Jeannie, You bring back some memories that are special in my mind. I think as a teenager , walking across the cemetrery to get to the old skating rink on what is called the by pass now. I guess that's what they call it. The memories of traveling through there are so special. I also remember the peddlers, not in Gallatin, but probably around Westmoreland somewhere. Our peddler was different. He had a horse and wagon. The wagon was a box, wooden type affair. We could here him coming from a distance, as he had metal water dippers, pots and pans and more hanging on the inside walls of his wagon. When he got to our house he would open the door to let us see what he had. Needles, thread, lye soap, anything you could want, a mini supermarket at our door. I am sure he was a gypsy, dark skin and all. Jeannie you bring back memories that no one else rembers. I want to share these memories with some other special people. Jim Neill, now living in Oregon -----Original Message----- From: Jeannie Travis <askgranny@juno.com> To: TNSUMNER-L@rootsweb.com <TNSUMNER-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, August 05, 2001 11:16 PM Subject: [TNSUMNER] Rocking and remembering the Peddler Man ... > > > While taking a shortcut across town, I saw a grey haired old farmer >selling vegetables from the back of his battered pickup truck....Skin >burned mahogany by the Tennessee sun, battered old straw hat perched on >the back of his thinning hair, he was having a great time selling his >extra garden "truck " and visiting with people there under that big shade >tree...It reminded me of the Peddler men who used to travel the dusty >roads where I grew up , come summertime..... > My ' favorite ' memory of this vanished breed happened when I was >about 4 years old....It was laundry day at our log house over near the >Thompson Creek bottoms, and the fire was burning hot under the old wash >'kittle '...We had drug up dead limbs from the edge of the wood, set the >kittle legs in some tin cans scrounged from somewhere so we could build a >fire underneath it to heat the water laboriously drawn from the >well...The wash tub was settin' on the chopping block, scrub board >waiting for Mama to slather on some of her home made lye soap and scrub >the dirtiest spots of our clothes... We were all around behind the house >, each doing our part, no matter our age, when I spied Peddler John >walking around the corner of the house ...I started backing silently >away from him,eyes big as saucers, probably, and set right down in a foot >tub of water ! > After making sure nothing was hurt but my dignity, and everyone had >got through laughing, the peddler spread his pack out on the back steps >and showed Mama his treasures... thread, beautifully colored hair bow >ribbons, needles, etc. I remembered it as being like a blanket roll but >Mom said it was like a box that opened up...must have had several 'wings' >that folded out, with things hooked on to each one . He made regular >rounds , walking those dusty country roads, toting that box on his >back...I remember him as being all dark..... hair, hat, 3 piece suit, and >even his skin....darkened by the sun .I don't think he could speak much >English , and have read that they were Jewish , and had stores in places >like New York City that they worked in during the Winter months...Some >people let peddlers stay overnight just to hear them tell what all they >had seen, but our parents were never that trusting...I do so wish they >had.....Who knows what wonderful tales he could have told ? > I also remember an old man in an A model sort of car who came around >when we lived at the Jones place...One of the things he sold Mama was >Folgers coffee in a glass jar with a small top, and later on we could >buy special flats and rings so they could be used for canning >food......In the very top of the jar was a donut shaped gum drop type >piece of candy, large as the jar, just about....He also sold pencils and >paper, needles , thread..candy and such...... > The very last Peddler man I can remember was when we lived with Ma >that short while after Daddy died...One of Aunt Mildred Winchester's >brothers..Dan Owens, I think, drove what was called a "Bob" truck around >with candy , groceries ,etc. I remember Mom getting him to bring a sack >of feed one time, and he put it on his shoulder and toted it up to the >house...Mama told us his leg creaked toting that 100 pound sack up the >steep bank because he had an artificial leg...old war wound , >probably....We were most impressed with his strength...He could furnish a >much larger line of groceries and special orders in that truck, but >nothing could match the intrigue of Peddler John ! I wonder to this day >what we missed by not inviting him in to eat supper with us and letting >him spend the night on a "Baptist pallet !" Jeannie T > >________________________________________________________________ >GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! >Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! >Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: >http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. > >