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Tales From Life On The Farm
     Growing Up in Rural Virginia
              During the Great Depression
       by Lester Nelson May, Sr
 
Soft Cover 6 x 9, 98 pages, numerous photos, many in color.
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 Dedication   Introduction  Table of Contents

Dedication

Dedicated to Sons Nelson May and John May

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the kind and generous persons who assisted, supported, or provided encouragement in this production including:
Bill Downer, Alfred Goodloe, Marian Goodloe, Dawn Jernigan, Ray Jones, Brod May, Debbie May, Harriet May, James C. May, John May, Nelson May, Perrie May, Ruth G. May, Joanne McNergney, Carol Ponton, Allen Saunders, Iris Stewart, and Al Ward.

Introduction

HOW THIS COLLECTION CAME ABOUT

Some thirty years ago I asked my Mother if she would recollect and write down the lyrics she could recall of the songs she and her two sisters sang at family gatherings. The trio, alto, bass, and soprano, with piano accompaniment, drew the family together to listen.

In her aging handwriting, Mother provided the words to 18 songs. I then took years to translate and letter by hand the data she furnished. The typed versions are included at the end of this volume. Since Mother’s death I remember parts of other tunes that were not included. My theory is that some may be better than none.

The music probably originated after the War Between the States. Some may be from minstrels that traveled in road shows. My assumption is that Mother’s family sang these tunes while they were growing up and on into the 20th Century. Printouts of the music and lyrics of some of the songs are available. Getting the copyrights is beyond my abilities.

I am sure that our farmhouse was the only one in our area that had drawings prepared for its construction. Mr. Allman of Allman Hardware, Gordonsville, Virginia, prepared the ink drawings which are reduced in scale and included after the songs. The originals, which I have, had been stored with the family documents in the built in cabinet in our parents bedroom.

Once the tunes were in hand I began remembering some of the laughable things that happened or I heard about growing up. Why not record some of that humor for others to enjoy? Living through the Great Depression and its aftermath may be of interest to our two sons and possibly to others.

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Table of Contents

FAMILY
EXTENDED FAMILY
DAD PERCY
MOTHER RUTH
BROTHER CARY
RUTH AND TOM
BROTHER CARL
SISTER ALICE
“BUG” AND “EGG”
EARLY MEMORIES
LIFE IN THE FARMHOUSE
BOARDING THE TEACHERS
A SURPRISE VISITOR
THE FORD MODEL T
CHANGES
PREPARATION AND PRIMARY EDUCATION
BENTON AND “B” JOIN US
NEIGHBORS
DOLLY BUNCH
THE THREE DOOR CHEVY
THE THREE FIRES
BITS AND PIECES
TRANSFER TO TOWN
FDR AND ELEANOR
HAPPENINGS
LUCY, NELL, AND HAZEL
HERITAGE LOST
ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS
MOTHER’S SONGS SUNG
   Rose of Red
   Georgia Camp Meeting
   Chorus (repeat)
   Sweet Bunch of Daisies
   Whoa Mule
   Sunny South
   Watermelon
   Little Old Mud Cabin
   Just One Girl
   Log Cabin in the Lane
   Huckleberry Picnic
   That Silver-Haired Daddy
   Red Wing
   A Passing Policeman
   Sweet Refrain
   Massa in the Cold, Cold Ground
   Mid the Green Fields of Virginia
   Stay in Your Own Back Yard
   Love is a Very Funny Thing
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
HOUSE PLANS

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