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School Programs Held at Rural Schoolhouse

One year we had a box supper after one of our school programs. Each girl was to make a box and fill it with food. My mother and I worked for days to make a pretty box. We covered it with blue crepe paper and pretty rufflers. My mother fixed fried chicken, sandwiches, two bananas (which was special because we seldom had them), chocolate cake, and, to top it all off, two Milky Way candy bars. The big night came and I was so excited, I just knew some certain boy would buy my box. A neighbor acted as auctioneer. There were several boxes to be sold – finally he picked up mine. The bidding began at a dollar, then a dollar and a quarter, and progressed to three dollars then at three and a quarter the bidding stopped. Guess who bought my box? My Dad! There we sat on a bench, my Dad happy as a lark enjoying the good food, but I can’t say the same for me. When we got home my Mother told Dad he wasn’t supposed to have bought my box and he said he couldn’t see why not. He wasn’t going to let someone else eat all the good food, besides he paid good money for it!

Marie Holzwarth
St. Francis, Kansas

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.