Doris Memories

I recall a few precious memories of my childhood days, some of which happened when I was 5 years old or younger. 1 was very fortunate to have been born to such a loving, caring, and Christian family. Daddy would always ask the blessing before meals. He could use the biggest words, not to have gone to school. He more or less got his education by reading his Bible so much. We will always remember Daddy for his great love for singing.

In my early years, it seemed like Christmas would never come. I would look forward to it with great anticipation because Santa Claus would bring us stick candy, oranges, and nuts. Daddy always had a lot of good apples.

Mother was also so kind and good and she had a way of making you feel loved and so secure. Her main concern was her children, and always wanted us to put Daddy before her. I have eaten a lot of good meals, her light-rolls were my favorite.

I was less than 5 years old when Brodie went to Guilford College, but I can remember how sad 1 felt when he would come home and then leave to go back to college. I experience that sadness a lot of times, because I loved my brothers and sisters so much, and there were many different times they were leaving. While Brodie was in college, he brought two Japanese boys home with him. I can still remember one of their names, but I just can't spell it.

Ruth and Ura graduated from Boonville High School in 1930.1 was just 5 years old but I remember someone taking their pictures standing at the end of the porch, with their pretty white dresses on that they wore at graduation. How I admired them and it was so exciting what they had accomplished. Not long after graduation Ruth went to work and she got me my first store bought doll. I did not want her to go back to work and leave me. She did a lot of sewing for me too.

On 1/1/31, Ura got married. I vaguely remember her getting married, but I well remember her moving away to Bixby (which is less than an hour’s drive now.) It seemed like she was moving to the end of the world. I was 6 years old when Ura and Lola got married.

Lola want to work for a while; then she got married. She moved at least a mile and a half from home, and at that time she was my second mama. I remember the night she got married and how her wedding dress was made.

Lola, Ada Lee and Ben went to Union Cross School. I wasn't old enough to go but I got to walk with them a few times and how exciting that was. One time I remember going and when we got there some of the school girls ran up to me and pulled on one arm and some on the other arm. They got in an argument about who I was going to stay with. I did not know what to think of that. I wanted to stay with Lela and Ada Lee. One time I went and the school was having a picnic Mrs. Beatrice Shore was one of the teachers and she had some of those ‘big" sugar cookies.

Well Brodie went off to college, Ruth to Thomasville, Ura moved to Bixby, Lola left, then Lela went even farther than anyone. We went to Mebane to work it looked like I wasn't going to have anyone at home with me. One weekend Mother and Daddy let Ben and me go with Johnnie Bell to Mebane after Lela. That was a long ride at that time. One Christmas during the depression, Santa Claus didn't have enough money to bring me anything for Christmas so Lela made a new green outfit for my doll.

In 1932 we moved to Surry County, near Siloam. Daddy got a "big" truck to move us and at that time there was a ferry to cross the Yadkin River at Siloam. When the truck pulled on the ferry, they were concerned about it sinking, because it was loaded so heavily. Everything Mother and Daddy had was at stake, going across the river, even Ben was riding in the cab of the truck. Some of us stood on the Yadkin side of the river looking, watching and waiting. All I could think of was my dolls in the truck. In those days, dolls were just about the most important thing to a 7 year old girl. I remember saying, "and all my doll things are on there." The others standing there seemed to think that was funny, but I couldn't figure out what I said that was so funny.

Well, we got situated in the "Little Cabin in Gloryland." Daddy enjoyed living there so much, because the Pilot Mountain was directly east and in plain view of the house. No one loved the mountains as much as Daddy.

We had two cows and in the summertime it was my job to tie them out to graze and move them to different places until noon, them take them to the creek to get water. Sometimes Ada Lee would help me and if Ben didn't have to help Daddy he would help also. I thought of David the "Little Shepherd Boy" a lot of times, but no one ever came and said I would be king. I wonder if Ada Lee and Ben remember how much com and tobacco I chopped off when we were hoeing it? The sun sure can get mighty hot when you are "slaving" in the field at the age of 7 and 8 years old.

I was with Ada Lee more than the other girls and she helped me a lot. I know she remembers my legs hurt me so much and especially when I was in the second grade. My class walked and went on a picnic about 8 miles round trip. That was at Copeland School. One girls was selling candy at school and Ben would give me 5 cents everyday to buy me a Powerhouse candy bar, which was my favorite.

In the fell of 1937, we moved back to Yadkin County and I started in the 6th grade at Fall Creek. Soon after we moved back, I had the strep sore throat and almost didn’t make it. (How well I remember that.) Fred’s sister,

Ola, died with it that year, not long before I became sick.

After they were all married and gone from home, it was such a thrill to be looking for all of them to come back home on so many special occasions. Mother and I would start cooking on Friday, getting ready for Sunday dinner.

When I graduated from high school in Boonville, I was in the senior play. In the play, my Daddy got arrested and I really had to do some crying.

Mother and Daddy went through a lot of heartache especially when Brodie and Ben were in service. The day the war ended, Brodie was in Japan and Ben was in Germany. Daddy blew the car horn a long time. They were so happy and we all cried for joy.

Brodie wrote home from Japan and told about the boys finding a piano in a building that had been bombed and Brodie played "Home Sweet Home" for the Navy boys. He could play that and "Star of the East" so beautiful.