Reminisces of Ewart A. Ottley

Ewart is Grandpa Fred E. Ottley's brother. This is something he wrote about how he remembered his childhood which was also Grandpa Ottley's childhood. Ewart is child number 4 and Grandpa is child number 6.

"...I think of the front room being the place where nine kids grew up, where they learned to love each other and to respect Mother and Father. (Father for sure.) The place where company was entertained; yes, a place for someone to sleep; often the sick room. This place for kids to play those long winter nights. I think of where the beds were and who slept in them; of times when some one would be sick and where they would have a bed while sick. I think of the walls and how they were covered with paper; not beautiful, designed paper, but just newspaper which made entertainment for kids at times, describing different things on the walls and others guessing what and where it was. I think of coming into the house on those cold wintry nights and how Dad loved to read the newspapers that came two times a week. I think of how the lamps were filled with oil; the chimneys cleaned, wicks trimmed, and how they were carried from room to room.

I think of the toiling hands of a sweet mother that made children ready for school when they got to that age. I think of the anxiety of a loving dad getting them to and from school under adverse conditions cold, snow, mud, rain. I think of the concern of both of them on Sunday morning getting all ready and all going to Church; how old Tom and Ebb were hitched to the white-top, the best way of transportation...."

More tomorrow.