McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1916-12-22

may be on the board Of managers, at
least for the poultry end Of the prop
osition.
What didn't do to the chicken,
hominy, and other savory things
sausage, for instance) on the liberal
tables of Grant, Harvey, Lee and Joe
Alexander, was not worth doing.
These boys went to school with me,
and they occupy place with my sen.
timents that none others can. How
glorious to be able to stay with those
fine boys all the time (there are about
enough Of them for me to stay with
new one each day till got back to
the first at the beginning Of each week.
and swap my company for my grub.
Snch dreams are vain, and | have got
to get down to work again, and pay
my way. At Lees | saw his bright
girls. Jessie and Malissa, sisters of
that wonderful boy Roscoe Of such
promise, whom was sorry to find
away from home. | was telling Jes-
sic what sort of Latin a big smart
Aleck had used here, and she caught
up the mistake at once. What do
you think Of that for sweet sixteen in
Selmer? New York could not beat it,
And ! want to say that Jessie can get
up fine supper. Such a girl as that
does not need to die an old maid.
And that remarkable boy, little Prem
tiss, at Joe Alexander's. He could re-
peat, correctly, long sentences from
a German poem after me, and gave
other evidences of mind that surely
should receive the best possible cul- !
ture. Prentiss has smart sister;
don't forget that. The sweetness and
modesty Of those McNairy children
appealed to me.
Out at Lawton | saw a little
maid Of eleven who carried on the
housework for her father and four
motherless wee ones. Her tiny broth
or told me with pride that he had
picked over fifty pounds Of cotton
one day that week, but some one else
told me it was seventy pounds. At
Lawton | also saw my cousin Lorraine
Sebring who has gained some distinc-
tion by raising sheep, shearing them,
carding the wool, spinning it and
knitting shawls upon which she got
premiums at the fair. That is inde-
pendence for you! And if the horrors
of war are thrust upon us, just
such talents as these will save the |
people from destitution, and it would |
not hurt some Of them to have to 90 |
back to principles like that. And
there was Lorraine's daughter Lydia, |
out picking cotton when / was there,
that has name for intelligence and
industry that would put many a city.
girl to the blush. Her boy does a
mans work on the farm.
While back at Lawton, | want to
say something about some most de-
licious preserves made by my Aunt
Kate Luttrell from whole muscadine
grapes. They had the real muscadine
favor, and that is saying that they
we're good enough for anybody.
was proud to meet, at Selmer, |
Eliza Davis, who as Eliza Wagner was
a schoolmate Of mine. Eliza has long
been willow, but she took up cheer
fully the burden Of self-support, aided
BY her spendid children, and she is an
example to other women bereft of
their husbands, showing that they
need not despair nor become burden
to others.
At Henderson | met my uncle, DR.. |
A. L. Sanders, and his brilliant wife
and mother-in-law. He was always
my favorite Uncle. | will tell of him
in another letter.
Down in Mississippi went to see
other friends of my youth. / told
once Of the dreadful siege had with
my first love affair, the girl herself, |
an adopted daughter of the late Rev.
Thomas Cotton, being entirely uneon-
scious Of it at the time. Well, | had |
to see Nettie Cotton (now Mrs. Stub
blefeld) of course. At Rienzi | found |
a demure-looking lady Of middle age.
bright-eyed and of good manners, who
said she was Mrs. Stubblfeeld. Isaid
| | was an officer of the United States |
government, looking for little girl
whom had lost at old Purdy in Ten
nessee, forty-two years ago. She
asked me the name of the little girl. !