The Robesonian., 1918-01-14
WITH AUNT BECKY.
New Years Greetings-Canned
Fruit and Sweet Potatoes Froz-
en-Schools Open Again-Boys
Being Thinned Out-A Remind
er of Civil War Days-A Brave
Southern Woman and Other In
teresting Matters.

Southern Woman and Other In |
teresting Matters.
Correspondence of The Robesonian.
Old Fork (Maxton, r. y, Jan. 81
Here we come on the inner boundary
of a new year, with best of wishes
to all of our friends and readers, and
with little Tins prayer in our hearts,
God bless everybody. The Christ
mastide and holidays passed off quiet
ly and pleasantly in the Fork, with
plenty to eat and turkey on every
table on Christmas day. Santa Claus
also arrived on time, and although not
so lavish with his gifts as formerly
the children were very well supplied
and content.
Since that time we have been snow
ed in, and ice-bound from a spell of
the most severe weather I have ever
experienced.Th canned fruit through
out the country froze up, and our
flowers are all killed. Some of the
sweet potatoes also are frozen in the
hills; but we have been greatly bless
ed compared with thousands who suf-
fered from cold and hunger, for we
had fuel convenient and our larders
were not empty. The boys got out
occasionally with dogs and guns in
quest of game, which resulted mainly
in the death of a little rabbit.
One of the grand-boys had a rather
strange experience on New Years
day. He was out on section of the
farm helping to put down a pump
where there had been an old we'll, and
discovered snake down in the water,
which he drew to the surface and kill
ed. It was Of the adder species and
nearly frozen.
The repeated SHOWS and bitter cold
have kept schools in the Fork sus-
pended, which finally opened again on
yesterday. Miss Lettie Mcmillan re-
turned on January 1st, expecting to
resume her duties at Oak Grove on
Wednesday, but owing to the weather
her pupils did not come in until Mon
day of the present week.
In the olden time it was fun to go
to school in the snow. We were clad
in warm homemade clothing, thick
shoes, home-knit mittens and stock
ings, and it was rare indeed that we
missed school on account of weather
conditions. In those days we had in
these parts famous old educator who
had a peculiar custom for a man of
his age and enlightment He was in
mortal terror of thunder clouds and
| it mattered not what time of the day
| he heard the mutter Of thunder, he
| would suspend school operations, COM
mand the children to gather up hats
bonnets, etc., and make tracks for
home, he leading the crowd, and there
| would be no more school for that day
Our boys in this vicinity are being
rapidly thinned out. Four went away
last week to join different branches OF
the service. Messrs. W. H. and H. A
Stewart are stationed at Pensacolar
Fla, in the aviation department, also
Mr.. Lacy Hester; and c. J. McColl
our Scotch boy, has gone to Canada
to join the Canadian forces: He has
three sisters in France engaged il
Red Cross work, and two other broth
ers in the British army who veal
"the Highland Kilties". Several 9th
er of our boys are in the present draf
waiting to hear from their question
naires.
I have been so closely confined tt
the house during the cold weather tina
I know little Of recent occurrences il
the outside world. Was sorry to learl
today of the destruction by fire Of Mr.
June McKay's nice, new drug store il
the town of Maxton, and hope that h
will be enabled to rebuild.
A letter from a Bennettsville frien'
in today's mail informs me Of the mar
row escape from death of Mrs. Kirk
patrick and child, formerly Of Maxtor
when during the late freeze waite
tank in their home exploded, endanger
ing their lives.
We had somewhat of sugar famin
in the Fork about Christmas time an
used considerable economy in the us
; Of it, but we had our cakes just tn
same, though not in such variety. ]
was a new experience except to tn
, few of us who survived four year
: during the Civil war minus a graf
> even to sweeten a cup of coffee; bu
: we lived and grew accustomed to /
and could do it again if necessary. A
: aunt of mine in S. Carolina, more fs
/ seeing and prudent than others, ha
a stored away box Of this preciol
:, commodity for sickness and speci
occasions. When the Yankees wel
approaching her section she and N
uncle decided to cross over into tn
State, as the enemy showed such ha
! red toward them, so they refugeed IN
| Robson, bringing with them most
| their valuables, including the box
sugar, which Aunt T. had deposit
under the bed in the room which S
occupied. The "Bummers" arriv
duly, and began Immediately to rul
mage and plunder the house. She W
in her room, when she said lit
old Yankee discovered her treasu
box, pulled it out, and proceeded
open it, when she ordered him to c
| sist. Ignoring the command, she gat
| cred a chair, threatening to col
| down on his head. When he paus
i for a moment to see if she rea
| meant battle, and being convinc
that she did, he grinned sicl6ly gr
and arose from the floor, when S
took her seat on the box and tn
guarded her sugar in safety till
vandals we're all gone. She was
/, brave spirited Albanian with I
fighting blood in her veins inherit
from her grandfather Genl Picke
of Revolutionary fame. While