Calvert's Gold
by
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The wheels of the buggy whined monotonously as they turned in the loose sand of the narrow road. An occasional creak from the axle seemed like a reprimand to the driver for not having the hubs greased during the recent flurry of errands and heavy hauling. The buggy top was in good condition and the vehicle showed evidence of being kept under a roof. In its day, the rig was quite fashionable with comfortable seats of rich durable cloth. Two small seats, located behind the main seat, were especially designed for young children.
The mare pulling the buggy appeared to consider the trip another burdensome chore and expressed her displeasure as she whisked away the few flies impatiently with her long coarse tail. Now and then she shook her head and gave a disgruntled snort. The two girls in the back seats had been chatting merrily. After a few whispered comments, they burst into loud laughter and were mildly reprimanded by the woman driving the buggy. "It's not ladylike to be so boisterous," she called. "Why don't you practice your times tables? Both of you need some practice in arithmetic." Moans were audible from the back seat, and reluctantly whispered number combinations could be heard in a sing song fashion for a while.
Millie, the ten year old, might have wished for anything except practicing the times tables. It was bad enough to do this in school. Now there were so many exciting things to think about and discuss. It was a request she could hardly endure. She had looked forward to moving into a larger home-- a home of their own, instead of the small one they had rented for years. The family had talked about having another home for a long time. It was like a dream come true. The importance of owning their land and the large old house had been impressed upon the children many times by their mother.
Jess, sitting erect in the driver's seat, held the reins tightly, particularly since they were traveling at a good clip. The mare usually preferred to go as quickly as she could with no concern that the buggy was old and carried a heavy load.
It was fairly warm for April, and a few flies had resumed their practice of aggravating animals and humans alike. Old Pet swished her tail to let them know she was still on guard and her defenses were operating well. Jess was imbibing the pristine spring beauty. The soft green new leaves starting on the trees, the occasional wildflowers, the cheerful notes volunteered by the birds, and the clean spring air stimulated her imagination. She knew that one of the warm hillsides on the place would soon be basted with golden daffodils and jonquils. The beauty of the sight recurred many times in her memory. She had witnessed the sight when she visited the place the year before. She pushed a wisp of hair from her eyes so as not to miss any part of the scene. Her long black hair was arranged in a bun at the nape of her neck. The soft waves reflected the sunlight in chestnut gold undulations. A few moist wisps curled rebelliously at the sides of her neck and in front of her ears. She smiled as she pictured the scene again. Her dark eyes, evenly spaced above a fine straight nose, sparkled with the light of anticipation. Her cheeks held a slight flush that complimented her smooth ivory complexion. She was indeed a pretty young woman. A little whimper from the baby riding beside her brought Jess dutifully back to reality. Little Ben, as everyone called him, had been born a week before Christmas and the girls thought of him as their best Christmas present. He was resting comfortably on the lap of Lillie, a young black woman, who regarded him as her special responsibility. A glance at the baby would certainly evidence the excellent care that Lillie gave him. The white collar on his blue romper was starched and his soft dark blond hair had been brushed carefully in a "cox comb" as she called it. A thin blanket partially covered his face to guard against wind or draft. He was a picture of contentment. Lillie was proud when others made complimentary remarks about the baby's appearance. Lillie herself was the epitome of good grooming and fine manners. She was an attractive young woman-- light skinned, thin, straight nose, large dark eyes, long dark hair arranged in neat plaits that were brought around the sides of her head. Jess felt very fortunate to have such a fine person to care for the baby and to help her with the household chores. Lillie did not receive a great deal of pay. She asked for only what the family could afford. When Jess felt guilty about not paying her what she was worth, Lillie reminded her that room and board with the family was worth a great deal and she enjoyed her work. Jess looked up and realized she would soon have to turn into the lane leading to their new home. She pulled on the reins to give Old Pet notice that she needed to slow down. The mare preferred to go at her own pace in the direction of her own choice. In a little while, Jess yanked the reins while calling demandingly, "Whoa, Pet, whoa!" as they turned into the lane.
The girls broke into excited chatter. "Are we there yet? Are we, Mama?"
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About the Book
County governments are permitting more and more subdivisions to be built. Developers are buying more small farms to use for subdivisions that have houses with sprawling lawns requiring more grass cutting, more air pollution, and more fertilizer to run off into streams and large bodies of water.
Will Calvert County’s beautiful farmland and forest grow houses and businesses instead of fine farm produce and wildlife?
Will the valuable knowledge and experience the farm people have gained for many years be forgotten?
Have the agriculture departments and the state and local governments done enough to save the small farms by trying to lower the ever increasing costs of equipment, supplies, insurance, etc. to keep faming expenses reasonable?
When most of the small farms are lost, much of the fruit and vegetables for our consumption will be imported from other countries. Will imported fruit and vegetables bring plant pests and diseases into our country?
Farm people are self-employed and employ others as well. Where will displaced farm people find jobs? School age farm workers will have difficulty finding part-time jobs like those found in farming.
Will the traditions and leisure activities enjoyed for many years in rural areas be replaced by a different life style?
About the Author
Phyllis S. Johnson, whose parents were Charles W. Skinner and Jessie Dorsey Skinner, was born in Calvert County, Maryland. She attended the local schools, graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA Degree in English and received an MA Degree in secondary education counseling from George Washington University. She taught English in several high schools in Prince George’s, and then was a counselor for almost twenty years in Prince George’s County high schools.
When she retired, she returned to Calvert County to resume some of the farming activity that she had grown to enjoy and respect as a child. The liking for farming seems to be strong in the whole family.
Through the years, she has tried to call attention to and to prevent the abuse of good farm land by utilities, some state agencies, and developers. She holds the belief that the state government and farm groups could purchase the small farms that have to be sold, and offer the opportunity to farm them to those interested people who are unable to buy farms. She also feels that the demise of small farms, even at this late date, could be prevented if politicians and governments at all levels are willing to study the problem and ameliorate the situation. The loss of the small farm will be felt in many ways, particularly in the loss of local fresh vegetables and fruits and the disappearance of the segment of the population that may be “the glue that holds this country together”.
The story in this book is based mainly on the happenings in the lives of the writer’s family when they started living on the farm they purchased. The story covers many Southern Maryland traditions, the work involved, the good times and hard times, and the ways people can use their creativity, motivation, and energy to their advantage. This book recalls the highlights of a way of life that is worth remembering.