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A Little Dab of Color
A young boy recalls life with his feisty grandmother who came to stay after the birth of his baby brother. Loosely based upon the author's boyhood in Indiana during the early 1900's.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
191 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 16, 2012
I loved this book. It is set about 1920 in the Pleasant Ridge Communty between Starlight and Borden, IN. The author was a teacher, farmer, writer and piano instructor. The communty he lived in is about 4 miles from my house, so I identified with lots of the landmarks he talks about.
The book is a collection of short stories about growing up in a multi generational family. His mother, father, materal grandmother, brothers and sister and Chod, the hired man lived on and worked a large farm. There were cows to milk, hay and corn to raise, and produce to raise for sale and to feed the family.
My favorite story in the book is about his adventures in organ playing at a neighboring church. Being the teacher's star pupil, Bruce was invited to play at Chapel Knob Church at a recital on Sunday night. He and his family went by horse and wagon to the event. As the event proceeded, Bruce anxiously waited his turn to perform, as he was the last on the list. His selection was "In the Sweet By and By", which was fancied up with all kinds of riffs and trills. To Bruce's dismay, the 3rd to last person was a rival organ pupil, a girl he didn't like. She began to play "In the Sweet By and By" and Bruce was totally floored by this event.
After her performance, a girls' choir from the church rendered "Jesus Wants Me for A Sunbeam", and then it was Bruce's turn to perform. He sat down, adjusted the bench, checked out the organ and launched into a rousing rendition of "Alexander's Ragtime Band", to the dismay of his parents, teacher,congregation and Grandma.
After the performance, he took a bow and his parents each grabbed him by an arm and he sailed up the aisle with his feet hardly touching the floor, mounting the wagon to make an escape, his alway prim and proper granny leaned over and said "Ride 'em, cowboy"!
This book is full of witty and hilarious stories of growing up in the 1920's.
The book is a collection of short stories about growing up in a multi generational family. His mother, father, materal grandmother, brothers and sister and Chod, the hired man lived on and worked a large farm. There were cows to milk, hay and corn to raise, and produce to raise for sale and to feed the family.
My favorite story in the book is about his adventures in organ playing at a neighboring church. Being the teacher's star pupil, Bruce was invited to play at Chapel Knob Church at a recital on Sunday night. He and his family went by horse and wagon to the event. As the event proceeded, Bruce anxiously waited his turn to perform, as he was the last on the list. His selection was "In the Sweet By and By", which was fancied up with all kinds of riffs and trills. To Bruce's dismay, the 3rd to last person was a rival organ pupil, a girl he didn't like. She began to play "In the Sweet By and By" and Bruce was totally floored by this event.
After her performance, a girls' choir from the church rendered "Jesus Wants Me for A Sunbeam", and then it was Bruce's turn to perform. He sat down, adjusted the bench, checked out the organ and launched into a rousing rendition of "Alexander's Ragtime Band", to the dismay of his parents, teacher,congregation and Grandma.
After the performance, he took a bow and his parents each grabbed him by an arm and he sailed up the aisle with his feet hardly touching the floor, mounting the wagon to make an escape, his alway prim and proper granny leaned over and said "Ride 'em, cowboy"!
This book is full of witty and hilarious stories of growing up in the 1920's.
July 12, 2019
I have loved this book for years and (fortunately) own it. My copy is titled "Gone are the days" by W. Bruce Bell. I'm pretty sure this is the same book, differently titled.
Highly recommended if you like memoirs with a lot of humor as well as a really good look at what life was like back then. (I was reminded of this book when discussing "Farmer Boy" with a co-worker). If you enjoy all the period details and descriptions of Wilder, I think you would enjoy this. (Plus, it's funny).
Highly recommended if you like memoirs with a lot of humor as well as a really good look at what life was like back then. (I was reminded of this book when discussing "Farmer Boy" with a co-worker). If you enjoy all the period details and descriptions of Wilder, I think you would enjoy this. (Plus, it's funny).
September 4, 2019
I really liked this and gave it a 9/10 rating in my journal from the summer between 7th and 8th grades. "Really enjoyable" my notes from that time say.
August 11, 2012
Tale of two brothers, Bruce and Hubert, living on a arm in Indiana in early 1900s and their grandmother who came to live with their family after the birth of a little brother. Fun read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews