Chapter 5
A Dark Haired Beauty
Haywood went to work in the coal mines when he was 17 years old. He was
called a Mule Skinner. His job was to walk the mules down into the mine, stay
with the mules while the other miners filled the cart up with coal, then
walk the mules back up out of the mines. It was dangerous,hard and dirty work. He
spent long hours down in the mines. He got paid 2 dollars a week. One day
he would find a way to get out of the mining business, he told himself.
He had heard that Mr. Strickland was talking about heading out west-to Texas or Oklahoma to find work-his farm had all but dried up, he could not even get a good cotton crop anymore.
On this day -on his way home from the mine, he decided to stop by out at Mr. Strickland and aunt Lucindas' house. The wind was blustery and cold. As he neared the little white picket fence, a strong gust of wind whipped his hat up in the air, twirled it around several times, hit the ground, started rolling, and stopped right in front of two dainty black slippers. Haywood ran to pick it up, at the same time- a hand, with skin the color of dark honey, handed it to him. He took the hat, and intending to thank the person, he looked up into the brown eyes of the most beautiful girl that he had ever laid eyes on.
Who in tarnation? Who was this dark haired beauty? Had it really been that long since he had visited? Why, it had to be Adeline or Everline, one or the other of Mr. Stricklands' daughters. He tried to introduce himself, but Everline knew who he was, she had seen him several times at the Church meetings, and told him so. Why, this was his cousin! When asked, she told Haywood that she would soon be 13 years old. She was much younger than he was-and definitely showed all the signs of her indian heritage. Too bad. Most people did not cotton to white folk mixing with the indian people.
Mr. Strickland indeed was still thinking about heading out west-but he did not want to move his whole family out there. Not until he knew if he could find work and a place for them all to live. When he talked to Haywood, a light seemed to go off in his head. He asked Haywood if he would consider staying there at the farm with his family, while he went to investigate Oklahoma. He told him he would pay him 16 dollars a month, if he would take care of things around the farm until he returned. Adeline was spoken for and she would soon be getting married, that would leave aunt Loucinda and Everline there by themselves. Haywood told him that he would consider it and asked if he could give him an answer in a week.
All the way home Haywood kept thinking about Mr. Stricklands' offer. By the time he got home he knew he would take Mr. Strickland up on his deal. Heck, starting off he would make more money than he did at the mine. Mr. Strickland didn't have much in the way of crops to manage, just a small garden of cabbage,corn and potatoes, that he kept for the household use, and a thin patch of hay and corn for the animals. What Mr. Strickland really wanted was for there to be a man in the house so that the women would feel safe while he was gone.
The circuit preacher was in town so Haywood wanted to make sure and make it to the preachin' and singin'. Not to mention a certain Miss Fannie Flossie Veen that he had been keeping an eye on. This would be a chance to ask her if he could escort her home after Sunday services. She was not a real "looker"-but her family was one of the wealthiest in the county. It could serve Haywood well to pursue a future with her. She had flashed her eyes at him more than a few times.
Miss Fanny Flossie was not a striking lady-rather the opposite. Short and fat in stature,a little person, with an insignificant nose, and a skin, hair, and eyes all of one yellowish tint. Just a small amout of rouge on her cheeks and a few fluffy frills on her dress would have made her positively pretty. But she went around in a plain dress, with her hair pulled up in a small, tight knob on top.
After church services on Saturday, Miss Fanny Flossie asked Haywood if he would escort her home and enjoy a bite to eat with the family. The Veens owned a large plantation-The Southern Paradise-teeming with workers. Overseen by shrewd , skilled, wide awake german workers. The
corn fields were laid out with the neatness of a Dutch garden. There were many guests at Madame and Sir Veen's table that night.
The guests had left the supper-table, and were seated on the low porch which ran around the house, or lounged in the hammocks that swung under the huge magnolias on the lawn. There were one or two women of undoubted beauty among them. Jose the house servant had serenaded them all with a song and his guitar.
The air had grown chilly. Inside, Jose, had kindled a huge fire on the hearth. He was kneeling, fanning it with the bellows, while Miss Fanny leaned casually against the mantel, watching the flames, and now and then motioning to Jose to throw on another log. The wasteful action startled Haywood. How they wasted that wood ! All through his boy hood he used to gather every twig and chip. How often he had longed to make one big, wasteful fire, as they were doing now.
It occurred to Haywood that Miss Fanny was the very enbodiment of the lavish life of this place. He suddenly felt a strange desire to become better acquainted with her, and he did just that. He started courting her seriously.
Mr. Strickland left for Oklahoma, and Haywood moved in with Mr. Stricklands family. He was settling in-at night he would sing songs to all of them by the fireside. Sometimes he would sing or play his guitar softly way into the night after all the women had gone up to the loft to bed.
Haywood noticed that Everline seemed to be everywhere-if he was feeding the animals, he would turn around, and she would be standing there looking at him. She would dish up his plate at the supper table, before anyone else had a chance to help themselves. She would always be the one to bring him dinner while he was out in the field. She would be there to help him unhitch the mules from the plow. Everline didn't say much, like most indian women, she did have a georgeous smile, tho. Haywood found himself actually enjoying her help and her company.
Six months after Mr. Strickland went to explore Oklahoma-he was brought home in the back of a wagonbed-seriously ill. Doc came out right away, he said that Mr. Strickland had Lock Jaw, an infection affecting the neck and jaw. Eight days later Mr. Strickland was on his death bed. He requested that Haywood come and sit by him a while to talk.
Mr. Strickland told Haywood that he knew that he was dying, and that he had a favor to ask of Haywood. He wanted Haywood to give him his word that he would marry Everline and take care of her. "Haywood' he said, ' when you stand in the face of difficult decisions – and you will – do not ask yourself, ‘What will the people think … how will they judge me?’ Instead, ask what your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren will think of you. Will they understand your decisions? Will they be able to see in what you do and say the virtues of courage and goodness, of justice and wisdom? Will they clearly see in your decisions and actions-the hand of God?”
Mr. Strickland died after Haywood promised to marry Everline and take care of her the rest of his life. Haywood was a good man.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Chapter 4
The Circuit Preacher
There was word passing around at the livery stable that the circuit preacher would be coming to Birmingham the next week. He would take care of any necessary funerals that needed to be done since the last time he was in town. You see-people waited for the circuit preacher to come so that their loved one could have a proper burial. He would hold baptisms, and perform marriages.There would be preaching and singing every night for a week, and all day on Saturday and Sunday in the yard at the school house . This was always a lot of fun to Haywood. All the women would bring food and pies and cakes. There would be a break in the preaching and singing around noon and everyone would eat and sit on quilts laid out on the ground. The children were free to run and play. Now that Haywood was 10 years old, he liked to see all the pretty young girls that came in their prettiest dresses.
Huldy had gotten a letter from Papa, and said that papa would be here for sure to listen to the preaching. Papa said he had a big surprise for Haywood and the rest of the family. Haywood was glad - for he had not seen papa in a long time. Not since he had gone to Georgia to get in on the land lottery. Maybe he was going to buy Haywood a sack of penny candy...........
One of Haywood and Chester's favorite things to do was to see who would arrive on the stage coach and check into the Marrs Hotel. First, all you could see was a cloud of dust in the distance, then you could hear the horses' hooves pounding on the ground, then the drivers could be heard trying to slow the coach down. Coming to a halt right in front of the hotel. The curtains over the windows would be raised, people would get out while trying to beat all the dust and dirt off themselves. The drivers would head to the saloon for a little refreshment.
On this day it was Papa, and a couple by the name of Strickland,with their two very young daughters Adeline and Everline, and a lovely young lady with porcelain skin, red hair and a parasol with ruffles around the edge of it. Haywood found out, too soon for his liking, that her name was Miss Mayme Beatrice Wardlaw. She definitely had her sights set on Papa. For, Papa had brought this woman, who was soon to be his wife, and new mama for Haywood, home to meet the rest of the family as his surprise...
Mr. Strickland had a pretty wife too. She seemed very fragile-like she was not strong enough for this land. She was definitely a city girl. The Stricklands were moving here from the Carolinas. Their household goods and livestock would soon be arriving on the Southern Rail Road. They had bought a tract of land out by Papa's homestead. Miss Wardlaw checked into the Marrs Hotel, as did the Strickland family. Papa stayed with us at Huldy and Uncle Sol's house.
Papa brought Miss Wardlaw to dinner at Huldy's house the next day. We went to the preaching that night. Papa asked Haywood if he wanted to come home to Georgia with him. Haywood told him that he would just as soon stay there with his sister. On Saturday Papa and Miss Wardlaw got married by the traveling preacher, and stayed at his sister, Loucinda's house. Monday they boarded the stage coach to go back to Walker County, Georgia. Houston had joined the Army and Will Henry was doing farm work for a family in Georgia. This family just happened to have a pretty daughter with dark curly hair, who had caught Will Henry's eye. Papa said that Jim was traveling around to different places and doing odd jobs here and there.
Soon after the Stricklands moved to town, Mrs. Strickland died. That left him with two small girls to raise by himself. Aunt Loucindas' boys-Will and Antney Harris had been helping the Stricklands out on their farm. They helped Mr. Strickland lay his cotton crop in and then helped him get it to the Gin. After Mrs. Strickland died, aunt Loucinda would take food out to the Strickland place. After all, she said, they all still needed to eat. A year later Mr. Strickland and aunt Loucinda got married, when the preacher came to town for a burying. Aunt Loucinda was the only mother that Everline and Adeline could ever remember.
When Haywood was seventeen, aunt Huldys' husband-uncle Sol died of milk sickness, a disease from drinking milk from cattle which had eaten poisonous weeds. She had to take in some washing and ironing for other folks, and Haywood and Chester had to go to work at the mine.
The Circuit Preacher
There was word passing around at the livery stable that the circuit preacher would be coming to Birmingham the next week. He would take care of any necessary funerals that needed to be done since the last time he was in town. You see-people waited for the circuit preacher to come so that their loved one could have a proper burial. He would hold baptisms, and perform marriages.There would be preaching and singing every night for a week, and all day on Saturday and Sunday in the yard at the school house . This was always a lot of fun to Haywood. All the women would bring food and pies and cakes. There would be a break in the preaching and singing around noon and everyone would eat and sit on quilts laid out on the ground. The children were free to run and play. Now that Haywood was 10 years old, he liked to see all the pretty young girls that came in their prettiest dresses.
Huldy had gotten a letter from Papa, and said that papa would be here for sure to listen to the preaching. Papa said he had a big surprise for Haywood and the rest of the family. Haywood was glad - for he had not seen papa in a long time. Not since he had gone to Georgia to get in on the land lottery. Maybe he was going to buy Haywood a sack of penny candy...........
One of Haywood and Chester's favorite things to do was to see who would arrive on the stage coach and check into the Marrs Hotel. First, all you could see was a cloud of dust in the distance, then you could hear the horses' hooves pounding on the ground, then the drivers could be heard trying to slow the coach down. Coming to a halt right in front of the hotel. The curtains over the windows would be raised, people would get out while trying to beat all the dust and dirt off themselves. The drivers would head to the saloon for a little refreshment.
On this day it was Papa, and a couple by the name of Strickland,with their two very young daughters Adeline and Everline, and a lovely young lady with porcelain skin, red hair and a parasol with ruffles around the edge of it. Haywood found out, too soon for his liking, that her name was Miss Mayme Beatrice Wardlaw. She definitely had her sights set on Papa. For, Papa had brought this woman, who was soon to be his wife, and new mama for Haywood, home to meet the rest of the family as his surprise...
Mr. Strickland had a pretty wife too. She seemed very fragile-like she was not strong enough for this land. She was definitely a city girl. The Stricklands were moving here from the Carolinas. Their household goods and livestock would soon be arriving on the Southern Rail Road. They had bought a tract of land out by Papa's homestead. Miss Wardlaw checked into the Marrs Hotel, as did the Strickland family. Papa stayed with us at Huldy and Uncle Sol's house.
Papa brought Miss Wardlaw to dinner at Huldy's house the next day. We went to the preaching that night. Papa asked Haywood if he wanted to come home to Georgia with him. Haywood told him that he would just as soon stay there with his sister. On Saturday Papa and Miss Wardlaw got married by the traveling preacher, and stayed at his sister, Loucinda's house. Monday they boarded the stage coach to go back to Walker County, Georgia. Houston had joined the Army and Will Henry was doing farm work for a family in Georgia. This family just happened to have a pretty daughter with dark curly hair, who had caught Will Henry's eye. Papa said that Jim was traveling around to different places and doing odd jobs here and there.
Soon after the Stricklands moved to town, Mrs. Strickland died. That left him with two small girls to raise by himself. Aunt Loucindas' boys-Will and Antney Harris had been helping the Stricklands out on their farm. They helped Mr. Strickland lay his cotton crop in and then helped him get it to the Gin. After Mrs. Strickland died, aunt Loucinda would take food out to the Strickland place. After all, she said, they all still needed to eat. A year later Mr. Strickland and aunt Loucinda got married, when the preacher came to town for a burying. Aunt Loucinda was the only mother that Everline and Adeline could ever remember.
When Haywood was seventeen, aunt Huldys' husband-uncle Sol died of milk sickness, a disease from drinking milk from cattle which had eaten poisonous weeds. She had to take in some washing and ironing for other folks, and Haywood and Chester had to go to work at the mine.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Chapter 3
The Move
Haywood hugged and kissed his daddy goodbye, and rushed out the door to get in the back of the wagon beside Chester. He was excited to be going to live with Huldy Jane and Uncle Sol. They lived in town, close to the general store. Papa said that when he came to town he would take him to the general store and buy him some penny candy. He would have to share a bed with his nephew Chester, Huldy Jane's son by her first husband Mr. Coleman. Chester was just 2 years older than him. They had always had a good time playing together. They seemed almost like brothers, so that would not be so bad. Aunt Loucinda and her two boys Will and Antney Harris, lived down the street from Huldy There were a lot of children in town that him and Chester could find to play with. He could hardly wait.
Papa and Jim came by as often as they could, but it did not seem like it was very often. Papa did as he had promised - when he came, he would take Haywood and Chester to the General store and buy them both a sack of penny candy. Sometimes he would take them to the Schloss Furnace where he now worked, to pick up his check. He made 3 dollars a week. They would always pass the blacksmith shop, and would stop to watch as the smitty made horseshoes and fitted them to the horses feet. Haywood was fascinated by how the smitty worked, he would take a piece of iron, get it red hot in his fire that he always had going. Then he would use these big pliers to hold it with and start bending it around an anvil. All the while beating it with a large hammer to help shape it into a horseshoe. The smitty made all sizes of horseshoes.
The next year Schloss Furnace went bankrupt.
Papa and Jim, Will Henry and Houston all headed to Mobile to work in the fishing business. Papa would come home every so often, and tell Haywood stories of the fishing business. One favorite of Haywoods' was the time that Papa was fishing -checking his lines-and when he went to pull the line up-well, that line pulled back! Papa thought maybe it was a good size fish of some kind, or it even could be a gator......Papa started pulling, whatever it was on the line pulled back harder. Papa pulled back even harder-and the fight was on. Papa said he played tug-o-war with that critter for over an hour! Finally it just seemed to give up. With the help of Jim-they started wrestling it to their boat. They were prepared to see a gator when they got it close to the boat, and had their knives ready to cut the line. What they did see when they got it close, was that it was an enormous fish! A giant of a catfish! It was as big as their boat,(at least that is what Papa said)! They knew they could never get that big fish in their boat, so they cut it loose. Papa said that old fish looked him straight in the eye for a second, as if to say thank you. It made a belly roll, and dissappeared back into the depths of the water. Papa told people about that fish for years-most people did not believe him.
Soon Papa moved back to Birmingham-he said the weather in Mobile made his bones hurt. It was very humid, and there were hurricanes that could wipe out your business.
Papa liked to hang out down at the livery stable and talk to the other men who had come to town for supplies, and would talk about things like the weather, who had died, who had a new baby, and crops. Haywood heard them talking about all the people who were moving to Georgia, Lousiana and even way off to Texas. They were moving to find a better place to farm and those places were having land lotteries. If you had served in the military-you were qualified for the land lottery. They put your name in a box and every month would pull out ten names. You would get 50 acres of land if your name was drawn out. Papa talked about going to Georgia to the men. One day he told one of the men there, that moving to Georgia sounded like a good idea to him. Soon after that-Papa, Jim, Will Henry, and Houston moved to Walker County, Georgia. Haywood started hanging out at the livery stable whenever he could. He listened to all the usual gossip-but what he really liked-was how exciting the men made all these foreign places sound.
The Move
Haywood hugged and kissed his daddy goodbye, and rushed out the door to get in the back of the wagon beside Chester. He was excited to be going to live with Huldy Jane and Uncle Sol. They lived in town, close to the general store. Papa said that when he came to town he would take him to the general store and buy him some penny candy. He would have to share a bed with his nephew Chester, Huldy Jane's son by her first husband Mr. Coleman. Chester was just 2 years older than him. They had always had a good time playing together. They seemed almost like brothers, so that would not be so bad. Aunt Loucinda and her two boys Will and Antney Harris, lived down the street from Huldy There were a lot of children in town that him and Chester could find to play with. He could hardly wait.
Papa and Jim came by as often as they could, but it did not seem like it was very often. Papa did as he had promised - when he came, he would take Haywood and Chester to the General store and buy them both a sack of penny candy. Sometimes he would take them to the Schloss Furnace where he now worked, to pick up his check. He made 3 dollars a week. They would always pass the blacksmith shop, and would stop to watch as the smitty made horseshoes and fitted them to the horses feet. Haywood was fascinated by how the smitty worked, he would take a piece of iron, get it red hot in his fire that he always had going. Then he would use these big pliers to hold it with and start bending it around an anvil. All the while beating it with a large hammer to help shape it into a horseshoe. The smitty made all sizes of horseshoes.
The next year Schloss Furnace went bankrupt.
Papa and Jim, Will Henry and Houston all headed to Mobile to work in the fishing business. Papa would come home every so often, and tell Haywood stories of the fishing business. One favorite of Haywoods' was the time that Papa was fishing -checking his lines-and when he went to pull the line up-well, that line pulled back! Papa thought maybe it was a good size fish of some kind, or it even could be a gator......Papa started pulling, whatever it was on the line pulled back harder. Papa pulled back even harder-and the fight was on. Papa said he played tug-o-war with that critter for over an hour! Finally it just seemed to give up. With the help of Jim-they started wrestling it to their boat. They were prepared to see a gator when they got it close to the boat, and had their knives ready to cut the line. What they did see when they got it close, was that it was an enormous fish! A giant of a catfish! It was as big as their boat,(at least that is what Papa said)! They knew they could never get that big fish in their boat, so they cut it loose. Papa said that old fish looked him straight in the eye for a second, as if to say thank you. It made a belly roll, and dissappeared back into the depths of the water. Papa told people about that fish for years-most people did not believe him.
Soon Papa moved back to Birmingham-he said the weather in Mobile made his bones hurt. It was very humid, and there were hurricanes that could wipe out your business.
Papa liked to hang out down at the livery stable and talk to the other men who had come to town for supplies, and would talk about things like the weather, who had died, who had a new baby, and crops. Haywood heard them talking about all the people who were moving to Georgia, Lousiana and even way off to Texas. They were moving to find a better place to farm and those places were having land lotteries. If you had served in the military-you were qualified for the land lottery. They put your name in a box and every month would pull out ten names. You would get 50 acres of land if your name was drawn out. Papa talked about going to Georgia to the men. One day he told one of the men there, that moving to Georgia sounded like a good idea to him. Soon after that-Papa, Jim, Will Henry, and Houston moved to Walker County, Georgia. Haywood started hanging out at the livery stable whenever he could. He listened to all the usual gossip-but what he really liked-was how exciting the men made all these foreign places sound.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Chapter 2
The Death
The leaves were swirling gently down around their feet, as they stood solemly by the rough hewn box on the edge of the deep hole that had been dug to hold it. There was a gentle cool breeze, with the sharpness of autumn in it. The colors of the leaves and trees were so pretty, Haywood thought, as he stood holding his Papa's trembling hand. He had never seen his daddy cry before, he wished he could do something to make him stop crying.
There was a large crowd of people gathered around them, all in their cleanest, best clothes. Many of the women in the crowd were weeping and holding their small children close. As he looked around at the people, he saw many of his papa's family there. There was papa's three sisters Huldy ( who Huldy Jane had been named for), Louisa Harris, and Loucinda Harris, and their familys. There was Uncle Richard, and Uncle Calvin was there, too.
Mama was asleep in the box, he knew that because he had seen Daddy, Jim, Uncle Sol, and the preacher put her in it while she was sleeping. They told him that she was going to sleep for a while and when she woke up she would be in heaven. Haywood knew that mama would like it in heaven, because she use to read to him from her book called the Bible, and would describe a beautiful and wonderful place to him. A place where there was no sickness or sorrow or pain. A place where her Mama and Daddy were waiting for her.
Haywood wished this service would end soon- he was hungry and these shoes were hurting his feet. He hated shoes, he wanted to get those shoes off and go barefoot, and feel the soft dirt between his toes.
There was all kinds of good food at home waiting,covered up, on the table and in the pie cabinet. Huldy had stayed up late last night cooking,to get it all ready, and many women from the church had brought food to the house. He could not wait to get a big slice of that pineapple pie that was sitting on the window sill ,cooling. Huldy Jane knew just how to make him happy.
With a full stomach and old Blue lying beside him, he drifted off to sleep.He dreamed of Mama, and angels, and large crowds of people with no faces. He heard voices, as he began to wake up. Were all the people from the funeral still here? He listened closely,only hearing the familiar voices of Papa and his sister, Huldy Jane. They were talking about him-as he listened there was a tug at his heart. They were planning his move to live with his sister.
Papa said he did not know how he could raise a young son by himself, what with all the work to be done there around the house His job in the coal mines often kept him out until well after dark. That was just no way for a four year old boy to live and it was not safe.
Haywood was sure going to miss old Blue, sleeping with him or else lying on the floor beside his and Papa's bed. He had gotten to sleep with Papa ever since Mama had went to sleep and was put in the box. Maybe Papa would bring Blue with him to visit some time.
The Death
The leaves were swirling gently down around their feet, as they stood solemly by the rough hewn box on the edge of the deep hole that had been dug to hold it. There was a gentle cool breeze, with the sharpness of autumn in it. The colors of the leaves and trees were so pretty, Haywood thought, as he stood holding his Papa's trembling hand. He had never seen his daddy cry before, he wished he could do something to make him stop crying.
There was a large crowd of people gathered around them, all in their cleanest, best clothes. Many of the women in the crowd were weeping and holding their small children close. As he looked around at the people, he saw many of his papa's family there. There was papa's three sisters Huldy ( who Huldy Jane had been named for), Louisa Harris, and Loucinda Harris, and their familys. There was Uncle Richard, and Uncle Calvin was there, too.
Mama was asleep in the box, he knew that because he had seen Daddy, Jim, Uncle Sol, and the preacher put her in it while she was sleeping. They told him that she was going to sleep for a while and when she woke up she would be in heaven. Haywood knew that mama would like it in heaven, because she use to read to him from her book called the Bible, and would describe a beautiful and wonderful place to him. A place where there was no sickness or sorrow or pain. A place where her Mama and Daddy were waiting for her.
Haywood wished this service would end soon- he was hungry and these shoes were hurting his feet. He hated shoes, he wanted to get those shoes off and go barefoot, and feel the soft dirt between his toes.
There was all kinds of good food at home waiting,covered up, on the table and in the pie cabinet. Huldy had stayed up late last night cooking,to get it all ready, and many women from the church had brought food to the house. He could not wait to get a big slice of that pineapple pie that was sitting on the window sill ,cooling. Huldy Jane knew just how to make him happy.
With a full stomach and old Blue lying beside him, he drifted off to sleep.He dreamed of Mama, and angels, and large crowds of people with no faces. He heard voices, as he began to wake up. Were all the people from the funeral still here? He listened closely,only hearing the familiar voices of Papa and his sister, Huldy Jane. They were talking about him-as he listened there was a tug at his heart. They were planning his move to live with his sister.
Papa said he did not know how he could raise a young son by himself, what with all the work to be done there around the house His job in the coal mines often kept him out until well after dark. That was just no way for a four year old boy to live and it was not safe.
Haywood was sure going to miss old Blue, sleeping with him or else lying on the floor beside his and Papa's bed. He had gotten to sleep with Papa ever since Mama had went to sleep and was put in the box. Maybe Papa would bring Blue with him to visit some time.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Chapter 1 Miners Camp
I have talked to many people in my lifetime about my large family, and many of them have told me- "You ought to write a book"....so this is my attempt to do just that. Lets see what happens-
MINERS CAMP
Chapter 1
February 23, 1892
Miners Camp in Birmingham, Alabama
The Birth
It was a cold day in February, 1892. Martha Jane Collins had started her labor early in the morning hours, but she still had plenty to do.She had to get in the wood and kindling to get a fire started, get the children up and dresssed for school, feed them, fix their lunches and get them off to school. With some luck-she might be able to get all this done before the baby came.
Jasper and Jim were already up and out doing chores, milking the cow, feeding the hogs, chickens, and gathering the eggs. Jim had moved back home after his wife and baby had died in childbirth. After feeding ole' Maude, the mule, Jim hitched her up to the buggy, they would drop the buggy and mule off at his sister Huldy's house on their way in to work. Mama would need her help with the delivery of the baby. Then they would eat some breakfast and head on off to the Birminham coal mine #2, where him and his Papa, Jasper, both worked.
As she was stoking the fire in the old black pot-bellied stove, another excruciating pain hit her in her lower back. This time Martha had to sit down until it passed. Going back to the stove, she filled a large hot cast iron skillet with side pork and listened to it sizzle and spit as it hit the hot skillet. The aroma immediately started to fill the air. She poured herself a cup of hot coffee from the old blue speckled pot that always sat at the back of the stove, with hot coffee in it.The wind was howling outside, it had snowed another 8 to 10 inches during the night. The children would need extra clothes on and an extra pair of wool socks, too. Their long walk to the school house would be a cold one this morning. Neither of them would want to go, trying to find excuses not to this morning. Martha would not be swayed-she wanted them out of the house while the baby was being born. Hopefully by the time they came in from school, the baby would be born.
As she expected-Will Henry and Houston tried everything they could to get out of going to school that day. Both of the boys tried to convince her to let them stay home, just in case something were to happen, and their older sister Huldy couldn't get there in time. Martha assured them that it would be hours before the baby came, and that would be plenty of time for their sister to get there, even in this deep snow. After much pleading and begging from both of them, Martha finally managed to get them bundled up tight and sent them on their way to school .
Then she started to prepare for the birth of the baby.Martha was weary, and not as excited as a new mother should be. She had lost 3 babies,already. Out of her 7 children, only 4 had managed to survive. The influenza and smallpox had ravaged her family. Martha had a strange feeling about this pregnancy, she had not been well much of the time she was carrying this child. As another strong labor pain hit her-she thought that maybe she better start boiling some water, and tearing up some of those flour sacks that she had saved just for this purpose. She hoped Huldy would get there soon.
She could tell that this labor was moving along a lot faster than the last. Not only was she having labor pains, she was aching all over, and she knew that she was running a fever.Just then, the strongest pain yet hit, she struggled to get to the bed, and squatted down, hanging on to the rails of the footboard .The pain consumed her body. She needed to push, the pain was unbearable now. Martha knew that she was not going to be able to wait for her daughter, Huldy, to arrive. She was laboring too fast, it could not be stopped now. She grabbed a quilt off the bed and spread it on the floor between her squatting legs, to catch the baby when it was born. She could feel herself tearing and began to feel nauseated, as she continued to bear down. Just a few more good pushes-then she guided her baby out into the world, she soon saw that she had a beautiful, downy haired, baby boy.
Martha had already decided that if she gave birth to a son, she would name him Haywood-to honor her close cousin, Haywood Noah, who had died at the young age of 36. Haywood Noah and his twin brother Martin Noah, who were builders and woodworkers, had built a church. Martin was also a violin maker and player. Church and music were very important to her family.
Martha lay in bed with her newborn son and thought about the painful past, and the uncertain future for her baby. She was very weak, and soon drifted off to sleep. Her dreams were filled with familiar faces, and strange faces who seemed to be familiar in a distant way. They were all surrounded by very vivid colors. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear old Blue barking. Someone was coming.
Huldy could barely rouse her mama. Mama seemed not to hear or understand when Huldy tried to talk to her. Huldy could not understand what her mama was saying when she tried to talk.
Martha was burning up with the fever. She needed old Doc to come by to look in on her. As soon as Papa and Jim came in from the mine, she would send for old Doc.
Martha never got better. She was weak, had a cough, and was so tired that she spent much of the time in the bed. She would read her bible for hours at a time. She would try to hold her newborn baby, but he seemed so heavy to her, she would have to lay him back on the bed. She wondered why she was not getting any stronger, like she had after the birth of her other children. Doc had warned her before this one-not to have any more children, it was too hard on her body. Doc would drop by every so often to see how she was doing. When he left, he would always put his arm around Jasper's shoulders, and talk to him in a quiet voice, shaking his head from side to side.
MINERS CAMP
Chapter 1
February 23, 1892
Miners Camp in Birmingham, Alabama
The Birth
It was a cold day in February, 1892. Martha Jane Collins had started her labor early in the morning hours, but she still had plenty to do.She had to get in the wood and kindling to get a fire started, get the children up and dresssed for school, feed them, fix their lunches and get them off to school. With some luck-she might be able to get all this done before the baby came.
Jasper and Jim were already up and out doing chores, milking the cow, feeding the hogs, chickens, and gathering the eggs. Jim had moved back home after his wife and baby had died in childbirth. After feeding ole' Maude, the mule, Jim hitched her up to the buggy, they would drop the buggy and mule off at his sister Huldy's house on their way in to work. Mama would need her help with the delivery of the baby. Then they would eat some breakfast and head on off to the Birminham coal mine #2, where him and his Papa, Jasper, both worked.
As she was stoking the fire in the old black pot-bellied stove, another excruciating pain hit her in her lower back. This time Martha had to sit down until it passed. Going back to the stove, she filled a large hot cast iron skillet with side pork and listened to it sizzle and spit as it hit the hot skillet. The aroma immediately started to fill the air. She poured herself a cup of hot coffee from the old blue speckled pot that always sat at the back of the stove, with hot coffee in it.The wind was howling outside, it had snowed another 8 to 10 inches during the night. The children would need extra clothes on and an extra pair of wool socks, too. Their long walk to the school house would be a cold one this morning. Neither of them would want to go, trying to find excuses not to this morning. Martha would not be swayed-she wanted them out of the house while the baby was being born. Hopefully by the time they came in from school, the baby would be born.
As she expected-Will Henry and Houston tried everything they could to get out of going to school that day. Both of the boys tried to convince her to let them stay home, just in case something were to happen, and their older sister Huldy couldn't get there in time. Martha assured them that it would be hours before the baby came, and that would be plenty of time for their sister to get there, even in this deep snow. After much pleading and begging from both of them, Martha finally managed to get them bundled up tight and sent them on their way to school .
Then she started to prepare for the birth of the baby.Martha was weary, and not as excited as a new mother should be. She had lost 3 babies,already. Out of her 7 children, only 4 had managed to survive. The influenza and smallpox had ravaged her family. Martha had a strange feeling about this pregnancy, she had not been well much of the time she was carrying this child. As another strong labor pain hit her-she thought that maybe she better start boiling some water, and tearing up some of those flour sacks that she had saved just for this purpose. She hoped Huldy would get there soon.
She could tell that this labor was moving along a lot faster than the last. Not only was she having labor pains, she was aching all over, and she knew that she was running a fever.Just then, the strongest pain yet hit, she struggled to get to the bed, and squatted down, hanging on to the rails of the footboard .The pain consumed her body. She needed to push, the pain was unbearable now. Martha knew that she was not going to be able to wait for her daughter, Huldy, to arrive. She was laboring too fast, it could not be stopped now. She grabbed a quilt off the bed and spread it on the floor between her squatting legs, to catch the baby when it was born. She could feel herself tearing and began to feel nauseated, as she continued to bear down. Just a few more good pushes-then she guided her baby out into the world, she soon saw that she had a beautiful, downy haired, baby boy.
Martha had already decided that if she gave birth to a son, she would name him Haywood-to honor her close cousin, Haywood Noah, who had died at the young age of 36. Haywood Noah and his twin brother Martin Noah, who were builders and woodworkers, had built a church. Martin was also a violin maker and player. Church and music were very important to her family.
Martha lay in bed with her newborn son and thought about the painful past, and the uncertain future for her baby. She was very weak, and soon drifted off to sleep. Her dreams were filled with familiar faces, and strange faces who seemed to be familiar in a distant way. They were all surrounded by very vivid colors. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear old Blue barking. Someone was coming.
Huldy could barely rouse her mama. Mama seemed not to hear or understand when Huldy tried to talk to her. Huldy could not understand what her mama was saying when she tried to talk.
Martha was burning up with the fever. She needed old Doc to come by to look in on her. As soon as Papa and Jim came in from the mine, she would send for old Doc.
Martha never got better. She was weak, had a cough, and was so tired that she spent much of the time in the bed. She would read her bible for hours at a time. She would try to hold her newborn baby, but he seemed so heavy to her, she would have to lay him back on the bed. She wondered why she was not getting any stronger, like she had after the birth of her other children. Doc had warned her before this one-not to have any more children, it was too hard on her body. Doc would drop by every so often to see how she was doing. When he left, he would always put his arm around Jasper's shoulders, and talk to him in a quiet voice, shaking his head from side to side.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It is all about the family..........
It is all about family to me- I was born into a very large family, and I am not joking about the large.......I was the last of 19 children born to my father and mother. My father being a poor dirt farmer from Alabama, losing 2 wives, having 10 children to raise on his own in Checotah, Oklahoma.My mother, who had never worked a day in her life, being widowed with 8 children to care for-on a farm in Checotah, Oklahoma. They were neighbors, and when each of their spouses died, they secretly at first, started courting,they fell in love and got married-much to family and friends shock and chagrin-except for Mother and Daddy and all the kids. The kids had played at each others houses, spent the night at each others houses, and attended school together-so they all knew each other well . My mother was a tall, 5'8, high spirited filly, at times hot-headed, red head. My daddy was at the most 5'foot tall, a very soft spoken, laid back, mellow, kind hearted man. To Daddy they were all his kids, to Mother his were his kids and hers were her kids....which would cause problems and hurt feelings many times over in the years to come. Daddy was 58 years old and Mother was 37 years old. To hear the older kids talk-Daddy was totally smitten and in love with this long-legged red head. About a year later-I was born.
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