An out-of-sight mother and a persuasive friend can lead even the best youngster into trouble. A child looking for money never lets the immediate consequences get in her way - even when she is at a church revival.

"Shall we gather at the river, The beautiful, beautiful river.."
The sound of singing, carried on the evening wind and floated into the open windows and doors of the homes in our small community.
The children playing in the evening dusk were chasing fire flies, or lightning bugs as everyone called them. The grass was a carpet for tumbling and friendly wrestling, and it was a great time to play hide and seek. It was easy to "get home free."
The singing from the church meant that some traveling evangelist had come to hold a revival meeting. We had no regular preacher or regular church services. I remember one summer we had a children's bible study and they gave me an attendance card with bluebirds and flowers on it. I thought it was so beautiful. I received a gold star for each day I attended.
The church building had its beginning as a school. It still had the same desks that now served as pews for the church-goers. A wood burning heater was located in the front with a piano to the left of it. My older brother started first grade there in 1917. During the Depression the state sent nurses there to immunize all the children in the area to get them ready to go to public school.
Aunt Ethel took brother Jack and me for our shots. When I saw the needle I decided that this was not for me. I broke line and ran. I crawled under the school with Aunt Ethel right behind me. Needless to say I was vaccinated just like everyone else.
One of my more vivid memories occurred at one of the revival meetings that was being held. Mom had taken me a few times and I was impressed by how generous the people were with their money when the offering was received. One night Mom decided not to go to the meeting. Two of my friends and I were out playing in the evening dusk and we could hear the music. We talked it over and came to the decision to walk up to the meeting and see if we could receive an offering of our own. For some reason, I've never figured out why, most of the men folk would stand around outside and visit while the women, children and a few dedicated men would be inside listening to the preacher.
Well, we made the rounds from man to man asking for donations. One of my friends was given a penny, but I wasn't having any success at all. Then it happened! Out of the dark appeared my mom with a switch made from pure hickory, and it was as long as I was! It surely did sting my gangly little legs, but it corrected me from the error of my ways.
To this day I still wonder who the tattletale was!