Precious Memories
By: Lois May Keen

The first Sun in March 1919 will ever be a hallowed day for me. For it was on that day I seen my husband for the first time. It was one of Springs early beautiful days. I lived 3 blocks from town and was on my way down to the post office to mail a letter to a friend who had gone thru World War one. And who was still in France at the time. I met a man in front of the old hotel. Who I knew at once was Morris Keen. I did not know the Keen family but Springtown being very small and ever one had party line telephones and I had just heard that the family had very recently moved back from Okla. I can see yet just how Morris looked and I was dressed that day. Dark dress trousers, a light dress shirt – no tie or coat – Morris always talked very low and I wasn't sure he spoke to me. But I know now that he did. On my way back home I passed him again. Talking to some friend of his near the old Methodist church. A few days later the Keens bought a place up on the next street from where I lived. Morris his dad and step mother. After that I seen him daily. Going to and from work. Going to town and church. I was 21 yrs old myself – and I heard people laughing and calling him an old bacholar. He was a wheat farmer while living in Okla. And it seems a lot of the Okla farmers wore work coveralls. Morris had several pairs. All about 2 sizes to big for him. I thought he looked like a clown. I always laughed when I seen him. I even teased my sister about him. Little dreaming that one day the tables would turn on me. One Sun not long after. I didn't go to church for some reason. I had finished dinner by the time church was over. I was sitting in our South bedroom by double windows when Morris passed on his way home from church. And as I looked at him as he went by. I thought to my self how really nice he looked he was dressed in a new blue serge suit-white shirt – bow tie. And I thought at long last he was really hansome. All at once something came over me I was cold as ice - so weak I could scarcely move or breate something so real told me he would one day be my husband. I knew in my heart right then I loved him. I went to the door and wtched him as he went on up the St. and I looked at him I vowed in my heart ide never marry him. No not if he was the last man on earth. I could not eat or sleep and over and over I said to my self Ide never go out with him. Not even if he should ever ask me to. We had only spoke to each other a few times when we met and how was I to know that he would ever look at me. I was working our garden one day and he was doing some plowing a short distance away. Ever time I looked up he would be looking at me that made me mad. I finally quit and went to the house. He told me after that he knew that evening he found his wife if he could only find a way to get her. We had a short revival at our church that summer. Morris was janitor and on Sat nite I was setting on the back seat. The house full. When Morris came by where I set he stoped and said hello and ask if he could take me home after church. I was still mad at him. But I said yes – all thru services I tried to plan what I was going to tell him. I intended to really tell him this was the last date he ws to ever ask me for – but some how I was never able to tell him no – from that nite on there was always dates – we had no car – there was no shows – or very many places we could go. We spent many happy hours in our home. My mother and we girls always worked in the field – chopping cotton then picking in the fall. And we worked for Morris thru his crop that year. It was while we was picking cotton one day he ask me to marry him. I didn't say yes for two weeks I wanted to see if he would ask me again – and he did – in fact he ask me several times. His dad had been sick many years and Morris supported him and his step mother. He lost his dad in Nov. and on Dec. 28 1919 just at sun down on a heavenly winter day Rev. R L English came to my house and we said the words that made us one – We had supper at my mothers then went to church that nite – on Monday morning we went to his house to live – no two people could ever been more happy than Morris and I. We came down to Ft Worth on what was known as the Jitney. We shoped around for our furniture. Today I still have the old bill. All told it was $61.00. All second hand but our bed and chairs but for 2 people who loved each other as we did it was just perfect. We had a 3 room box house. Not furnished as most couples have to day – but it was home sweet home to us. We had a good team of mules and a good wagon – 1918-1919 was bumper crop years. Prices very high – Morris mad a big cotton crop 1920 – We went in debt one thousand dollars We had wonderful prospects for a big cotton crop but early in the summer boll weevels hit the country. Many farmers didn't take a sack to the field – we did make 4 bales of cotton and it took us years to get out of debt again. We was not discourged. We had high hopes. We had each other. In the fall one Oct. night a little girl came to live with us – big blues eyes and almost red hair. We was very happy and had great plans for our little girl. We sold our place and moved out in Turpen Nick. And made another crop. We had 30 acres of cotton knee high to waist high – we seen three blooms that year. By now ever body in the country was wined. We began working for wages still paying on our debts. March 1923 another little girl came to live with us – 4 pounds and all – 2 little girls both perfect we was as much in love as ever. We had been married 4 yrs when we had our first cross word. We happened to be at my Mothers and she took Morris's part. For some reason that was a shock to me. But like all our spats and disagreements it was soon forgotten. In 1926 we moved to Ft. Worth. Morris had work until the drprission hit the country. On April 1st 1930 God gave us a little red headed boy – just like his daddy. Our home was compleat as far as our family was conserned but like many others we was soon out of a job. And like ever one else we just did the best we could for the next few years. We moved back out home and stayed 10 years. By now both of our girls had grown up and both graduated from high school. Morris worked very hard to support us – to hard – the children and I always helped him all we could – he and both girls had worked in Ft. Worth the last years out there. And I came down often and looked for a house. For 6 mo. Before I found one. To day after 11 years we are still living in that same house. The same land lady – hoping some day she will sell it to us. I have to many precious memories to want to ever move any where else. We always where ever we lived made the oldest most run down places home. Morris always cleaned up – repaired anything that was run down and the 2 of us made it home for our little family. Morris had work most of the 11 yrs we have been back. He finished his last job Feb 1952- he wasn't feeling well the last few weeks of his work – and little did we dream that in a few short months he was going to leave us. I stood over him 5 months doing all in my power for him – asking our heavenly father to spare him if it was his will – but ever day I knew he was one day nearer home – and on Sun. eve Sept 21 he closed his eyes and went away. And I was left with our 3 wonderful children – a son-in-law who we both loved like our own. And 3 sweet grandchildren – Left with a broken heart and the memories of almost 33 years of the happiest married life two people could ever have. Some how we both knew from the start God entended us for each other and no matter how hard a time we had – we never let a day go by with out telling the other how much we still loved the other. There was very few times in that 33 years when we left for work or where ever he went – he didn't stop long enough to kiss me good bye – twice most of the time. Regardless who was mad worried or fussed at who. It never lasted more than a few hours – and life was sweeter than ever – we both had our faults – but we both knew how to forgive and forget. All our married life we had a Christian home and the many times we have failed – we tried to raise our children in a way pleasing to God – we tried to always go to church. We usuly left our house at 10:30 and walked the 6 blocks to church – after church we would hurry home – have our dinner. Morris loved gospel singing and for years we went all over Ft. Worth to singing. WE went to town on Sat. He usuly went on early – payed our bills – took care of all the little chores – and he always wanted me to meet him around 12-1 oclock and as I would walk up he would always look at his watch and tell me how many minuts I was early or late. We always had hamburgers coffee or cokes – we shopped window shopped – and enjoyed every hour together in town. He was a big tease and it was sometimes hard to tell when he was teasing and when he was not – he had lots of friends and once they really learned him, they knew what to expect – and was always ready for him. We always have had the best of neighbors and he loved all of them. He wanted to always be sure and do any thing that could be done when any one had trouble or sorrow. We had so much in common as we both grew up with a lot of responcebilitys and both of us missed ever thing in life that most boys and girls had. I feel in my heart all of that made our love for each other all the more precious. We both wanted our children to have more and to have better times than we did. We couldn't always give them all the things we wanted to – but all of them are perfect children. Perfect to their mother and daddy. Children any parents would be proud of. Today as I look back on our lives here on earth and how happy we was and how you only had a short time. Planed things for the two of us. Places we would go – things we would do – things we can never do now. After you became so sick as we would set in the swing on our front porch. How you would hold my hand giving it a squeeze and a smile – that meant ever thing on earth to me. Always if we was going any place on the train or bus you would hold my hand for hours – memories that all the money in the world couldn't by – to day alone I stand down at the end of the road that you and I came down together and as I look out towards the future - a future that is no longer there – I see again all the years we had. 33 wonderful years roll thru my mind and before my eyes – like pictures across a screen there was many rough times. Times we couldn't see our way out – yet we always had our hopes and plans and love that made the sun shine in our hearts – and as the years went by we seen our oldest go in a home of her own and our son in the service of our country. How it grieved our hearts – yet we had one still at home and we wasn't alone and only your last job – how proud and happy you was. Happy because you was still useful – your plans for the 2 of us as we grew old. How sure you was that we would be just as happy and as much in love as we was our first days together. Then came the day when you started going down hill and could no longer do the things you had planned for us. Then that terrible day out side your hospital door when the dr told us the end could be soon and could be years away. The whole world seemed swept from under my feet and I was left alone with all our hopes and plans gone. How I tried to go on with a smile for you and my heart breaking. Praying thru out the days you would be spared. I needed you so. Yet as the days rolled by I seen you going farther and farther from me each day and that Sun. eve. As we came to the end of way and when the gates slowly opened only you went thru. I know you are happy in that haven of rest and in my heart I feel you are ever looking this way and some day then the gates will open for me and you and I will ever be happy with our savior and in line in that city where we never grow old. Like the song (Farther Along) we will understand why some day. The precious memories I have of our marriage – home – and children will light the way for me till the gates open and I shall be with you thru eternity.