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Title
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Scottsbluff Narratives, 1937_035
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Alternative Title
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1937 Scottsbluff Narratives
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Date
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1937
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Creator
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Frank Shoemaker
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Description
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Frank Shoemaker - Sandhills Narratives
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Identifier
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321301
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Transcription
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2 VIII-3-'37-continued. In town, I can't look a hot dog in the face; it bears no relation to food. But once in the wilds,with a fine bed of coals, properly out willow sticks, plenty of buns with plenty of butter, and a glorious hunger-presto! . . . "Hi, Elaine! Please toss me another of the skin-tights." Too often, poor judgement-and far too often, domestic stress at home-sends a child for perhaps eight hours of active exercise, with one skimpy sandwich!-seldom with meat, not often with butter-generally with oleo or a dab of jam or jell-frequently without even these alleviations. I early sensed the state of affairs, and promoted myself to the status of Food Examiner. . . I found the position not only interesting but important. . . I shall not here go into detail, but a recapitulative entry will follow. . . Today, my personal contribution to the of-course inadequate food supply: 40 wieners, 1 pound of butter, 18 buns, 5-½ lbs. bananas. Our mid-day revels vary. Often the kids are so pepful that food a mere incident, and forthwith they seek adventure. Again, they seem a bit o'erworn-quite ready for a rest. Today, chanced to be in the later classification: they evinced desire for repose. . . I have learned to sense the group verdict. So, after our activity in devouring things, I said: "Listen, boys and girls!" (this brought a giggle) "just lie down and take it easy. Viola, take Ruth onto your blanket; Elaine, yours is big enough-take in Winifred and Margaret. Well; everybody all set? Now I'll tell you about a year just 49 years ago, when I was a kid, like you, away down in the southwestern corner of Louisiana." And I told them the impressive things about that faraway world-remembering the things which had impressed me as a child; the waving in the wind of the vast banners of Spanish moss; the mysteriousness of the vast swamps of cypress and gum; the perfectly lovely flight and soaring of the most uncanny bird in the world-the turkey vulture, feeding on carrion!; how I hunted allighttp://sandhillsarchive.unl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/321301-01068.jpgators, and got the biggest one-13-½ feet long-that had been killed on Lake Arthur within 25 years; how, within 50 feet of the front door of our plantation home, I had killed rattlesnakes, water moccasins, copperheads, coral snakes-the only four poisonous snakes in North America! And a lot more.-A full third of my audience was asleep! Winking to the rest, I said, "Tell you the rest later, kids!-better have a nap now." And soon our camp was wrapt in silence. . . . I have an owning and loving feeling towards these children placed in my charge, and it reflects itself in the dependence upon me and the faith in me, which they evidence. m "Wake up, you oafs! you're far out in the world, and gotta find your way home! Waddaya mean, loafin' like this?" That's Me, a half-hour later; gotta treat 'em rough, you know; an' how they love it! A chorus: "O.K., Mister! I ain't asleep.". . "Me? I been awake all the time." "Wot! already?" Finally, all, half of 'em still asleep, were afoot.-"Now, listen: there is a safe bathing place"-(just so-and-so). "Go there and have your baths; 30 minutes allowed. It's a bit soon after the mess you packed away; gosh knows where you put it!-but if you get cramp, holler plenty; I'll not be far away." And they went to it.-I had explored the area carefully; the deepest water was four feet, and there was no quicksand, and the current was lively-an ideal bathing site. . . A half-hour later, I called out and checked the group: all present, all clean, all happy.
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Rights
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To inquire about usage, please contact Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These images are for educational use only. Not all images are available for publication.
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Is Version Of
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frank_h_shoemaker_321301-01068.jpg
