Many things were rationed during the Second World War, including sugar. But if a person had fruit to can, there was a special provision for canning sugar. A friend of mine had an abundance of pears. This friend told me: “If you can get sugar for them, I will give you a bushel of pears.” I went to the Ration Board to apply for sugar. I was told, “After you get the pears, come and apply.” I told my friend, who said, “1 will give them after I know you have the sugar.” So I had nothing.
Mary Gardener
Forest Park, Illinois
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.
