The Key West Citizen

'The Mother In My Life'

I was not blessed to have my mother during my entire childhood, as she departed this life when I was 13 years of age, but I have a strong remembrance of her. To this day I haven't heard anyone say anything about her that was not good—relatives or friends.

I remember her best doing the routine of a homemaker after working out two or three days a week. There were six children—three boys and three girls. To feed and clothe a family of that size my mother had to work whenever possible.

She always managed to get home in plenty of time to prepare a most appetizing meal, as we had our vegetable garden, chickens and two or three hogs that helped to carry us along.

Often my father would go out of town, on business very early in the morning, so I started getting up at four or five o'clock on those mornings to stand around at first and then to help prepare the breakfast or at least hoped I was helping.

On baking days I would stay in the kitchen and watch every move my mother made, and then when she passed on I could cook and do almost anything.

During the winter months we sat around the open fire and played games and sang. Often, my dad would play the piano, but the only pieces he knew were those he had played for square dances.

My mother didn't approve of them so much, as she didn't wish to teach us any bad habits. Once or twice a year my dad would take us to a movie but my mother would not go.

Mother believed that reading the newspapers was the next best thing to attending school and always when someone would mention something being in the paper, she had read it. I once asked if she read every word in the paper, and, she said, "Only the important parts."

Mother told us of coming from work one day she decided to eat a bite of food which the lady had given her. As she took a bite walking along the street she almost choked, thinking one of us children would undoubtedly want the food. My dad did not believe in the fees for school, as he paid taxes, so Mother would have to pay for each of us children.

I miss my mother very much and her love and teachings will always be with me. She taught us to have brotherly and sisterly love, so therefore we are a very close family.

My dad and stepmother were married when I was seventeen. They have always been very close and have love and respect for each other, but no one will be able to take the place of my mother.

I trust and pray that I will someday have as many friends who will not be able to speak evil of me, as my mother had during her lifetime.