Hand-me-downs and Graduation
An oldest daughter usually gets new clothing, especially if her mother sews. But the Great Depression changed things. Townspeople dropped off boxes of clothing, even curtains and other items. When a donated dress fit Doris, she’d remake it so that schoolmates couldn’t point out whose dress it used to be. She missed the first two weeks of classes of her senior year, in order to work at the local canning factory, preparing ears of corn from neighboring fields, from early morning until the loads quit arriving. She earned $6.50 in her first paycheck, enough for a class ring. This first female graduate in her family also earned enough to pay for senior expenses, including a new dress, that no one else had worn before, for her senior picture. ----- Meadowlark Songs: A Motherline Legacy
What an excellent story, Joy!!
Thank you, GP!
That’s a special story, Joy. Can you imagine all that hard work for that little money? But it went a long way then.
Thanks, Eilene. Here’s the rest of the story: https://joynealkidney.com/2017/03/13/two-weeks-late-for-their-senior-year/
Sounds dreadful!!!!
I agree!
So much to love! Thank you, Joy! 🥰
Bless you, Vicki!
The things we take for granted.
You bet, Pete!
Great that she had the skill to alter the hand-me-down, Joy, and was able to earn some income during the depression.
Especially in a town of fewer than 800 people! A year later, it was too hot and dry to have enough to open the canning factory!
A very touching poem. We take so much for granted now.
We sure do.
Doris was a very pretty young lady-and such a hard worker! But $6.50 seems to be a lot of money for a ring back then. It must have been of very good quality. 🙂
Hmm, I still have the thing. Yes, good quality!
I just ordered your book! I ordered the hard copy. It should be here on Wednesday. Looking forward to reading it!!!
You are dear, Linda!