Grandma would start slow and build up momentum, and my heart would beat faster thinking of poor Annie! And then…she’d grab me and tickle while saying,
An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you Ef you Don’t Watch Out!
I loved that part.
If I was lucky I’d get two in the same night.
An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked sixpence. “What,” said she, “shall I do with this little sixpence? I will go to market, and buy a little pig.” As she was coming home, she came to a stile: but the piggy wouldn’t go over the stile.
This book sits on my shelf today, carefully tucked in snugly where it’s binding won’t be further damaged. It isn’t just special to me; if you open the cover you’ll find a bookplate.
It is inscribed with my great- grandfather’s name.
Perhaps he read those to my Grandma as a girl, unaware that someday those stories would be passed further through the generations.
“A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.” —C.S. Lewis
When I open the pages, it is easy to remember the feel of laying on the bed with her. I can see the details of the room around me and feel the shadow touch of long ago, those hands tickling me. That special voice reading to me.
A few years ago, after moving to the Midwest, I went on a tour of a poet named James Whitcomb Riley’s house. As I observed his things, there was a plaque commemorating one of his works.
Little Orphant Annie.
I had no idea he even wrote it, yet here I was in his living room.
The man who wrote the backdrop of my memories.
I love surprises like that.
Have you ever experienced a connection like that, completely unexpected?
“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” – Albert Einstein
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It’s nice to have a keepsake like that – one that has memories of the person you got it from.
When my daughter was in college I found out she had one of the same Bible professors that I had. It was nice to know she got to experience one of my favorite teachers. Of course, he had a lot more experience by the time she got to learn from him.
What a unique connection Eva! Did he remember you by chance? I imagine professors see a ton of students coming and going… must be fun to see the second round coming in!
I just saw that I never answered your question (didn’t see it before). He told my daughter he did. He makes a chart of all of his classes and has students sit in the same place to get to know them. If he did really recall me, he would have an excellent memory as many students as he’s had over the years!
The Huber book you wrote about was a favorite of mine as a very young child and even into my teen years. There was a story for every one in that book. Did you enjoy “Aiken Brown, the Brownie”? Absolutely my favorite and when I was a Brownie Girl Scout leader when I was in High School, I pulled out that story from that treasure of a book.
It’s nice to have a keepsake like that – one that has memories of the person you got it from.
When my daughter was in college I found out she had one of the same Bible professors that I had. It was nice to know she got to experience one of my favorite teachers. Of course, he had a lot more experience by the time she got to learn from him.
What a unique connection Eva! Did he remember you by chance? I imagine professors see a ton of students coming and going… must be fun to see the second round coming in!
I just saw that I never answered your question (didn’t see it before). He told my daughter he did. He makes a chart of all of his classes and has students sit in the same place to get to know them. If he did really recall me, he would have an excellent memory as many students as he’s had over the years!
Oh, I love everything about this post. A beautiful story full of beautiful things. 🙂
So glad 🙂
Thank you for reading Bria ♥
Love the books!
🙂
The Huber book you wrote about was a favorite of mine as a very young child and even into my teen years. There was a story for every one in that book. Did you enjoy “Aiken Brown, the Brownie”? Absolutely my favorite and when I was a Brownie Girl Scout leader when I was in High School, I pulled out that story from that treasure of a book.