Even though our little outhouse was very primitive, we all took pride in fixing it up real comfortable and bright, right down to the Sears and Roebuck catalogue. One day the kids decided the seat needed painting. All the paint they could find was bright red enamel, so they painted it all real nice and left it to dry. But long before it began to dry, company came. Them little boys’ eyes sure got big when they saw the company (a large heavy-set woman and a daughter) go into the little outhouse. They hid and waited for them to come out, then they hurried in to see if any of the pretty red enamel was left on the seat.
Name Withheld
Missouri
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.
