I was about nine years old when
this occurred around 1911. I lived with my parents, sisters and brothers. We
walked the mile and three quarters to our country school every day.
Our schoolhouse was built near the
east end of the school lot. The boys’ outhouse was built in the southwest
corner of the acre lot and the girls’ outhouse was built to the far northwest
corner. For the boys to go near the girls’ outhouse was a NO, NO. The girls
were not allowed near the boys’ toilet.
Well, one noon when the bell was
about to ring for classes to resume, I made a dash for the toilet. Some of the
pupils were already in the schoolroom.
Then I heard boys” voices right outside the little
house. One boy was saying, “I bet you won’t do it.” “I dare you
to” and “I bet you’re afraid to.” I sat on the seat scared and
wondered what next when I heard, “Go ahead. Go ahead,” and all the
time the voices kept coming closer and closer. All at once the door was
opening. I dashed into a corner holding up my pants. He came in, closed the
door and quickly opened the door and was gone. The little house had no windows
so it was dark on the inside and he never knew I was inside.
I was scared and shaking with
fright and finally mustered up courage to return to the schoolroom, walked
straight to my desk, never looking on either side. Nothing was ever said to me
about this incident and I never told anyone until several years ago, the boy
that came inside and his wife celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They
live in Texas.
I sent them an anniversary card and enclosed a letter telling him about that
incident. He said they and their friends had many laughs about it.
Mabel (Cron) Kirk
Griswold,
Iowa
Back in 1955 a call
went out from the editors of the then 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 title – – hit the shelves. Nine
other books have since been published in the 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.