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Trapped in the Outhouse

By Capper's Staff
Published on August 29, 2012

I was raised on a farm in Arkansas by my strict grandmother and Uncle Rob. My sister and I were about nine and twelve years old and one of our “chores” was to wash and dry the dishes right after eating and no loitering around.

I found a way to “dread it awhile.” I would go down to the privy and look at the Sears Roebuck catalogue.

Then one day Uncle Rob came to the privy and propped a post up against the door so I couldn’t get out. Boy, was I scared! I thought he would leave me there all day. After some crying and yelling I got out, and that cured the delay of doing dishes. To this day I do my dishes right after eating.

Rosine Hartley
Anadarko, 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.