Hill Country Living
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
For the first time in my tenure as a Water Valley resident, I missed the Christmas parade. I was out of town for work. My Christmas Parade Review/Recap column is my favorite column to write all year so I’m very sad not to get to write it this year! So, here are the Wagners again to cover my slack. Little Jessie writes to Big Brother John during the Christmas season of 1886.
Water Valley,
Mississippi Sunday,
December 19, 1886
Dear John,
Sunday has come around again and I always write to you on that day. I’m so glad that next Saturday is Christmas but awful sorry that you’re unable to be here. I have not been well this last week and have not been going to school for a day or two. I had some sore throat and my tonsils were as large as hickory nuts and covered with ulcers. It hurt me awful bad to swallow too, but it is better now.
It was a real warm day yesterday, and we played out in the yard nearly all day. All except Carrie, who was down at the hall, helping to clean up and sell the things left from the oyster supper the night before. As I had sore throat, I did not go down either the night before or the day to clean up. It rained the night the Gleaners had it, and was awful, muddy and bad, but Emma, Aunt Ella, Carri, Gertie, Eugene and Calista went. We took in $15 that night and about $5 yesterday. We are trying to help mend the roof of the church. We had our own Japanese suits that night and I couldn’t go. Carrie wore mine.
Yesterday afternoon, Edward and Florence were up here and Calista said to Eugene, “Eugene, go and show Edward how you can go up to the calf!” The calf was in the front yard and so Eugene went right up to the calf’s head. He had a red scarf and I don’t know whether it was that or not but the calf just knocked him right over. We killed one calf the other day and now this one is so bad that as I was going to the front yard this morning and he just run me back into the house. Eugene was hurt real badly on his cheek but nowhere else. His cheek is all right this morning. I was only a little red yesterday and bruised slightly.
We are about through the examination now. I guess we will get out of school about Thursday. I’m awfully anxious for Christmas to come. Miss Ida Duncan has resigned. She was going to teach in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The board excepted her resignation last night. The Thursday before New Year’s Day they are going to elect a new teacher. Aunt Molly’s cousin, Miss Dixie Buford wants the place.
Mr. Price preached his farewell sermon last Sunday but we did not go to hear him as there was preaching at our own church. The Methodists are going to get Mr. Oakly, I think. Miss Emma Crawford is still about as usual. She gets better these cool days. I believe she says that while the snow is on the ground that she just eats it nearly all day.
Well, I will have to close. Good-bye,
Jessie
