CHAPTER V
My mother was a large woman and was distinguished by a large goiter. She was healthy and ruled her family with firmness and compassionate understanding. She was reared in a home in which sternness was the prevailing policy, and it was natural for her to carry her teaching over to her own family.
She was a very religious person and belonged to the Wesleyan Church which was then and still is a fundamental denomination. She frowned on card playing, and after our neighbors bought a flinch deck, where we would go to play cards, we begged her to permit us to buy a deck, but she refused at first. After much persuasions on our part, she relented and permitted us to buy a deck, but under her conditions. We were told the very first time she heard an argument during a game she would toss the cards in the fireplace. We did quite well for a while, then some difference arose, an argument ensued.
She did not speak a word, but carefully gathered up every card and tossed them in the fireplace. We sadly watched our cherished deck of cards go up the chimney in smoke. We never asked to replace them, because we knew we had violated the condition of their purchase, and knew from experience that in this instance there would be no compromise.
I can well remember our pantry on Saturday afternoon. The shelves were lined with pies, cakes, cookies and other goodies in preparation for company on Sunday. Nearly every Sunday, some relation, friends, or the preacher came to visit, and incidentally remained for dinner.
To be continued
