Eight to ten inches of snow here. . .only four wheel drive vehicles out, which includes us. Six male cardinals lay aside their gender differences to share at my bird feeder today!
I am recalling holiday fun. Every year for the past three, I have created a family history story to tell. With grandchildren ages six to sixteen here, it is a challenge to hold their interest. This year I told the story of "Betsy, Hold on Tight!" : Richard's great=great grandmother, Elizabeth Wood Clark, was 14 when they moved from Virginia to Kentucky on foot and by covered wagon in 1814, taking the southern route to visit relatives and avoid the Appalachian mountains. Three related families (and their slaves) travelled and camped from fall until spring that year. Crossing the Pearl River in Mississippi (near the present town of Philadelphia, I think) waters were higher than they anticipated. Betsy was riding side saddle with a three year old brother in front and a five year old brother behind, when the current began to sweep her downstream. Her father, Caldwell Wood, rode into the swift current beside her and grabbed her saddle and the two horses side by side could make it to the other side.
Hard to imagine this episode in light of how overly protective we are of children these days! I had an old side saddle and had the kids act out the story with 13 year old Olivia Haug playing the part of Betsy. Caldwell Wood was a private in the American army at the Battle of Yorktown in the American Revolution. Several generations of American history became graphically alive in this family story. Thanks to an aunt, Grace Dixon, who wrote it all down as she remembered it being told by her great grandmother, the original Betsy, when Grace was a little girl.
1 comment:
What a delightful method for creating interest in family history within that cadre of grand children..."Betsy, Hold On Tight" must have been courageous despite herself or because she truly was a girl with courage...your Aunt Grace was a winner!!!
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