A MEMORABLE HARVEST TIME BACK HOME (The year was 1932.)

Just before Thanksgiving, we'd always have a parade in town. Everyone woke up at the crack of dawn to prepare for the parade, the picnic, and the festivities of music and dancing. The whole town would always turn out for this special day, including all the folks from the surrounding hills. It was the one time of the year when friends and all the relatives would be reunited. The parade was not long, but it was always colorful as it circled the town square twice. There was the fire engine with the mayor riding on it, with the Firehouse Five (the local band), playing along the route. The church choir (with the leader doing most of the singing), was next, and the town's dignitaries riding in cars or on horseback following. There was always a kid riding a bicycle with big wheels, too.

Next came families with live chickens, turkeys, pigs, and lambs, followed by farm folks bringing all kinds of canned fruits and vegetables and such. These fine people were called The Good Neighbor Club, giving all those things to their friends next door. (But we all knew they were for those that were having hard times).

As soon as the parade was over, the pic­nic would begin. The Ladies Club would show off their handy needle craft work, the farmers would show their new farm equip­ment, and men showed off their guns and hunting dogs. There would also be a Big Bake Sale—pies, cakes, candies, holiday cookies and fruitcakes.

This particular year Mrs. Wilkins again made her famous lemon meringue pies— hoping people would forget that last year she accidentally put some liniment into the pies instead of the lemon extract. Mr. Wilkins actually thought the pies were quite good...but then, he used Sloane's Liniment all the time, anyway.