Page 90 - barefoot-in-the-sand-remembering-the-waning-days-of-the-hopewell-community-(1998)-bruce-c-gragg
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Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg  86/123




            EACH HAD CHORES TO DO

            It is very difficult after so many years to recall events in any kind
            of order, in terms of which thing occurred first. As we grew older,
            more and more chores became ours. Vera usually helped with cooking, I
            helped tend the livestock. As I got a little older I began doing the
            milking and other barnyard chores. I began doing the barnyard chores
            about the same time I became active in the 4-H, so they all worked
            together. We always had a cow in milk, and with several cows that
            created no problem. If I had been a little older and maybe a little
            smarter I could have very well been the inventor of VELCRO. After all
            the many times of getting slapped beside the head by a cows tail full
            of cockle burrs, I should have thought there was really a purpose in
            life for them. On a cold morning that will get your attention rather
            quickly. We usually had a good supply of milk and milk products and
            most always could carry milk to school when the weather was cool, it
            would keep until lunch. During this time two of the Pafford children
            (Barbara Jinn and Bernard)developed Diabetes, they needed milk and
            when they didn't have a cow in milk we would take milk to them on the
            bus and someone would meet the bus and get it every morning on our
            way to school. That was usually Vera's job she being the oldest.

            We all helped with the gardening and field work. When either of us
            had to go out to the barn at night, it was always frightful
            experience. The barn was about a hundred yards from the house, which
            didn't seem very far going but coming back it was miles. While going
            out we would always have a light, plus we could look back at the
            house and feel secure, but on the way back we never knew what was in
            back of us we had no lighted window to help see what was out there in
            back of us. Nothing awful ever caught us, but we weren't sure it
            wouldn't at the time. In daylight it was just a short stroll when
            going to the barn, but at night that was a different situation. Vera,
            reminded of this dilemma we faced when necessary to go to the barn at
            night. That hundred yards turned into a hundred miles at least. We
            had about four plots of land dedicated to garden. We always planted
            very big gardens, growing most vegetables that were suited for the
            soil in our area. During the times when the season was very wet the
            rice and sugar cane did exceptionally well, but when it was dry they
            didn't do very well. Some of the vegetables planted would last for a
            very short season, others would last for a year or two, such as
            collards and other greens. Papa believed in watching the moon and
            almanac when planting or transplanting, if the signs were not right
            nothing was planted or set out. In the garden by the "Waldron" house
            garden, we had collards grow about 6 ft. tall. Mr. Tommy Melton, our
            school bus driver, just had to stop and see for himself after we told
            him about them. He had never seen such a sight. He kept asking about












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