Remembering Dad
By Bill Shepard
Daddy, Dear Daddy, long gone on to that other world, but beautiful and, sometimes, painful memories linger!
Oh how I wish I would have said to my daddy all of the things I am about to write on these pages.
Some of my fondest and most memorable memories of daddy were made when I was a little boy. Those were the years of the 20’s and 30’s of the 1900’s. Times were as hard as cement and presented a challenge to every man to provide for himself and his family. Dad had been a poor dirt farmer all of his life, plowing a living out of another man’s land. When he learned of the big cotton mill that was operating in Darlington, he sold his mule and moved his wife and three young sons to Darlington and started a new career working in the mill. It was a job that lasted as long as the old mill was in operation. His three young sons followed in his footsteps and when each became old enough they too went to the mill to work.
Bill Shepard
At that time, long before the forty-hour work week went into effect, the mill operated one twelve hour shift per day, five and one-half days a week. Dad reported for work at 6:00 a.m. each day and finished at 6:00 p.m. In the wintertime it was dark when dad left the house for work and dark when he returned home. As hard as the day’s work was, I never heard dad complain. He was grateful to have a job and a house for his family to live in.
I liked the summertime when the days were long and warm. That was when dad and I spent more time together. I liked helping dad plant his garden. Dad would dig the holes and I would follow behind dropping seeds into each hole. When the plants started growing I would help dad to hoe the weeds and grass from them. Dad could always find something to do and I would help.
On Sundays dad would take the family on pleasure rides through the country in his T-model Ford. Those were exciting trips. Seldom did we make a trip that we didn’t have at least one tire to go flat. While dad patched the tire I would play up and down the road. Sometimes a person walking by would stop and help dad. When finished, dad would reach into his pocket and give the man some money. Dad truly loved his family and put them and their welfare first in his life.
My daddy was a quiet man and as gentile and kind as a human can be. He was a honest as a day is long, paid his debts as they came due, and was careful not to make more debt than he could pay. He lived by that rule. One of the best lines of advice he ever gave me was the following, “Never allow yourself to want what you cannot have.” I truly believe that dad lived by that rule and I can honestly say that he was the most content person that I have ever known! My dad taught his family by the example he lived before us daily.
Dad was a “stay at home” dad! He was content to work in his garden during summer months. He raised two hogs every year and enjoyed watching them grow all summer long, and all the family enjoyed the fresh meat they would provide at Thanksgiving and Christmas, when they were butchered. I can remember dad going fishing only twice in his lifetime. He cared nothing for sports of any kind, and as far as I know he never went to a movie in his entire life, nor to a ball game. “Must have led a full life!”, I can hear someone say. No, I have already stated that he was the most contented person I have ever known!
I never one time heard my dad use a word of profanity; he was never given to strong drink, and was generous to lend a helping hand to those in need. He lived his life by the “Golden Rule”, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!”
I often wished, as I grew older, that I could be the kind of man that my dad was but I never felt that could measure up in all his traits! My regrets!
Our family was complete when two beautiful girls were added. It was as though they were sent to comfort mama and daddy when the boys were away in the military during World War 2. It must have been hard on both mom and dad during those years.
Shortly after the war began in the Pacific, there was a rubber shortage in America, and the government was in need for rubber with which to make tires for the vehicles used for the military. The government made a plea for folks to sacrifice their spare tire in their car, if they had one. Mr. AT. Shearin at the YMCA in Darlington was in charge of that program. My dad had five tires. His old car had been wrecked beyond repair, so dad took all the tires from the car and sold the car to a junkyard.
When dad learned of the project he took the tires and turned them in to Mr. Shearin. When he was asked what he thought he should be paid for them he answered. I have three sons in the military and if the government needs these tires, I am glad to give them! “You’re a poor man and you should be compensated something” Mr. Shearin insisted. When the check arrived it amounted to less than one dollar!
I don’t think dad ever cashed that check. It lay on a tabletop in our house for as long as I remember.
This is Father’s Day and I am remembering my father! He was a guiding influence in my life and still is! Wherever you are dad, Happy Father’s Day!
For those reading this, if your father is still living, tell him all the things you wish them to know ….don’t put it off!
Mr. Shepard is a native of Darlington, S.C., and a current resident of Piedmont, S.C. He is the author of “Mill Town Boy” and “Bruised”. He has been sharing his tales of growing up in Darlington for decades, and we are delighted to share them each week. His mailing address for cards and letters is: Bill Shepard 324 Sunny Lane, Piedmont, S.C., 29673.