The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE FOLLOWING IS IN THE INFORMANT'S OWN WORDS.
"SOMEWHERE IN THE FORMATION OF MY DAD'S FAMILY TRADITIONS,
THE FIRST SUNDAY IN AUGUST BECAME FAMILY REUNION DAY. ALL THE
KINFOLK WOULD GATHER AT THE ANCESTRAL FARM ON STATION CAMP CREEK
SOUTH OF IRVINE, KENTUCKY FROM ALL POINTS OF THE COUNTRY.
EVERYONE WOULD ARRIVE LADEN WITH BASKETS OF FRIED CHICKEN, POTATO
SALAD, GREEN BEANS, CORN BREAD, APPLE, BLUEBERRY, BLACKBERRY,
POTATO, AND CHERRY PIES, JUGS OF ICED TEA, AND COOLERS OF POP.
BUT BEFORE ANY OF THIS BANQUET WAS SET OUT, WE HAD TO HAVE
SERVICE. THE OLD TOBACCO DRYING BARN BECAME OUR TABERNACLE. ANY
OF THE MINISTERS AMONG US, AND THERE WERE USUALLY THREE OR FOUR,
WERE CALLED UPON TO HANDLE PRAYIN' AND PREACHIN'; AND EACH FAMILY
WAS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE WITH A "SPECIAL NUMBER." BY MY TIME,
THESE "SPECIAL NUMBERS" HAD BECOME STANDARD HYMNS HEARD ANYWHERE
IN THE COUNTRY. BUT MY UNCLE TAUGHT ME ONE WHICH HAD BEEN A
FAVORITE WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG-UN:

"IN A LONELY CHURCHYARD MANY MILES AWAY
LIES A DEAR OLD MOTHER NEATH THE COLD, COLD CLAY.
MEM'RIES OFT RETURNING OF HER TEARS AND SIGHS
IF YOU LOVE YOUR MOTHER, MEET HER IN THE SKIES.
LISTEN TO HER PLEADING, "WANDERIN' ONE COME HOME,"
EARNESTLY ENTREATING, "DO NO LONGER ROAM."
LET YOUR CONSCIENCE WAKEN, HEAVENWARD LIFT YOUR EYES.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR MOTHER, MEET HER IN THE SKIES."

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; IRVINE

Date learned: 00001940S