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The Outhouse Guard

By Capper's Staff
Published on November 28, 2012

It was about 1936 and times were
pretty tough. Mother raised a few turkeys to be dressed and sold to get us a
little money for Christmas.

Of course we had a large
“Prize Turkey Gobbler.” He had a wide wingspread and enjoyed chasing
me with wings spread as I carried a bucket of eggs.

He delighted in catching someone in
the “outhouse” and wouldn’t let them out. When you yelled for help he
just gobbled all the louder and no one could hear you.

One day company came from several
miles away. So of course the ladies headed for the little path. Shortly we
heard “Old Tom” gobble, gobble, gobble out there, so all rushed out
to shoo him away and rescue the ladies. Mother was so embarrassed.

Mrs. Gene Turner
Ponca City, Oklahoma


Back in 1955 a call
went out from the editors of the then
Capper’s
Weekly asking for readers to send
in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early
settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from
grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were
received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first
My
Folks title – My Folks Came in a
Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine
other books have since been published in the
My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to
make those stories available to our growing online community.