Some laughter by way of one of Pap’s old friends.
Evert was well known for being a prankster-never one to pass up a chance to poke some fun at someone. He had a new tool in is arsenal-a dog whistle. One afternoon Evert went up the road to visit Frank. After arriving on the porch to sit a spell, Evert told Frank to call his dogs-he wanted to see if they were any good. Frank called to his dogs and one came bounding up the steps just in time to hear Evert allow “that dogs crazy”. Frank said “why thats one of the best dogs I got!”
As was typical with most older gents in those days-Evert always had a black gum “toothbrush” hanging between his lips. Right quick like he replaced it with the dog whistle and gave a good blow. The dog began whining and scooting around. Evert said “see I told you Frank he’s crazy.” As Frank examined the dog to see what was the matter-Evert took the opportunity to give another blow to the whistle. The dog went to wallowing and whining all over the porch floor. The third blow sent the dog careening off the steps wildly running for the woods. Just at the wrong moment the dog snuck a look back and ran straight into an old turn plow. Now convinced, Frank yelled “Lord Ada get the shotgun that dogs gone straight crazy.”
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When Frank and Ada were newlyweds, Frank cut timber for a living. After a long hard day of being on the mountain he came home to no supper on the table. Having quite a temper, being slap worn out, and hungry he flew into a rage, grabbed a bowl and threw it against the wall. He looked at Ada and said “now how did you like that?” Ada picked up a bowl threw it against the wall and said “pretty good now how did you like that?” (I think this was the way Ada showed Frank she could handle anything he put out there)
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Part of the fun for coon and fox hunters, is standing around the fire listening to the dogs run waiting for them to bay or tree. Frank had a dog, Old Blue, that really wasn’t much of a hunting dog. Everyone teased Frank that Old Blue would just get out of the circle of light, made by the fire, and lay down to nap-leaving the rest of the pack to run.
One night Frank and some fellows were out hunting. Frank went to check on the running dogs, while some of the others were standing around the fire. One was whittling a stick-he cut 2 holes in it-just fooling around. One of the others noticed-remarking it looked like a pair of glasses. As they started laughing about the glasses-one of them came up with the idea of tying them on Old Blue-and they did. A little while later Frank showed back up and said he’d been thinking about it “Old Blue wasn’t lazy-he was probably so old he was going blind.” The fellows couldn’t believe their luck-they quickly told Frank they agreed and he should call Old Blue in so they could look at his eyes. Frank called Old Blue and there he came-trotting up to the fire wearing those homemade glasses. The men he-hawed and agreed yes Old Blue must be going blind. Frank-he got very very mad.
I hope you enjoyed the memories of Frank-people like him-they’re what folks refer to as salt of the earth. Frank was good, decent, honest-and funny too. Frank is long gone on-yet Pap still wishes he could walk over the mountain and sit a spell with him. If you know someone like Frank-I urge you go for a visit-enjoy a story or two-it’ll do you both good!
Tipper
Great stories! I remember the stories of the old folks. I used to spend time at my grandmothers and when company/neighbors came they always got to the stories.
Bob Franklin lived across the road from my grandmothers. He would come over and visit he liked to tease me with words I had never heard like calling me a “radical” or “toni”. The first was a political comment of some kind the second was a reference to trying to look pretty.
It was a different time with a different vocabulary and values.
People were not dependent on TV’s and computers to entertain them.
They entertained each other with their wit and wisdom.
I’ve nominated you for an A Hoy award.
I enjoy your blog!
I love the stories! Thanks as always for sharing!
Funny story. I love coming here and hearing all of your stories!
I love the stories, too. When we were little we always went to Coalgate, Oklahoma to gather with friends that mom and dad had gone to school with for Thanksgiving… They couldn’t come up to the City because they had a feed store and meat locker and Thanksgiving time was deer hunting season and they had to be there to check in the deer. Mr. Whiteley had coon dogs and on Friday after Thanksgiving he and dad would take some of us kids out and let the dogs out for a run. Not being coon season, we couldn’t shoot them if the dogs treed any, but it was sure fascinating to us city kids that Mr. Whiteley could identify any one out of the 5 or 6 he ran by their baying.
Thanks for reminding me about those times.
Helen
Those were great yarns. I love that bit about the two dishes on the wall. And the dog whistle story–too darn funny!
Ollie sounds like a character. I actually live across the road from a story teller. Problem is you can’t get away from him….he just keeps talking for hours.
Della sounds like my kinda woman!
Tipper,
I enjoyed all of the stories and am glad that Della could give as good as what Ollie handed out.
It’s marvelous to have all these stories as our heritage and Chitter and Chatter will have a great legacy if they also learn these stories. I remember Grandpa telling stories similar to these…about hunting dogs, marital spats etc.
Enjoyed my visit. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Blessings,
Mary
As always, I love your posts — so much so that I became a fan on FB. That’s love.
Della throwing the plate reminds me of my Grandma…she took no bull from anyone. Hilarious!
*laughing* Loved their spirit and love of life, Tipper! Fun post! :))
Tipper: That story reminds so much of my Dad. He would always joke with anyone who visited. He did something caslled doubletalk where he was talking and chaging words as he went. I knew what he was saying but no-one else could follow it. He had a hunting dog until he was 70 and they were all named Rip unless he had two dogs. You would never have to guess the dogs name even if you never met that dog.
I’ve know a lot of them through the years. My wife’s uncle “Rich Man” was one of them. He loved Coon hunting, but like Ollie he was the main character in some funny stories. Pappy
LOL! How funny! These guys sound like my neighbors. Hang around them long enough and you’ll hear some winding for sure.
Ollie was, as you say, the salt of the earth. That generation is fast passing and we’ll be the poorer for their loss.
That’s why I like talking to Andy. He’s from Alabama and full of good stories to tell me everytime I see him. I crack up when he smiles because he doesn’t have many teeth left. But I’m not poking fun at him, he’s a very intelligent man and I enjoy our time togehter. xxoo
Old timers and dogs. They make a good story.
Thanks for the giggle! Love it when jokes naturally play out like the carved eyeglasses.
Love this story…sounds a lot like my late great uncle…he was a mess!
I liked the bowl trick.
I’ve heard stories like this all my life. And I love each and every one. I love to hear the older crowd tell stories of back in the day.
Love these stories, Tipper. Tell me more and I’ll sit like a wide eyed child in the floor at your feet, hanging on every word!
These are great stories. My favorite is the last one. LOL, indeed! I love it that you, as young as you are, know so many stories like this.
Ollie and Della sound like real characters! 🙂 I believe Della gave as good as she got and I bet Ollie never threw any more dishes against the wall! lol
Such a fun story! Thanks for sharing Ollie