The Red Flannel Rag

While my mother never worked on a job outside the home, she consistently

contributed to the family income. When Dad left for the army, Pop May encouraged

Mom to buy a cow to provide milk for us. He sold her a jersey heifer for fifty dollars

and provided free barn space.

Mom’s army income was one hundred and twenty dollars each month. That

money didn’t cover all her expenses and meet her dream of saving enough money for a

down payment on a small farm. Again Pop May suggested she sell the extra milk from

her cow to the local dairy.

She made arrangements with Charlie Henkel, the milkman. He brought her a

five-gallon milk can. She filled it with her extra milk, and Charlie picked it up every

other day. Her first milk check was thirty dollars. The extra money went a long way

toward paying her rent and buying groceries, so she was able to save a portion of her

army allotment each month.

Mom saved two thousand dollars toward her dream of owning a small farm. Just

before Dad came home from the war, a nice farm came for sale, and the price was two

thousand and seven hundred dollars. Mom asked Uncle Rob if he would loan her seven

hundred dollars so she could buy the farm. He said he couldn’t loan her the money. The

farm was sold to someone else by the time Dad got home.

Mom was having good luck with selling milk, and she wanted to buy some more

cows, so she jumped at the chance to take over Aunt Goldie’s little farm whe n it was

offered. Goldie’s farm had thirteen acres. With the extra land, Mom was able to expand

her herd to six cows; and her milk sales were booming.

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