- PLEASE NOTE: These links also appear at the very bottom of this page of my mother’s actual stories, and describe my reaction to her childhood writing:
- *Mother’s Childhood Stories — A Few Scanned Pages from Original
- *MY MOTHER’S CHILDHOOD STORIES WITHOUT COMMENTS
- +MY ANALYSIS OF MY MOTHER’S STORIES – PART 1
- MY ANALYSIS OF MOTHER’S CHILDHOOD STORIES – PART 2
- +MY ANALYSIS OF MY MOTHER’S STORIES – PART 3
- +NEWLY DISCOVERED – Mother’s 8 Year Old Story
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mom’s stories as close as I can to how she wrote them — I added page numbers
There is one page in the book dated January 19, 1936 written with sepia ink in adult hand writing. Mother turned 10 December 21, 1935.
What might have been her teacher’s name is written with adult ink at the top of the inside first page: Ethel Phillips. There are a few division problems written on the next pages, out of 4 on one page only one was marked correct. On the next page is written a problem, 34648958 divided by 643, with 6,45 P.M. written under it. The problem shows no attempt at having been worked out. The next page in her composition book starts this story:
_______________________
Jane and Charles were sitting on the porch wondering what to do outside little snowflakes were playing tag about. Jane looked up. Their was her mother she said come and get cleaned up. For we are going to call on Uncle Robert. The two children jumped up quickly for they know that he would tell them a story. They jumped into the car and drove up the snowy road the trees wer covered with snowflakes they stopped at a farm rover came to meet them he barked a welcoming. Uncle Robert got up from the chair where he was reading and met them at once. Jane and Charles [she had Jimmy written in and crossed it out to put in Charles] asked if he would tell them a story he said yes they sat around the fireplace and Uncle Robert began.
Uncle Robert Tells a Story
He started long long ago a bear had three cubs their names were blackie curly and last of all mischievous this he was named because he was always up to some prank this time his mother was going away he told the three little cubs to stay in their cave blackie and curly did but Mischievous did not Blackie and Curly warned him. But this cub was like some children thought he know it all nothing can hurt me he said boldly he trotted down the path not knowing the danger ahead of him. He looked around not knowing where he was going or thinking about it. He was following a trickling [actually written trickting] brook it was singing him a melody [actually written moldy] of bells. The cub was so concerned on the music and tree and things around him that he did not [three letter word scratched out here] hear footsteps behind him a hunter was creaping along in the bushes on the other side. Now let us see what is in the cave of mother bear blackie cub was badly frightened for he knew the dangers ahead of his little brother. Curly meanwhile was having a feast of berrys. Little footsteps entered the cave mother bear was home she looked around yes their was Curly and Blackie but Mischievous [she actually abbreviated this to Mis.] was no where to be seen. Oh mother bear cried where is my mischievous [again abbreviated to mis.] little cub curly cried I told him to stay. Blackie who was [misspelled crying here and scratched it out] crying hard said I told and told him but he said nothing would happen to him no time to cry there’s only time to hunt said mummy bear so out they all went to hunt for Mischievous [again, mis.].
Mischievous [mis.] did not know that they were hunting for him all he thought about was where the little running brook stopped and of how many berries he could [spelled correctly after written wrongly and crossed out] eat the hunter was thinking about how he could catch little Mischievous [Mis.] without harming him, for he wanted [written wan’t] to catch Mischievous [Mis.] and put him in the zoo [spelled zo] for he know he would get a [crossed out and rewritten] lot of money for him. Oh mother and Blackie and Curly saw the hunter and all three jumped right infront of him for they all three saw Mischievous [Mis.] and that is why they all jumped right infront of the hunter oh he was so startled he jumped higher and quicker than Mother Bear Curly and Blackie had the hunter took head to heals and ran as fast as he had [word correction, crossed out and rewritten] jumped. Now said Mother Bear, Mischievous [Mis.] come with me and ended Uncle Robert. I don’t think you would like to hear what happened in the cave that night but I will tell you I heard some little bear yells and I know that Mischievous [Mis.] name was changed to sonny bear and don’t you know why? I will tell you because he was always behaving his mother and being sunshiny to people. [two duplicate sentences are written at the top of this next page that do not seem to be connected to the story: A little boy came – is underlined, and again: a little boy came, both sentences are surrounded with a pencil line circle] Oh tell us another cried Charles and Jane Oh no we will have to go home now and that night Jane and Charles dreamt about bears and cubs Charles dreamt [that is written twice and crossed out before being written a third time] that they were being good and Jane dreamt that they were being bad.
Mildred
__________________________________________-
NOTE: several of the pages have words and sentences from what looks like previous school work crossed out at the top of them. One set at the top of a page that’s crossed out has a title: How to get Money. with 5 numbered lines following below:
- Magazines
- Writing Stories
- Writing Poems.
- Selling Things.
- Invitations.
There are a few blank pages, and then this math problem written in and worked:
689546898 divided by 5234 with an answer of 56896456. It is in pencil, but I don’t think it is mother’s writing. I can’t tell. Another multiplication problem appears a few pages later written with very heavy dark lines and lots of corrections and crossing out. I think she was mad! Another long division of 6789567 divided by 52 which appears to be the “checking” of the previous problem. Neither of these problems matches the writing of the first ones in the book. Who did what here? Oh, such small life stories, now a mystery.
The next page is a drawing of “Charlie” wearing what look like jodhpurs with a black graduation cap. From a date later in the book, I would guess this was his 8th grade graduation. He has no hair, but she spent effort drawing his cheeks and his nose and nostrils.
Mother used to have a drawing of a girl’s face that was very good, I think she told us she did it in 8th grade. One time when I was maybe 8 I drew a picture of her and showed it to her and she compared it to the “most excellent” one she had drawn and told me mine was the ugliest thing she had ever seen. Well, looking at this picture, drawn when she was 10 or 11, that seems like such a strange “scene.” But weren’t they all! I never showed her anything I drew after that.
Now we are at this next story
___________________________________________________________
1. Chapter
The Treasure Box.
Loses Treasure Chest
It was early in spring. the ocean was singing a sweet song like a lullaby to the little fish. the sun was shining [written shinging] brightly on the water and made it sparkle. Right by this ocean their was a palace the steps were made of ruby which sparkled like the water the walls were made of rubys and gold let us peep inside this lovely place yes! look down at the floors what lovely carpets and chairs and pictures oh one of King arthur in coloer. Inside lived no not a king prince queen none of these things just a plain nice young man. Now it happened that this man was a very generous young man his name was Bob Cootch. One day as he was walking along the street looking his best when he glanced down on the sidewalk what do you think he saw? a crippled old man placed on the sidewalk holding his hat out for money he looked so poor and sad that Bob dropped 100 dollars in his hat now this man put this money in the bank. Bob walked along and the same thing happened to lots of other people and they all put it in the bank. Now it happened that his man was also a very smart man and when he was out fishing he dropped a chest in the shallow part of the ocean where he did his fishing and inside it their was gold just packed up with gold and this is how the day looked.
How beautiful it was that one bright day and the great elms overhead bowing to the clear blue oceans with the fish swimming underneath. Green like shadows against the sky.
Now right after he did this wise thing he looked in his big money chest which was in his big hall in the palace now what do you think? oh [a sentence crossed out here] put your hands on your ears I know you will not want to hear what he saw. No not one cent in the big huge chest now don’t you wish you had put your hands over your ears I am sure Bob wished that he had put his hands over his eyes Oh my he said why did I put that little chest in the water? he ran as swiftly as he could to the water where he dived headfirst right down to the fishs home in the bottom of the sea he came up to get a breath of air but he did come up without the little chest. Now do you want to know why he had dived headfirst down to the bottom of the sea and disturbed the fishs home? I will tell you it was tax day the tax man was coming for taxes and he had not one cent I listened at their window that day as the door bell rang, to the conversation this was it. I have come for my tax money. My pay is due today. How much asked he 1,000 answered the tax man. B-b-b-ut I-I-I-I h-h-h-haven’t g-got any m-o-ore [she didn’t put in the dashes] money he began to grow steadier in talking he was so frightened that he did not think of the ruby and gold walls and ruby steps. [some lines crossed out]
Chapter 2
Loses His Palace
Well you can’t live here if you can not pay your taxes right that one moment he had to move he felt in his pocket 3 shillings he had just enough to board a room to sleep in. Oh my how funny it seemed sleeping in a little simple room when he was used to a big well furnished one. He worked all next day trying to earn some money out of the money he got he bought some logs in which he made a little log cabin no more [spelled moore] friends came to visit him the evenings seemed dull the next day he got a job of fishing right by his palace so he would not have to walk a long ways. As he was going to a little inn he saw some people better dressed than the ones he thought they might be. Bob thought at first that it was the people he had given the hundred dollars to. He watched[spelled wached]. Yes they went into the palace where he had once lived.
He went back to his little log cabin and their spent the night. The next morning as he was sitting in his boat he felt something heavy on his line. he pulled and tugged finally [finely] in front of him was his chest oh he cried I am so glad that I dropped that treasure chest down in the water now I know why they named it a treasure chest. Now back in the palace these people were spending their money foolishly the tax man came and the same thing happened they had no money and had to move out. And Bob Cootch moved in as he was walking towards the palace with the box in his hand the sun seemed to gladden [spelled gladen] and shine brightly with him it seemed to say Bob don’t spend your money foolishly this time and Bob didn’t.
End
M.H.
[mother’s last name was Cahill, not Hunter. That was her mother’s maiden name]
There are many blank pages following the above story, and then a drawing of a face with hair and heavily darkened eyes — no pupils showing, blackened whites. The word mother was written at the top and crossed out, the name Charlie is at the bottom. Then there are a few more empty pages, including one torn out, and this story begins.
_______________________________
Life of Jimmy and Johnny
“Ho hum but its lonely in here” exclaimed little Johnny. Johnny was a sheet yes a little sheet which belonged to babys bed. Johnny lies in the washing machine in the big kitchen. Splash, flop, splash down on top of Johnny falls his friends the towel, also shirt and face cloth. “Hello Jimmy towel where have you been so very lonely, Jimmy answered “I was by mistake put in the wrong drawer with all the big sheets & table cloths my but I was frightened and had such a hard time to find my own house.” “Goody goody” they both said together as they saw the maid come now we [will was crossed out] shall splash around in the water but oh dear when we go through the [wash was crossed out] ringer it does hurt so but then we shall go out of doors and swing to and fro on the long line. Here we go round and round oh what fun but doesn’t that ringer look fierce over there? Here we go through it ouch oh it hurts so here we are in the large clothes basket ready to go on the line. Here at last on the line. Oh Jimmy said Johnny just you look at those horrible storm clouds in view here that thunder and [here crossed out] there goes the maid leaving us alone to our misery. Look lightning [spelled lighting] before Johnny could say another word a gust of wind came and blew both far far away. The rain pattered down. A small girl came out to gather the clothes and on missing Jimmy & Johnny began a long search finally she came upon Johnny huddled up in a small heap on the ground so very wet & dirty she beheld Jimmy in a very disgracing manner hanging on a bush both very dirty up they were gathered & with the rest put. Johnny & Jimmy muttered some frightened tones but were satisfied when soon hung on the long line in the sunshine.
Many more blank pages and then comes this story:
Once there was a black boy who was picking black berries and putting them in his black bowl for his mother to prepare for his black father to eat for his black berry supper but a big black bare came a long and while the black boy was looking he ate all the black berries from the black berries from the[she repeated this] black bowl. The black boy soon filled it up again, so the black bear wasn’t satisfied so he took all the black berries on the bush besides in the bowl [the following was added between the lines] then the boy began to cry then the black bears heart was sofftened and he told the black boy that he was sorry the black boy wiped his tears. The black bear then took the black bowl between his teeth and filled it from a nother black berie bush and gave it to the black boy, and the black boy thanked him and went home and his black farther had his black berry supper.
Mildred
The Enchanted Duck
Once upon a time in olden days lived a farmer who had a nice duck. One day when he was watching the duck swimming in the pond he said “you old duck you are good for nothing excpet to lay egg which the family does not like. So I am going turn you out into the woods.” and as he said this he cast the duck into a bag, and brought the poor duck into the woods. Now the poor duck in the meantime was living on berries by a river. [crossed out In the mean time] the farmer [crossed out had gotten] had a son who was now four and his daughter nineteen now it happened that one day the boy came down [spelled dow] to the river for a swim the duck watched him closley in a very few minutes he heard yells he then knew that the boy was drowning[spelled drowing] he swam over to him and mouth put him on his back and swam to shore in fifteen minutes he began to move and talk and went home and told his father what had happened. His farther was very grateful to the duck and once more loved him now the duck had been enchanted but when someone loved him the enchment would be broke so before the farmer stood a handsome prince were they surprised. the farmer could not thank the prince [spelled price] for saving his saving his sons life and also apologize for what he had done. the prince forgave him, and fell inlove with the farmers daughter and married her they had a very nice wedding and lived happly ever after.
Mildred
______________________________________________________
This story has no title, but I believe shows the break that happened deep within my mother’s child mind. This story was written right after her 11th birthday
Sharon’s note: (The following story literally starts just as it is here.)
Oh no but I wanted to ask but Priscillia said it would be alright if we didn’t but I find out differently now for their is just fire fire on all sides of us and she added sobbing we don’t know where our mother is. but I do answered the man it’s about time I told about myself Beth iam your Uncle Charlie that lives in Minniappolias. remember now didn’t your mother say that I was coming about four weeks ago. why is it you Uncle Charlie are you going to take us back home are you are you going to take us home. Yes! iam going to take you home answered Uncle Charlie. He was kind of puzzled himself as he looked around all ways trying to see if there was any way to get home but he was a brave man and did not show his troubles his head turned to the right Then in back of him where the fire was creeping swiftly on them. He looked in front of him then he turned to the left and saw a small path which led to safety. He quickly picked Priscilla up and placed her on the opposite shoulder from which Beth was. A small cheek was resting on a large one of Uncle Charlie’s and two small blue eyes were closed tightly dreaming of her beloved mummy one who she dearly loved. Beth was sound asleep. Down the path they walked down [the street is crossed out here] until ahead of them was a street a street wheir you did not half to look in front of you in back on the left hand side for fire of was Uncle Charlie glad to see this but he did not know the way from their back to Mrs. Hunter [some words crossed out here] home Mrs. Hunter [written very darkly through the crossed through name, Montgomery] was Beths mother’s name Priscillias mothers name was Mrs. Bliss. Again, Uncle Robert [sic] was puzzled now he did not know the way to get home he heard a funny sound he knew it came from somewhere around him he looked up in the tree no nothing their this [where that is corssed out] place that place everywhere he looked. He just noticed that their was something inside his coat oh what could it be he then heard a little bark that proved the situation but he would have to get the animal out he tapped Beth a gentle tap on the shoulder up came Beth she jumped as though a stone had hit her she landed in a big puddle of mud oh dear what shall I do she cried oh I am so wet Uncle Charlie so very wet what shall I do. here take my coat and wrap it around you it will at least keep you warm out jumped the puppy joyfully oh so happy to be out. bow wow wow barked the dog. Oh it’s my puppy Spot. Oh Spoty called Beth the dog jumped upon Beth again almost knocking her down into the mud again Youll lead us home right away wont you Spoty Bow wow answered Spoty. The dog at once began to run up the road then down the street Beth Pris. and Uncle Charlie not uttering a word to anyone none of them speaking to each other all having as much as they could do to keep up with Spoty, ahead of them now was a long steap hill to climb so again Uncle Charlie lifted to heavy loads again in the same possion that they had been before so they then started to climb the steep hill they would be running up if they knew it was the end of their journey as soon as they got to the top for the dog had been very faithful and lead them home. They were almost to the top when they looked around to see that the dog was not to be seen anywhere at all but Uncle Charlie said it would be best for them to finish going up the hill and then they might know where they were they looked around when they got to the top of the hill but could not see Mrs. Hunter [written over an erased Montgomery] house or Mrs. Blisses house but to their surprise it seemed to be their own hill wheir their own houses used to stand. Beth said I know how to tell if this is our own hill and she quickly ran over to where they thought that their houses should stand and looked around and she then quickly knew that this was the right hill for there were the most glorious bluebells she quickly then ran over to her Uncle Charlie shouting this is our hill it is it is the hill that we used to live on [looks like us] but where is my mummy wheirs my mummy I ask you wheirs my mummy I ask you wheirs my mummy and wheirs your houses joined in Uncle Charlie up their [cannot read this word, looks like eais] Priscillia. wheir asked Uncle Charlie and Beth in a chorus [spelled chourus] (Sharon: the next sentence makes no sense!) [Charles up their pir happy our house isn’t their but the anders – maybe address — of it is a peculiar plan] [looking at the original written page there is no break in the writing to indicate any kind of a shift in her flow of thought. Perhaps “it is a peculiar plan” belongs at the start of this next sentence?] Uncle Charlie, Beth and Priscilla have hunted, knocked at doors, and everything you could imagine until now, until now that the sun is setting and the stars are beginning to peek from behind the dark blue sky down. The next task is to find a place to sleep, said Uncle Charlie. Priscilla, asked Uncle Charlie, have you any relatives that the fire hasn’t tackled and got the best of? Why, I have an Aunt and Uncle in Maine, and a Grandma and Grandpa in New Hampshire, and some cousins in Wyoming, answered Priscilla. That’s quite near here, just about a mile away from this redland. Oh, Uncle, why do you call Melrose that? asked Beth. Well, you see, this morning Melrose was as red as a ripe apple, answered Uncle Charlie, smacked his lips as he mentioned his favorite fruit. He was just about as hungry as Beth and Priscilla for none of them had had any lunch that day. Wasn’t it very red this morning? Continued Uncle Charlie. Wasn’t it, wasn’t it very red with blazes. Well, that is a very good name for them. As he was talking he was following Priscilla’s careful steps toward Wyoming. Up hills they went, around corners, down dusty streets where children were crying and shoemakers closing up their shops until finally ahead of them was sign with huge printed words WYOMING on it. They all rejoiced when they saw those blessed words WYOMING but now the question was what street what street this was a question that none could answer
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please also visit my main blog – Stop the Storm — about stopping the intergenerational transmission of unresolved traumas, about stopping child abuse and about healing traumas. Thank you! Linda
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This page has the following sub pages.
- *Mother’s Childhood Stories — A Few Scanned Pages from Original
- *MY MOTHER’S CHILDHOOD STORIES WITHOUT COMMENTS
- *1933 Nov 5 Mildred’s 2 Indian Drawings (she was almost 8)
- +MY ANALYSIS OF MY MOTHER’S STORIES – PART 1
- MY ANALYSIS OF MOTHER’S CHILDHOOD STORIES – PART 2
- +MY ANALYSIS OF MY MOTHER’S STORIES – PART 3
- +NEWLY DISCOVERED – Mother’s 8 Year Old Story
- *Separated Out – This is Only the Story of “Melrose Burning”
[…] Peters’ writing seems connected to a field of study called ‘The Anthropology of Consciousness.’ A child has a different consciousness than an adult does. I have always been able to sense my mother’s childhood consciousness within her childhood writings: +MY MOTHER’S CHILDHOOD STORIES. […]
[…] to erupt in terrible tragedy down the road of her life. I can see and sense these changes being present in the stories I have that she wrote at this […]
[…] I have read and transcribed millions of my mother’s words that were ‘accidentally’ left to me after her death. Of all those words I can feel the ring of truth in only a few handfuls of letters combined into coherency. When I look at her writing now in the order I have placed them in time and space-place I realize that the only time in her writings that she was free enough to try to express her reality was in the stories she wrote around age ten: +MY MOTHER’S CHILDHOOD STORIES […]