“[A Story of Mary’s two sons]”
transcribed by G. Douglas Clarke and Carol M. Clarke
De[Wane] and F[orrest] were brothers. They had one baby sister, of whom they were very fond. They would often ask their mamma to let them rock babie to sleep, or otherwise entertain her, while she was engaged in her household duties. They were anxious to help their mamma, so she would not get so tired.
One day F. heard his mamma say she wanted some salaratus from the store, which was across the way. He asked if he might go and bring it.
He went and asked the merchant for one pound of "Sally Davis". The merchant sent his clerk to F's home and got the order, and did up the package. F. took it home not knowing why they all laughed as they did, but feeling that he had been a help to his mamma, and would soon be a man.
His brother, De, was two years older and was attending school. One day just before the close of school for the day, he took a little red covered ball out of his pocket to look at, which his mamma had made him, and which he prized above his other play-things.
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In taking it out, he dropped it on the floor and it rolled down the narrow way toward the teacher. She called him to her, and asked him if he did not know it was naughty to play in school? He said Yes! he was only going to look at the ball.
She dismissed school, and told him he must stay in the school-house all night alone, and he could not see his Papa or mamma or brother or sister. She went out and locked him in, as he supposed, to stay for the night. When he was fully aware of his situation, he became frantic with fear.
When time came for him to be home, his Mamma missed him, and called his Papa from the office. His Papa went to the school-house to make inquiries of the teacher. When he found him crying and a prisoner he made some quick moves, found the teacher, took the key from her hand, not waiting for an explaination [sic] which she tried to give. His Papa took him in his arms, and brought him home, in an exhausted state. His nerves were so over-taxed that not until nearly morning did he get into a quiet sleep.
De and F. are men now, but have not forgotten the question "Mamma did teacher tell a lie?"
[Note: DeWane D. Babcock was a teacher himself, later teaching at Canaseraga School for a time.]