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Title
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Scottsbluff Narratives, 1937_037
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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 Result: the nice, dry ground about "our" spring became a muddy expanse: and water from the new spring about-of perhaps 5% the flow of the established spring-flowed in large part, warmed by exposure to the sun, into "our" spring, raising the temperature of our supply by at least 5 degrees. . . So today, I played surveyor and engineer-cutting a trench to carry run-off from the upper spring, away from "our" spring. So maybe, next trip, we'll find the muddy expanse dried, and "our" spring several degrees colder. . . The day was sufficiently hot that we called several times at the spring, to relieve our thirst. After drinking our fill, and after the girls had filled the seven half-pint bottles (with screw caps) which I had brought along for them, we carried away two q uarts additional-in a pial brought along for picking wild currants-and made our way to the upper benches of the river valley, where we could find fuel and shade. A fire was built; and the, to roasting the wieners. . . In town, I simply 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 cut willow sticks, plenty of buns with plenty of butter, and a glorious hunger. . . presto!-wieners become Food; and their processing a positive delight.-The kids are supposed to roll their own; but I always supplement their supply. Very soon after our hearty lunch, I permitted the girls-all had brought bathing suits-to a take a swim in the irrigation canal. It was bank-full, with a swift current; and the water was from three to four feet deep. I was near enough to risk "cramp"-so I let 'em go to it on full stomachs; and no disaster came. They had a wonderful time. Then-since some of us had come to pick wild currants-we went via the spring, thro tortuous badlands eros ion cuts (quite an education, to those who had before traversed them) to the currant patches bordering the other irrigation canal. The currant-pickers were only four or five in number; the others went for another swim, in an area which I knew to be free from holes and danger. . . Currants which are of two species-one ripening black, one ripening with a glorious orange hue-are found here. Both are of fine flavor. In dry seasons, they are rather small; but this year's fine rains have built them pp, and hundreds of those picked were a full half-inch in diameter. So late in the season, the birds, grasshoppers, ants, have damaged much fruit; but we still found plenty of good ones. I gave Shirley Vandagrift over a pint, to fill her pail, so that she might go swimming; and, later, delivered about three quarts to Mrs. Shuck, who nursed me so loyally after my auto accident-which held me bedfast from December 16th into March.
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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_321301-01077.jpg
