Picture of the Hobo cooking in a tin can!
So, for today:
Many years ago there were traveling evangelists,
preachers who had no home. They would spend nites with Christians or ministers. Also Daddy told me many of them would sleep
in Barns overnight paying for their stay by chopping firewood or doing repairs.
In my dad’s family of 12 or 13 siblings, there
was my Uncle Ralph. His mind never went past about 12 years old. He passed away
in his 30s. After Granny Darnell passed away, Uncle Ralph moved from sibling to
siblings’ homes when they had room or time to share his life. He spent years total at our home. For me it
was fun. Ralph was smart and we played together as little boys when he was in
his 20s and I was 8-15. It was a level of cognizance that is hard to understand
or explain. He could take care of himself, communicate, etc, but never attended
school.
Then as a youngster also, I got to see ‘The Goat
Man’ at least two times in his 100,000 miles of travel. He was a wanderer and sold things off his
wagon. I think he also sold goat milk.
Hundreds of folks came out just to see him. He was Charles "Ches" McCartney (1901–1998), also known as the Goat Man,
And then there was the only Wayfarer I ever
knew, Dugan. That is the only name I ever
heard in associated with him. In my years 6 thru 12 Dugan would be in our home for
a night or two every year or so. He paid
his way with thread, pins and needles. That has always amazed me. If you sell
pins and needles you can carry a BIG stock of supplies in a brief case.
I
knew one ‘reformed Hobo.’ I was a kid when BIL Dick introduced me to him. He was then reformed, a successful Farmer and
a member of BIL’s church. At that time he still took a few weeks and jumped
freight trains and ‘RODE the rails’ he said. He loved the life.
What is the oddest life style you have seen?
PS:
I
sure appreciate you taking the time to visit the Shipslog. Love, sent from our back yard. Some folks say Sherry and I are Gypsies…
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