One of the things about having a big house and a wonderful stairway was
that there was this big closet that went under the stairs. It was
normal size at the doorway but then it went back into dark nothingness.
We were all frightened by this because we were often told we would be
locked in there f we didn't do this or that or the other. Of course
since I was afraid of the dark, I was afraid of that closet. I don't
believe I was ever locked in it. I remember one time my sister Fern got
locked in there because she caller her sister a fool. I don't recall the
passage in the Bible where it says you must not call your sister or
brother a fool, but that was one word we were not allowed to use to each
other. Mother had cautioned Fern many times, but after she said this
one more time she locked her in the closet. She would go to the door
every little while and say, "Fern, are you going to say you are sorry? "
Apolige to your brother or tell him you didn't mean that and promise
never to say it again." Fern would say, "No." It seemed she ws in
there a long time. Mother got really worried, but thinking she could
cure Fern's stubborn nature, she left her in there. Finally, after
having no lunch and as it was getting close to dinner time, Fern said
she would apologize, so Mother unlocked the door and let her out. Fern
ran a little way and turned on her heel and said. "I won't apologize and
he is a fool." She ran as fast as she could go. It seemed as though
Mother's discipline didn't work with Fern.
Going back to when we'd moved back to Baker, my dad gave up the ranch
and came back to live at home with us. There was a very little for him
to do but he did have a field across the road where he planted alfalfa.
There was always a chance to sell hay and this was not too big a
project. One day he decided to go into town to get some barrels of
water. We lived in this house outside of town and we had to carry water
from the stream or sometimes some neighbors would help us by bringing us
a barrel of water. Dad took several barrels in the wagon with his
favorite team of horses. The weather was cold and icy. He had loaded
some of the barrels back on the wagon , but somehow one of the horses
slipped on the ice, bumped Dad and knocked him down which broke his
leg. What I remember about it was the man who came running from town,
telling us Dad had been hurt and coming to get Mother.