ok, so I was looking for WWII pics of Uncle John and Uncle Dale in the Brimson History 1985-1986 book and found this....

is it any wonder I never get anything done? but this is just too damn cute!!!!

Oh, No! Not A Goat!

(pictures: Dale Brown and his Goat, Norma Fay Brown with Uncle Dale's Goat)>

When we were growing up, generally one gift at Christmas for each one was the common practice. Our older brother Harry did have a tricycle, but we three younger ones did not have one. Neither did we have bicycles. We did have a sled.

Most children created their own entertainment by playing games, the boys rolled hoops with a paddle, rode stick horses, and played marble games. The girls played hosue with their dolls, dressed up in adult clothing, high heels included, and put on programs. No one had time to be bored.

Dad had a swing made for us using wire cable and a board for the seat. It was fastened to a huge limb of an elm tree in our back yard. If someone pushed you, you could really go high. Many friends and neighbor children enjoyed our swing along with us.

When Dale Brown was 8 or 9 he asked our mother if he could buy a goat. Milton Etter offered to sell the goat, harness and cart for 50 cents. I listened to the conversation and he was told what a nuisance it would be, probably climb up on the chicken house and just be a miserable pest. After a lot of begging, Mother finally said, "All right." I thought that goat would probably bother the clothes on the line at wash day. Since I did a lot of the washing on the wash board, I began to be alarmed.

Well, the goat turned out to be a nice pet. Dale hauled ice, chicken feed, and groceries for different ladies of the town. Needless to say, he always attracted an audience of children that joined to go along. The goat did real well pulling his load, but when he got tired, he just laid down no matter where, and would not budge for a while. One day I remember, I looked out down the street a little ways when we lived on Hannah Street, there the goat took a notion to rest in the middle of the street. The boys that were following along visited and after a while Dale encouraged Old Billy to get on with their delivery. He and the boys around town had much enjoyment playing with the goat.

After a period of time, Dale sold the goat to Jack Herrin for his nephews Don and Ralf Graham. The last he remembers the goat was in the possession of Samp Hughs' sons.

by Mable Clark