 |
             |
 |
|
| EXPERIENCE 2 |
|
| Sad indeed was the case of a farmer and his family living west of Dodge City. It is one of the published cases, and I retell is here for that very reason. It is typical of so many that have not been published, and never will be. There were four in this little family-a father, mother, and two young children. The elder of the two children died for the effects of dirt, and the day of the funeral was sad one to the parents. When another black blizzard struck the day after they had laid their first-born in the grave, the young mother began fearing for the life of her one remaining child. She wanted to leave at once, willing to go anywhere just to get out of the dreadful Dust Bowl. The husband also was willing to go; and he went to Dodge City at once, determined to sell his farm at any sacrifice to get money to leave on. But when he reached town and made his mission known, his offer to sell net with grim laughter. No sacrifice he was prepared to make was sacrifice enough. He could not sell at any price, because the prevailing opinion was the region already was only a desert, and that it could never classed as farm land. Discouraged, he returned to his bereaved home. Hearing her husband return, the wife hopefully came running to the door to meet him, leaving the baby in the bedroom, in its crib. She wanted to hear that they could leave “Did you sell the farm?” she asked eagerly. He shook his head dejectedly. “I couldn’t even give it away,” he told her. “Let us go anyway,” she urges. “We still have fifty dollars; that will get us somewhere out of the dust.” “Go get the baby, and we’ll be on our way,” He
agreed. “There’s no use going now,” she sobbed. “It is too late. My baby is dead.” -----Lawrence Svobida (Dust Bowl Survivor) |
|
 |
 |
