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Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg 76/123

Homerville we just seemed not to get back with them as often. We did
have the pleasure exchanging visits for two or three years, but as
the years passed we eventually drifted apart with other interest.

When the Hall family moved from Edith they gave us a start of green
sugar cane and a Persian Tom Cat ’’Puff." That was a very sad trip
for us to make back home with these items, for we knew they would be
going soon and we wouldn't get to see them as often in the future.
The green cane was easier to chew than red cane, it was softer and
juicier. But, "Puff" was a book all by himself, with some of the
things he could and would do. I can still see him now, coming in from
a hunt in the field dragging a field mouse half his size, he would
stop, drop it in the back yard, and keep making a fuss until we
noticed it. He had to be bragged on for what he had just done. Then
he would take it up a ladder to the house top and have a feast. He
was very well fed, but he still did his share of farm chores and
helped a lot in being the "Rodent Control Officer." He was as big as
a half grown dog, and just as spoiled. He had complete control of
Burnette, although she would not admit it (no one else could do
this.) He liked fresh warm milk, and we always had a good supply. He
would come into the old kitchen in the morning when everyone began to
stir, Burnette would ask "Puff you want some WOW?” This is what she
called milk to him. He would let out a very loud long hungry
MEEEEOOOOW. His way of saying yes, and he would be right there under
foot waiting his serving. He could finish off a bowl of milk in just
a very short time and be ready to eat, we fed him from the same
things we ate, REAL CATS eat from the table too. As long as we had
him, he never, ever tasted canned cat food. He was mistaken one night
by our neighbor as a rabbit and met an untimely demise. We all really
missed him, after all he was the youngest member of the family, the
second oldest grandson. He did earn a rightful place in the annals of
family history. We all received a lot of pleasure by having him those
few years.

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