Herald A New Day - Freeburn Grade School©


Looking at a school picture from a lifetime ago
My nostalgic heart likes to remember
When I started at Freeburn Grade School
On that first Tuesday in September



Wearing a homemade dress and brand new shoes
That Daddy bought at Poor Man's Paradise
Clutching a sharpened pencil and a little tablet
And a hand-me-down jacket too big for my size



I remember being excited and a little bit scared
As Junior held my hand all the way to the door
I was a big girl now going into the primer
While my brother was entering grade four



We met for lunch every day out back
Wolfing down our mustard and onion biscuits 
Hiding out so other kids wouldn't make fun
Ashamed, but hungry, we didn't want to risk it



I recall Miss Boyd with her weekly Bible story
Showing up every Tuesday without fail
The boy sitting behind me was the class clown
And he dipped my pigtails in his ink well



Dressing up for Halloween; having Christmas plays
Laughing and playing and all the fun at recesses
Gives my heart a warm glow, but I really have to laugh
At how the boys ogled when the wind blew up our dresses



That old building weathered many a storm
With fierce winds blowing though every crack
Classes went on as the rain beat down
With the roar of Tug River flowing in the back



Those Kentucky winters sure could get cold
But the janitor kept that old building warm
Roaring fires in several coal stoves
Kept us comfortable in those winter storms



Thinking of Carl and Dennis and the Fletcher kids
Still seeing Janice, Sondra, Roger and Meroline Rowe
Some are gone and others drifted away long ago
Marv's in Chicago; don't know about Billy Joe



I'm so glad I can still remember those wonderful times
When we held our teachers in such high esteem
Freeburn Grade School burned down so very long ago
But I can always go back there as long as I can dream



Kathleen McCoy Eldridge©
May 15, 2008
All Rights Reserved
Freeburn Grade School 1948