MEMORIES OF SANPETE Ruby F. Thomas

   I was born in “our new house” in Mount Pleasant, Utah. Papa had built it himself, mostly, of cream-colored brick. And there was a porch all across the front, with a porch swing, And room for rocking chair and other chairs beside, To sit on a warm summer day. 

Grandma Sanderson came from Fairview, for a visit and held me on her lap, As she rocked on the porch when I was just a baby way back in nineteen hundred and fourteen. Mama and Papa and my sister Crystal stood nearby. And we had a picture taken. 

Papa was born in Mt. Pleasant and Mama in Fairview, So, of course, the Mt. Pleasant boys thought Fairview girls were prettier, and vice versa. 

Papa was part owner of a confectionary called Crystal ice Cream, And that’s where my sister got her name. They name me Ruby because it seemed to go well with Crystal. She was blond and I was sort of dark, always the heart wants to return home Until the circle is completed. For this we all yearn. But some of me will remain until I’ve tasted more beneficence, More appreciation, and can discern. When sorrow has sculptured all the hollows of my heart. When history of all my own I’ve prepared and know, I shall answer then, (Across the silent deep.) But reluctantly I’ll go.  

And our 4th of July dresses were generally blue for Crystal And red for me. After we moved to the City, we usually went back to Sanpetefor the 4th of July and to visit Grandma Sanderson in Fairview And Grandma Fechser in Mt. Pleasant. There was the patriotic meeting in the church house, and the parade down the street, with the band playing, And Crystal and I each had our own little flags to wave. There was the Rodeo, and an afternoon dance for children, And a night dance for grownups and even Grandma went to watch. And babies were put on benches to sleep. And when we walked down Main Street, in our new dresses, Those who sat and watched speculated as to who we were and we felt important. When we drove up to Grandma’s house, She was always sitting by the window watching for us. And Mama said, “Now run inside And give Grandma a big kiss.” 

I sat on her lap and marveled at the big wrinkles In her face and hands. I told her a nursery rhyme once about Little Joan who said when nobody’s with me I’m always alone, And Grandma laughed so hard the tears rolled down her cheeks. She went out in the back yard and caught a chicken and chopped off its head, and we watched it flopping around, and making clucking noises without any head. Grandma talked a lot about dying, And once when someone was fixing the wall of her house, she said, “Now don’t you boys fix that too good, Or I won’t want to die.”