I like turkey talk, even if it is cold turkey! Wesley got his quota of turkeys and shared them. He learned to use his own vocal cords to call the birds and acquired the name of "Hooter." Maybe the men around here need to take heed of a little more of our ancestor's hunting abilities. Once upon a time my Uncle Guy Dillard was the best turkey hunter around. Wesley dropped his head and said, "You bested me. When Wesley Shipman heard Louie's story (Wesley had also climbed a bluff) Wesley asked, "How high was that bluff?" Louie told him. The echols from that bluff threw all his hearing off direction. The bluff was the cause of all of the mishap. He said they flew away and sure were pretty. it flew right from the spot where he had been. Would you believe he heard it on top of the bluff, where he had just come from? He ventured back up the steep place, ever so quietly, and the turkey would never see him because he looked like the dirt and forest all over. He gave another call and didn't hear a thing. He used his caller (I reckon that's what you call it) and the answer came back loud and clear - but it was down under the bluff. Louie, his son, heard the fowl somewhere. With Willard Stoops, the turkeys seem to almost run over him, or, "I hard them a little ways off." I don't think he ran from them.
I have heard some tall tales, tired bodies adn sleepy eyes during this period of hunting and have experienced some good eating. Some have been fortunate to get one or tow. One think I know in common with us now, wild turkeys to hunt and foot on the table - if you are lucky. As we were wondering how our Great Grandmother Mary grew up, it is the same thing we all wonder about - how it was, what they did and the times they lived through. So I guess what I'm trying to tell you is, it takes something to grow baby chicks and it is wroth the try, but there may be a few mishaps along the way. There were also complications with a bunch of baby chicks when Myra grabbed up the chickens' mother and bartered her a magazine from a paper salesman. Daddy tried tying an old hen down on the nest to make her set, but it didn't work. Mom was very upset and I don't know how long it was before that old hen set again. The next morning most of the chickens were without legs. One night a rat noticed the hole and smelled a good dinner. Once upon a time, Mom had a nice bunch of baby chicks, with a mother hen, which she was keeping up at night for their protection. The children were so excited, as well as their parents. You could hear them quite well in all directions. When the Extension Office was in the basement of the courthouse, everyone knew the day of arrival of the chickens. I believe several 4-H Club members are getting their baby chicks in their poultry chain projects. Holland Davenport, Guy Rose and Ancil Baker were among the best teachers. The last night ended with several songs sung. The shape notes are taught, also time, signs, etc. The school only lasted for four nights and we always had about two weeks of it. It brought back a lot of "once upon a times." It was interesting to see some of the young men leading the singing.
Shipman has been kind enough to allow me to share with you some of her stories and memories.Ĭaney community had a few nights singing school. Shipman but I look forward to her column and it's normally the first thing I read when I receive the Echo. This column contains snippets of wonderful stories and memories. Marion Co AR - Old Dillar Settlement, 2000