13,610
edits
Changes
From BrethrenPedia
→Blackberries and Robbers
==Blackberries and Robbers==
Since South Hill was a cattle raising country, it was visited every year by a class of men called "Drovers". These were men who went from farm to farm buying up cattle for sale. At night they stopped wherever a farmer had accommodation for them and their herd; sometimes this chanced to be at my father's.
This was a rare treat to us children; not only because we liked to see the cattle arrive and depart, but the strange men were interesting; they were always good talkers. After supper they gathered around the kitchen stove and "spun their yarns" to my father, and incidentally to wide-eyed children who ought to have been in bed, but were not at all sleepy. It was not unusual to relate a ghost or murder story. The unwisdom of permitting children to hear such stories was probably not realized by our parents. The incident I am about to relate shows that our minds were not unaffected by them.
One day my parents wished to attend a funeral. Life in a thinly settled farm country is very monotonous, and I am not sure that a funeral was not regarded by many as an entertainment. Certainly, many who "never went to church", were quite ready to go to a funeral. The small houses were more than filled, and men and boys stood about the yard, or listened at the door. For this reason my mother said: "You children had better not go; the house will be crowded. I have put up a nice luncheon for you. You may take your tin pails and go blackberrying." This suited us exactly, and me, especially, for I loved the woods. We started off a little before our parents were ready to go. The morning passed quickly. We filled our pails with berries, gathered wildflowers, and chased the chattering squirrels, handsome little red fellows with bushy tails.
After eating our luncheon, we started homeward. As we approached the stone wall on the barn side of the road, my brother suddenly stood still, staring at the house.
* Mercy: "What's the matter, Emory?"
* Emory: "There's somebody in the house."
* Mercy: "How do you know?"
* Emory: "I <u>know</u> there is; look at that hat hanging on the woodpile!"
* Mercy: "Yes, I see a hat hanging on a pole."
* Emory: "well, whoever is in the house hung his hat on the woodpile so no one would dare to come in. I'll bet it's a robber."
* Mercy: "Are you sure?"
* Emory: "Hark! I hear a man running up and down stairs; don't you?"
* Mercy: "No, I don't."
* Emory: "Stoop down, quick! I saw a gun pointed out of that open window." Emory sat down by the stone wall which was higher than he was.
* Mercy: "I don't see any gun, and I don't believe there is anyone in the house. Let's go in."
* Emory: "I tell you <u>there</u> <u>is</u>, and they'll kill us. Come on, we must stoop until we get behind the barn, then we'll run to the Booth's and tell them."
He suited his actions to his words, and I followed, not a little relieved that we did not have to go into the house. Arrived at the neighbors, we told our story in haste and in concert. It had grown more sure and terrible as we ran. The family was at dinner. Mrs. Booth was alarmed. She said to her husband and son: "You had better go right over, before they have time to rob the house." "And take your gun", my brother suggested.
"We haven't got any gun", the young man said, "but I'll tell you what I'll do; I'll sharpen this carving knife and, if there's a man in the house, <u>I'll</u> <u>fix</u> <u>him</u>!"
Mr. Booth laughed at this, and I think Mrs. Booth was glad to have the carving knife sharpened. Then someone said, "I hear a wagon coming, perhaps it is your folks." "Yes, here they are!" And out we ran and climbed into the back of the wagon. I can see now the smile that played around my father's mouth, and the twinkle in his grey eyes as he listened to my brother's excited story. Then he laughed, and mother laughed until she was near crying. "You foolish children", she said as soon as she was able to speak. "Your father painted his old silk hat this morning and hung it on the woodpile to dry, he said it would be nice to wear on rainy days. I left the windows open for I knew it would not rain."
We were quieted, but not altogether pleased. I think it might have suited us better to have found a robber in the house.
==Changes==
==Removal to Ohio==
