Written & Interpreted by: Zebadiaha Rendell
One day Mrs. Hendriks, her Uncle Tom, mom, dad and little brother were picking apples. She was only about 3 years old. Now, sixty some years later she can still remember it.
They were picking apples, and a bear came out from the bushes. Her Uncle Tom took a fence post out of the ground and started to beat it. Then her Dad joined in, slit the bear’s throat and put it in the wagon. Then they put it in the barn. She was told “never to tell anyone”, and to this day she hadn't.
Mrs. Hendriks loves the country because of the nice scenery and the peace and quiet. They had lots of chores before and after school. Her biggest chores were taking care of the chickens and bringing in the firewood.
For entertainment they made crafts from garbage. They read books and played games. She had a doll from her childhood that said “Ma Ma”.
P.S. When Uncle Tom pulled out the fence post and starting hitting the bear, I was scared for the bear because we were taught not to hit animals.
Well, mother grabbed my brother Charlie, and jumped on the wagon. The horses took off. I don't know if mother made them go, or if they went on their own. Anyway Dad pulled out another post and went to help Uncle Tom. They knocked the bear down, and Uncle Tom took out his knife and slit the bear’s throat. Dad and Uncle Tom were laughing, but I was crying because they hurt the bear. ( See what goes through your head when you are 3 or 4 years old? I know better now! )
We walked back to Uncle Tom's house and my mother and dad had a fight using a lot of bad words. Well, Uncle Tom and Dad left my mother in the house to cool her heels and make supper, while they took the horse and dragged the bear back to the house, and put it in the shed.
On the way home I was told not to talk to anyone about the bear. I don't know if you're not to kill bears at that time of year or if my mother was scared and didn't want it known. When I asked about it later, mother told me not to talk of it again. I never talked about it, but I remembered it!
fter dad died, I asked my mother why I was not to tell anyone about the bear. All she said was “those damn fools, you could have been killed!” and changed the subject. She was right. Uncle Tom could have been killed if Dad didn't help him. It wasn't funny then, but I laugh when I think of it now.
Uncle Tom lived on a farm up the Creek Road. ( Ruby )