When visitin the old folks you would enter the house from the front porch. In the summertime, after knockin, a voice would echo outside to where you waited---"Come in the house"! It was hard to see once you had walked through that front door because all the shades would be pulled down to keep the hot summer sun outside rather than inside where it heated up the almost unbearable house even more so.

After your old eyes were aclimated to the dark room, two chairs would suddenly appear. The old woman would be settin in the home made hickory rockin chair. The old man would be settin in his big easy chair right next to the Florance coal stove with it's chrome and black finish. He'd be smokin his old cob pipe usually, but not always. Sometimes he would be chaw'n bakker he'd grown himself.

"How ya'll doin young man? Have ya'll et yet? We got plenty a grub on the stove!"

"Oh, I'm fine--and how are you folks?"

"We're fine but kinda lazy in these horrendous hot temps. It's just too hot to do much in the "heat of the day" so we wait till evenin to do what we have to do outside. Hows your family? Lets see--you belong to a--a--just who do you belong to? Seems I've pumb forgot tho you look familiar!"

"I'm blongin to the Gibson family--my daddy is John B and mom is Evy. We live across the pasture from here. Just thought I'd stop in and check on you. Do you need anything that I can do or bring from town?"

"Not unless it handy--I could use a can of snuff and Pa could use a stick of lick-or-ish--if it ain't too much trouble. Get my little coin purse and I'll get money for to pay for it with".

"Naw, I'll get it for you. Kinda help pay back for the baby chickens you done and give to us last spring"!

Shortly after that those old folks got sick--he died and she went to the nursin home. Only lived about a year before joinin her mate on the shores of heaven. They didn't have much money but always had an extra place at their table for anybody who needed some grub.

They usually had company to be settin with'm outside under the big maple shade tree but it was just too hot for anybody to be there in these dog days of summer.

Is your future home gonna be hot or is it gonna be perfect? Heaven awaits our final decision. Reject Jesus Christ and you will end up hotter than you ever dreamed of. In heaven the cool "River of Life" is flowin gently for all to be refreshed by. "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord"! old hoot gibson. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), April 23, 2002

Answers

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Many folk would give you the shirt off of their backs even if they had only one. Always food on the stove for those that stop by so to speak.

That reminds me of the joke that went around a couple of years ago.

The story goes that there was a terrible blizzard and National Guard helicopters had to be called in to get food and supplies to those in the rural areas.

A small VERY RURAL cabin was spotted with a wisp of smoke coming from the chimney. The helicopter couldn't set down because of all of the trees.

A decision was made to backpack in supplies to those in the cabin. Red Cross workers put on cold weather gear, snowshoes, and after about three hours of trekking through heavy snowfall arrived at the cabin quite exhausted.

They knocked on the door and a little old wrinkled up lady answered the door.

They responded, "We're here from the Red Cross".

She responded back, "Well I can't help you with a monetary donation, but I had a fair year and can spare some home canned goods I guess."

There she was, well set with her stocked panty and plenty of firewood to carry her through the winter, and no need at all to be rescued or helped.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), April 23, 2002.

Pay It Forward!! How many of you have done it today??? After reading this post i am!!!Seems this world has gotton away from what Really matters in life!!Guess this post only reminded me !! Thank you Hoot & notforprint!!! God Bless!!

-- Grizz workin near D.C. (southerneagle@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Grandpa Hoot! You had a good, caring heart when you were a young un, as much as you do now. God bless you.

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), April 28, 2002.