I am honored to write about my heritage and my upbringing in this little book of mine. The share-cropper, the farmer, and the mill workers who paved the road of life I have traveled on are worth remembering. The school teachers who taught in a true village school deserve to be remembered as well. And they will all be remembered--every time someone reads this book.

I am probably of the last generation of kids who could walk the river alone all day and fish to their hearts' delight. My, how I recall dressing and cooking fresh-caught catfish and washing it down with spring water brought...