VISITING RELATIVES IN THE COUNTRY

Occasionally while growing up, we would visit my mother's sister and her family in a country home and farm about 50 miles from our home in El Dorado. This farm visit was a great adventure for me. Their only source of water was a deep well with a long rope and a bucket. Heat for cooking and keeping the house warm was provided by a wood stove and fireplace. Light was provided by kerosene lamps.

Their farm was about 40 acres planted with cotton and corn primarily. There were many chickens and hogs, plus 2 mules for plowing and 2 cows for milking. The outside "privy" was a "2-holer" with newspaper - a completely new experience for this city-boy!  All my cousins and their family seemed very content with their living conditions.

I was very fortunate in many ways to be raised in a town with running water, electric lights, and natural gas for heating and cooking. My country relatives must have thought we were rich