find that car at all.
She said this way, he said that way,
After a few words they found the old Chevrolet.
So, these door prizes are from the shopping spree,
Of Pap Paw and Mam Maw in 1993.
There is a guarantee they only cost one dollar and no more,
‘Cause they came from, nothing’s over a dollar store.
Excerpts from Mama “Writing While Under the Hair Dryer” in 1990 and 1991
(As a child), there was no mention of taking me to a doctor You just didn’t so then unless it was terribly had Ever spring my dad would dig sassafras roots and we would drink tea from it. A good spring tonic he would say. I believe in it so much so that I still make it. I don’t have the real roots. I have to buy them from the store.
I would get chiggers,
and gracious, mama would dampen the chigger bite and rub salt on the bite. I would especially get them when we would go to pick blackberries. They could get on you in the most awful places.
Dr. Horner would stay all night with his patients if need be. His main practice was delivering babies, and he was helped out by mid wives a lot. The mid wives had no training just learned from watching I guess and having their own. They certainly didn’t have degrees, and the majority couldn’t even read.
It was a big thrill for me when we moved real close to a road so we could see the cars go by and our mail box would be close. I remember the first few days we would hear a car coming up Siner Hill and would have time to run from the hack of the house to the front to see the car. They were few and far between then. That was the main road and the only way to get from Bulls Gap to Rogersville. I remember when I heard the first car with automatic drive come up the hill. He made a roaring noise when it would change gears. I said that I would not have one of those if it was given to me.
One year (I and four friends and maybe more 4-H’ers) went to 4-H camp over at Galbreath Sprigs for a week. We took vegetables out the garden and eggs to help pay our way. We also helped to cook some of the meals. At night we would play games and square dance and the “Old Virginia Reel”. I was always the one to play the piano. Some of my favorites were “Tip Toe Through the Tulips”, “Red Wing”, “Coming Round the Mountain”, “Red River Valley”, “The Waltz You Saved for Me” and many more by heart.
Now back to the time when we moved to Chalk Level in 1927 with my dad and mom and sister. As I said it was a very exciting time. I walked one and half miles to school with Alberta and Etta Kirkpatrick. They were my first cousins. There was no school bus at that time. I remember us going to school one morning after all three of us has been saved in a revival the night before. We were very happy and talked serious talk.
I helped my dad very much with his work. The farm was very rocky and it seems like I can still hear the hoe clanging against those rocks. He had to stop every little bit to sharpen his hoe. One of the jobs that I hated was when he would bring in the
wagon load of pumpkins and I would stand in the wagon and pitch them out to him one by one. You talk about a tired back, it was there. Another job I hated was suckering tobacco. I have done a lot of that even after I was married, until the spray came on the market. My daddy believed in work. My sister hated it. I helped her out by slipping back in tobacco row and catch her up.
My daddy was still carrying the mail as substitute and finally worked on routes. Routes 1 and 2 out of Persia. They had three routes at that time. My dad could go by car on one route and the rest by horse back. I would ride the horse out there for him on my way to school and sometimes drive the Model T. It had three pedals. You would push in and as you would release the pedal it would act. The pedal on the left was the brake, the middle was reverse, and the right was to go forward. You would push them in slowly but would let them out quickly. I was more afraid riding the horse than driving the car because there wasn’t many of them at that time. I would put the horse in the stable of a barn close by and walk back to the school house.