From our Great Grandfather Hughes, within a Saturday evening edition of the Springfield, Missouri Paper:
I have an interesting letter from Willow Springs. A contributor tells me that he has long wondered where all the Ozark poets came from, but now Rabbit Twister has "spilled the beans." He says---
"Well, now, I'm not making any kick about that, but want to thank him for his recipe for making poets out of hillbillies. He says all you have to do is soak you head and go to bed and sprout a poem. But why soak your head? I'm sure that the majority of us have enough sap in our heads for sprouting purposes. Here's my poem for Rabbit Twister's benefit!
If Rabbit Twister's on the line
I'm gonna try an' show 'em
That I don't have to soak my head
To sprout this little poem.
It's not a classic, I'll admit,
And some may say it's silly,
But what the heck can you expect
From an "ignorant hillbilly?"
--J. M. Hughes
Willow Springs, Missouri
(Hey, for you, Mr. Hughes, go after him!)
EIGHT LINES
I'll write my eight line poem
Then send it on to May;
I don't expect to win a prize
Through what I have to say.
There's many an Ozark poet
More talented than I,
So if I fail to win a prize
You'll know the reason why.
--J. M. Hughes
Willow Springs, Missouri
(That's a good one, Hughes. Be a good sport)
The following were never published that I know of...
"Somewhere the sun is shining,
Somewhere the grass is green.
Somewhere the birds are singing,
Somewhere, carols of early spring.
Somewhere the buds are swelling,
Somewhere the soft winds blow.
Somewhere the flowers are blooming,
Somewhere under the sun's warm glow?
Somewhere the snow is falling
Somewhere the drifts pile high.
Somewhere the ground lies frozen,
Somewhere under a leaden sky."
Monday, February 17, 2014
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Valentine Memories
Where did your parents/grandparents meet?
My Grandmother met Grandfather when he stopped at the family well to water his horse, she was just 15, & he was such a charmer she fell head over heals for 'her George'. Of course, her parents refused to allow them to marry until she turned 18.
Our mother married her first husband at 13! He was the youngest brother of her new step-mother, and a cowboy! Can you imagine her delight when her pa decided to get them married? I have a photo just a few days after their wedding and she is looking much older than 13, and so very happy! Young Love!
Of course, after giving birth to 2 boys before she was 14, and having to take care of 2 babies, a home and cooking, plus a grumpy husband, who I think was wishing he was on his horse somewhere else... well you can imagine how well that went!
How old were your Grandparents when they met? Were they living at home or on their own?
Was it an arranged marriage? They were very often done in the 1800's, or could your Grandmother have been a mail-order bride?
Are you a Grandparent? Be sure you share your knowledge about your family life as you were growing up, because it will not be anything like what your grandchildren have been living!
Can you imagine answering a letter from a cousin who talks about jobs for hard workers and arriving before your letter does?
These and other areas of our lives are complete unknowns, and tell so much about you and your loved ones to your children and grandchildren. Especially if you aren't near them to tell them the , "When I was your age" stories. Don't let your history become lost. None of us are amazing to ourselves, but maybe someday a grandchild will need to know what you survived to tell.
So, share your stories, over and over, every time you meet up with family. It's those bits of family history that give our children and grandchildren a foundation from which to build and excel! Take the time to make your story exciting and fascinating, even if it seems ordinary to you, it can become the 'tie that binds' families together...especially during these turbulent times!
My Grandmother met Grandfather when he stopped at the family well to water his horse, she was just 15, & he was such a charmer she fell head over heals for 'her George'. Of course, her parents refused to allow them to marry until she turned 18.
Our mother married her first husband at 13! He was the youngest brother of her new step-mother, and a cowboy! Can you imagine her delight when her pa decided to get them married? I have a photo just a few days after their wedding and she is looking much older than 13, and so very happy! Young Love!
Of course, after giving birth to 2 boys before she was 14, and having to take care of 2 babies, a home and cooking, plus a grumpy husband, who I think was wishing he was on his horse somewhere else... well you can imagine how well that went!
How old were your Grandparents when they met? Were they living at home or on their own?
Was it an arranged marriage? They were very often done in the 1800's, or could your Grandmother have been a mail-order bride?
Are you a Grandparent? Be sure you share your knowledge about your family life as you were growing up, because it will not be anything like what your grandchildren have been living!
Can you imagine answering a letter from a cousin who talks about jobs for hard workers and arriving before your letter does?
These and other areas of our lives are complete unknowns, and tell so much about you and your loved ones to your children and grandchildren. Especially if you aren't near them to tell them the , "When I was your age" stories. Don't let your history become lost. None of us are amazing to ourselves, but maybe someday a grandchild will need to know what you survived to tell.
So, share your stories, over and over, every time you meet up with family. It's those bits of family history that give our children and grandchildren a foundation from which to build and excel! Take the time to make your story exciting and fascinating, even if it seems ordinary to you, it can become the 'tie that binds' families together...especially during these turbulent times!
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