Written in 1983
Oak Glen was a quiet little town - shady streets - quiet. We kept a horse and buggy for long trips, but walked most of the time. Grandpa had a hand cart that he hauled paint and ladders around in. I do remember one time, though, he had a wagon, and we all went along for a picnic. He was painting a bridge somewhere (could it have been a branch of the Wabash?) This was a rare occasion.
Our Sunday School was in a little frame church set way back in the trees - they called it "The Little Brown Church in the Wildwood"! Mr. Tapley was the superinrtendent of the Sunday School. I remember the day he stopped in and gave us each a small aluminum disc with john 3:16 on one side of it and the Lord's Prayer on the other. He pointed out the change in the Lord's Prayer. "It now says Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," he said. Mr. Tapley was the Civil War veteran, in his 70's who came to our house frequently to play the flute while Grandpa play'ed the organ or piano.
One Sunday, when we were walking home, a car stopped and picked us up! This was the first time I remember riding in a car. It was high up - no top, but I don't know who it belonged to. A new experience!
When we moved back to Muskegon, we rode on the train. I was seasick, as usual. Grandpa Bush met us at the station with a team of horses and a big sleigh with lots of blankets. When we got to their house - their farm - the green house on Laketon, it was like a storybook. There was a cozy, lamp-lighted room, a warm stove, a big table with food all ready for us, and a smiling, welcoming Grandma (who only talked Dutch). While I was getting warm by the stove, my eyes kept turning to that high shelf in the corner where there were all the OZ books in a row! What did we have to eat? Where did we all sleep? I don't remember.
We found a house on Forest Ave. across the railroad track and a big field from Grandma's house. Yes, we did go to their farm for milk with a shiny pail. They had cors and lots of pigs, also chickens, and flocks of doves circling around the yard - also a big red touring car (no top) up on blocks in the barn.
When we were small we had lots of fun - the best company in the world - our brothers and sisters. There were always games - board games (remember Pollyanna?) Touring, rook, etc., Jackstraws (det all you tin det! later) Word games ont he spur of the minute - library books, stories, plays (we acted them out), poetry - I still remember our favorite lines (but if you want poetry quoted, ask Annie).
Outside we played work-up basketball and games like last Couple Our, Crack the Whip, etc. And how i loved my little wheel, and the stick Lammert fixed for me. This was endless fun. in the winter there was always enough snow for forts, fox and geese, etc. the older boys made a fantastic snow and ice hill. It was higher than my head, iced down every night, steps to climb up with a sled, and a long trail way across the yard to the road, and deep tracks to keep the sled headed straight. Then they made a tunnel near the road to go through. It was great fun until one of the boys got out of the track and hit the side of the tunnel. We were all stunned. That ended the tunnel.
I used to play lots of games with Lammert. I guess I must have been the tomboy because we climbed trees, played mumblty-peg, and both got top-notch with a sling shot (which he made, of course).
When I was about 12, we moved to Getty Street. Soon after we moved there the road was paved. i remember that before the road was opened, all the kids (including my girlfriend, Margery Andrus) skated from our house all the way to Mona Lake on that nice cement roller skating rink!
Since we were in different school districts for the 8th grade, I had to go to Hackley School, downtown in Muskegon. i didn't like that much. it was a long walk and I didn't know anyone at all. The kids were different - city kids. But I enjoyed the snake-dance before the football game. Down Western Avenue, the main street, we went. All the traffic had to stop for us. Exciting, yes, but I never did get to go to a football game.
Later I worked at the Brunswick record plant, testing records. The phonographs in those days were all hand wound, and the needle had to be changed frequently. But for my job they put a motor on it for me!
I enjoyed all my jobs and school, too. And now i enjoy every day, doing just as I please.
Our Mother and Dad raised eight kids with very little money but lots of hard work, and ideals of the highest. We can all be thankful for our heritage.