A Remembrance
of
Ezra Grover Carter
Written by his second son
Mark Johnson Carter
Page 2 of 3
We all had chores to do and were very much aware of what was expected of
us. One of my jobs was to go one eighth-mile to a neighbor's every evening
at milking time and get a gallon of milk. Once when I was playing I forgot.
I came in after dark hoping someone had done it for me. I was just a small
boy and scared of the dark. Dad just said, "That's your job," so I walked
over alone and got the milk. That's the way it was wether it was washing the
dishes, hoeing the garden, mowing the lawn or keeping our room straight. The
work had to be done before we could go play. As we got older we were rewarded
for our efforts and could earn our own spending money. In fact, Dad promoted
projects so we could be responsible and get the rewards from our work. When
I was six, and Grover eight, Dad built some rabbit hutches. We raised Chinchilla
rabbits and earned enough to buy a Winchester .22 rifle for eighteen dollars.
Richard's son, R.C., still has it.
Dad believed in education and encouraged us in every way he could. Part of
our Christmas was always good books. The best present I ever received was
a set of Seaton's Wild Animals of North America at Christmas. Dad expected
us all to get good grades. Grover was a straight A student and my sisters
likewise, so I did my best to keep up.
In the spring of the year, Dad would take the whole family on bird watching
trips in the valley. He helped us to identify the many different kinds. One
year he encouraged me to make a collection of wild flowers. I pressed and
mounted a large number and thru his influence had them displayed in the hall
of the Main Building at the college.
Another
expectation of Dad's and Mother's was to be absolutely honest. There was neighborhood
store just around the corner where I loved to go but candy with every cent
I could get hold of. Dad thought so much sweet made cavities on my teeth and
said no more candy. One day I just couldn't resist and went and bought a bunch
of junk candy and hid it in the bushes in front of the house. Somehow Dad
found it and at supper time said,"I found some candy in the bushes. Someone
may have poisoned it. I will have to get rid of it." I didn't dare say anything
but learned a lesson. Another time there was a dime left lying on the table
all morning. As no one seemed to own it, I took it. At supper Dad said," Someone
took a dime from the table. Who did it?" I looked around the table and everyone
seemed to be looking at me. I had to own up and left without supper and went
up to my room crying. After awhile Mother came up and hugged me and said,
"It's all right. We all forgive you."
Dad loved to play games with us. On the long winter evenings we would play
checkers, Pollyana, or Monopoly. I played checkers with Dad for years before
I ever won a game. He always played his best, but would show me after the
game what moves I should have made. Many nights I have gone to bed in tears
I wanted to win so bad. I finally got so I could win my share of the time.
When in High School my neighborhood schoolmates and I were co-champions in
the High School Checkers tournament.
