The Onion
At the beginning of the twentieth century
it was not unusual in the rural South for families to own
100 acres of land or more. This was not a sign of
outstanding wealth, but it did separate families over large
areas. Life was almost primitive in many respects. Each
family had to be, for the most part, self-sustaining which
included sharing and bartering with neighbors. Often
someone in the area would provide a small store where
popular can goods, tobacco, kerosene and maybe soft drinks
were sold. This would allow the store owner to purchase
these goods in larger cheaper quantities that provided his
own family with less expensive supplies, while making a
small profit on sales to neighbors.
My mother used to tell me a story about when she was a
small child going to one of these country stores late one
afternoon to get a gallon of kerosene called lamp oil by
most. Families were dependent on kerosene lamps for light
at night. She had been given a quarter to make the twenty
cent purchase. The storekeeper, not having much business,
kept the store closed most of the time only opening it when
someone came to make a purchase.
On this occasion he did not have a nickel for change. He
explained his dilemma to the small girl and asked if she
would take a large onion in lieu of the nickel. This was
quite a decision for her. This was a whole nickel they were
talking about, but under the circumstance, what else could
be done. Struggling to carry the can of kerosene in one
hand and the over sized onion in the other, she worried all
the way home. What were they going to say?
Cornbread and milk was not an uncommon meal at supper time
and when she presented the onion, the whole family was
delighted to have the addition. She always recalled the
relief and pride she experienced as her family ate the
onion that night by the oil lamp.