• General Notes

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  More About Fly.  Ethel and I went in to town.  Mama told us to get a small tin pan.  We did, and on our way home we were crossing the culvert which was about four or five feet high.  Fly had rolled in a cactus one time and was blinded in her right eye.  So she shied from the left side and fell off the right side. Ethel slid off over the back and I jumped, but managed to hold the pan up.  Fly got up, walked a little ways, looked back and nickered.  She had a little skin ned place on her flank.  We didn't think we ought to ride her so we led her up to the Horn's house. Mr. Horn looked at it, said it was okay to ride her. I use d to herd cattle in the winter, too, in the cornstalks.  I would ride to a stra wstack, get off, let Fly rest and I would sing to her. "Red Wing" was my favori te song.  I sang "Rock of Ages" and "Jesus, Lover of My Soul".  Now I have forg otten the words.  Fly had a colt one time. We kids would milk Fly, she was so g entle...but if a cow get behind her or out of line, she would run up and bite t hem on the rump.  One time six of us were on her and the back person would keep sliding off. My Dog, Shine.  I also had a dog, "Shine", as my pet.  He was 14 years old when he died.  I cried and cried.  I must have been 14 or 15.  But I' d go out to where Papa buried him, sit down and cry. The Indian's Saddle Horse. I'll tell you now about the saddle horse the Indians left to die by the side of the road.  We took him with the rest of the horses to Gregory.  He was a goo d saddle horse.  Papa liked him. We named him "Hank."  Anyway, one day I was he rding a large herd of cattle three-fourths of a mile northeast of home and I wa s riding this horse.  Three mean-looking western men came riding up and said, " That is our horse"; I said it was not and they were going to make me get off. I told them, "No...the saddle and bridle is our's too."  So I rode him and they followed me.  Mama came out - but nothing did any good.  When I got off they p ulled off the saddle and bridle, put a rope on its neck and rode off. My pony F ly and a mare named Daizy tried to follow.  Mama and I had to run a long ways t o get them to come back.  We had told people how we had gotten the horse.  Thes e men heard of it and just came and stole it from us.  Papa sure felt bad.  He had been gone to Bonesteel for a load. Mama and Fly.   One time Mama felt sorry for me to have to ride so much. So she tried to do my job.  She was bringing i n the cattle when Fly got to a little pond of water and Fly laid down in it.  A bout scared Mama to death.  She got herself up and out of the water and got the pony out. She walked home, leading the pony.  She was all wet - they both were ! Mosquitoes caused Fly to lay down in the water. I spent many a day on Fly.  I loved to ride.  Also, to see the country. I stopped in sometimes at homes and got acquainted.  I'd sit on her, folks would come out and visit.  I suppose I t old everything I knew and then some. Summer of 1909 - The Trip to Iowa.  In the summer of 1909, on July 2nd, Ethel and I went on the train to Iowa.  We had be gged for a long time to go to Iowa to see Grandma and Aunt Amy.  So our neighbo r, Mr. Drees, was going by train to Kansas City and our folks thought that woul d be a good time for us to take the train to Council Bluffs.  We were planning on celebrating the 4th of July.  Grandpa Darrington met us there, in a wagon wi th two horses.  Had to drive 16 miles.  Seemed like we would never get to their farm.  Grandpa didn't talk much, either...a man of few words. We talked to him and he would answer in his English brogue which was rather hard to understand. But he was very kind. Well, the 4th of July came and the rain came with it. Just poured all day.  We stood by the windows and watched the rain run down the window panes.  We were there at Grandma and Grandpa Darrington's until October . (The folks shouldn't have left us there that long, but they did.) We visited and stayed with Aunt Amy and Uncle Charlie, and U

Details of William Henry's family