The Pearson Farm Family goes way back and includes far off relatives who came to help during peach season. We found a letter from the 1930’s from my mother’s brother, Dan Lanier, to his parents in Metter, Georgia detailing his first week packing peaches with his older brother Albert. The days were long and hot and fuzzy, but it was a job and those were hard to come by in those days. Young boys and girls learned to work, to stick to it, to value a dollar. Hope you enjoy this “FAMILY” Friday post.
Al Pearson
(Angela took the week off)
Sun afternoon on the school-house bench in the yard
Dear Folks
Monday morning we got up bright and early. We dressed and ate breakfast. We got in the car and started for Lee Pope. Lawton & Laurie went right to work. We stood around awhile and finally talked to Poppa John. He said for us to go upstairs and Mr. Lunksford put us to work picking up trash which was a very tiresome job. We worked for about and (sic) hour and met all the boys. After a while a man came upstairs. He said he needed a boy downstairs. Mr. Lunksford sent me. I went downstairs and started picking up peaches and trash. Fuzz got my poison ivy and I couldn’t keep from crying. Finally dinner came. We ate dinner at the hotel but I don’t remember what it was. That afternoon Lawton got me put upstairs. I picked up trash for a while and then I slid baskets down a choot (sic) until supper. We had little fried bacon for supper like daddy likes. We had butterbeans, rice and gravy. I slid baskets down the shute (sic) 11:00 o’ clock that night. Poor Albert had toted tops and skinned his legs. We went to the car with Laurie and waited for Lawton to get through. Albert and I had worked about 14 ½ hours. We washed some and went to bed. Tues. we woke up early and went to Lee Pope. Albert went to work picking up trash and I slid basket (sic) down a shute (sic). Dinner came after we’d worked about 5 or 6 hours. As we were going to the hotel to eat we told Laurie we were getting use (sic) to work and were not as tired as we were Monday dinner. After dinner we went to work agin (sic). Albert picked up trash and I slid baskets. We worked until dinner. We ate dinner and rested. We worked till supper and after we got in the tub and went to sleep. We got up early and went to Lee Pope. Mr. Lunksford our boss wasn’t there. Our new boss Oscar Jr. was the best mean at Laurie’s wedding (sic). Albert and I stacked tops all day. Our boss Oscar Jr. quit that night. We stacked tops Thurs. and Fri. We got a new boss who was one of Laurie’s pupils. Sat. we got up early and went to work. We worked until dinner and wasn’t tired. We worked until supper and it was time for pay envelopes. They gave it out in alphabetical order. I was glad when L’s were given out. Finally they called my name. I stepped that way in a trot. On the front it said Dan Lanier 58 hours at 10 cents an hour $5.80 an boy I like to cried for joy (sic). I went to sleep in high spirits. We didn’t wake up till nine o’clock (sic) and was almost late for Sunday school.
Much love,
Dan
P.S. Tell Jewel Bird to write to us personally.
