Sway and Play

I was born in West Virginia. When I was eighteen months old, my mother passed away. My grandmother, Margaret McCall, brought me to the Rock Spring Community to live on a farm. My uncle, Newt McCall, lived with us and did the farm work.

As time passed, I grew to love the farm very much. I helped my grandmother with small household chores or followed Uncle Newt outside. He taught me how to care for the animals on the farm; he also taught me many things about the wild animals that lived in the nearby forests.

People in those days lived far from each other. The children could not get together to play unless their parents took them visiting. These circumstances led to one of the most memor-able times of my life.

I was seven years old. All week Grandmother kept telling me if I were a good girl and did this or that, she had a big surprise for me. My anticipation was so great that I could hardly stand it. Then came Thursday morning. Grand-mother dressed me in my best dress, packed some more clothes in a small satchel, and told me to come downstairs with her. Putting on her bonnet, she told me we were going on a small vacation.

Uncle Newt put our satchels in the back of the buggy, helped Grandmother and me onto the seat, and we were on our way. My, how those two pretty horses pulled the buggy along. It was as if they sensed a great adventure ahead.

We were going to Love's Mill to visit several o£ Grandmother's relatives. We arrived at Nannie Cole's home that afternoon. They were delighted to see us. While the older people visited, I had a wonderful time playing with the children.

When we tired of games, they wanted to show me the swinging bridge. I had never walked on such a bridge. My friends really enjoyed my re-action to the swinging back and forth and the bumping up and down. I was petrified! Needless to say. I was relieved when the supper bell rang.

After supper was eaten and the dishes put away, we went into the parlor. In the corner of this room was something that literally took my breath away. It was a piano--the first one I had ever seen. Nannie played for us, and the music was lovely. I wanted to try to play, but that was strictly a "no-no" for children.

Next morning after good-byes were said with promises to come again soon, we were on our way. About the middle of the afternoon, we arrived at the home of another niece, Sally Cole. I remember that she had a lot of work to do. She was excited because we were there, and it seemed to me she was awfully slow getting her work done. It was nearly nine o’clock that night before we ate supper. I thought I was going to starve.

We spent Saturday night in Matt Bishop’s home. Early Sunday morning we 1eft for Rush Creek where Sam Bishop’s family lived. There were chil-dren at Sam’s house, and we had such a good time that I was sorry when Grandmother said it was time to start home.

It was about the middle of the afternoon when we left. We had traveled only a short distance when it started raining. The further we went, the harder it rained. Finally, we arrived at Lodi. I was very happy when Grandmother decided it would be best if we spent the night with her friend, Mollie Moore.

It was wonderful to get into dry clothes and eat a good hot supper. Then to bring a perfect ending to our journey, Mrs. Moore and her family gathered with us in the parlor. She had an organ and played for us. We sang until bedtime.

We got home Monday morning. For weeks I told anyone who would listen about my wonderful vacation.

My education started at the Rock Spring School. Music was my greatest interest, and later I became a music teacher. I have taught many pupils, and no child has ever been told he or she could not play on my piano. I have never forgotten how badly I wanted to put my fingers on the keys of the first piano I saw when I went on the weekend visit with my grandmother.

Margaret Edmondson