The year was 1955---summertime. Our neighbor was farmin and asked if me'n a cousin wanted a job of work. I asked'm what he wanted done. He said volunteer corn had sprouted up all over his bean field and the corn stalks needed to be cut out. Said he'd pay us both $40 to clear 40 acres. I told'm we'd do it. We knew he would pay [ check archives for the story of "watermelons, barbed wire] because he always was glad to get cheap help. Boy was this job cheap! We found out it wasn't such a good deal for us. We never looked at the field before takin the job. It took us almost 2 weeks to get all those cornstalks cut out! He paid us after we were done with the "choppin". We found out later that he couldn't get anybody else to do it for $40!! We couldn't blame him tho--we were the ones who didn't look at it.

I wonder if he remembers that little sneaky deal! I also wonder if he remembers the "midnight watermelon shoppin" he and a bunch of other did!! I'll just imagine he can look at his chest and remember the melons and that blasted barbedwire strung across that "gap" that he didn't see--in the dark of night!!

Model A Fords, original muzzleloader shotguns, muskets and Kentucky Squirrel Rifles, blackpowder, dynamite, grapevine smokin, homemade blackberry wine, "hoggin" for big catfish, walkin down dusty roads in the summertime when the dust was so hot it burned your old barefeet! All these things are completely gone or well on it's way.

Remember when ya'll wanted chick'n dinner? Go out to the chik'n house and wring the neck of a non-layin hen. They sure nuff was good in a big kettle of noodles!! Rat killin was also a yearly event. Corncribs, barns, hog houses and even chik'n houses were always full of those nasty filthy things. About all that was needed was a good stiff hickory club about 4 feet long, leather boots and a strong will to eradicate those things. [not one easily persuade to puke at the site of blood--any kind of blood!] After the "fun" was over and everybody was in good shape physically---as opposed to somebody who got hit with one of those hickory clubs---we would stack'm outside in a pile. A gallon or so of kerosene and a dropped match. Be sure and get upwind of those things a roastin. Believe I'll pass on all those long ago farm chores and entertainment. I'm kinda content to not do that anymore.

As Jerry Clower said on the "rat killin" song--"Mom-- we stomped that old rat, hit'm on the haid, kicked'm"--[and then he saw the preacher settin in the house talkin to his mom]---replied "and then the Lord called the poor soul home"!

Just in case ya'll'r wonderin---ain't gonna be no rats in heaven--politicans included! Jesus Christ is comin for His own. Do you belong to Him? He said that we can't serve two masters. Either we are for Him or we are against Him. Seek ye today whom ye will serve. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord! old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 21, 2002

Answers

Gee....1955 doesn't seem so long ago !! Guess I'm showing my age here !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), March 21, 2002.

Hoot,

Thanks for the wonderful stories (preaching). Keep em coming.

-- Pat (hiddentreasuresfarm@hotmail.com), March 22, 2002.