Ina was up early. As soon as it was
light she went to the hen house to gather eggs. Then she carefully crated the fresh
eggs and cream for town. 
As she changed into her “go to town”
dress, Ina admitted to herself that she was excited. However, she deemed it
unladylike for a woman of 64 -- well, for any female of any age -- to show such emotion and squelched that elation.
After applying just a touch of lipstick and powdering her nose, as she had been
taught by her daughters, she affixed her hat firmly by weaving a long hat pin through
the bun on top of her head. Lastly, she donned her gray cloth coat (not warm
but presentable), then picked up her gloves, her pocketbook, and a small
blanket to cover her knees as she traveled. She was ready. She sat down in the
rocker by the window to wait for Tom.
Ina heard the engine of Tom’s old
truck before she saw it. When it hove into view, Ina laughed in spite of
herself. A wreath made of fir greens and trimmed with a bright red oilcloth
ribbon decorated the grill. How festive it looked!
Tom helped her load the crate of
eggs and cream she had packed to trade at the Orofino Mercantile. Ina was proud
of the fact that she paid for their groceries by trading cream and eggs. Times
were hard for many people and especially for farm folk, who were experiencing
not only the effects of the Depression but also loss of market for their crops.
Some people struggled to pay what they owed the store, so she was grateful they
could keep up in this way.
Arriving at the Merc, Ina took care
of her business first. She traded the eggs and cream for groceries and the items
she needed for Christmas – nuts in the shell, hard candy, brown sugar, spices,
molasses, and such as that. The clerk Lydia was always more than fair, Ina
thought, and allowed her an extra half pound of hard Christmas candy.
The “Merc” wasn’t a big store when
one considered the big stores of the city, but Ina could buy everything she
needed at this one general store. She had plenty of time, so she wandered the
aisles, looked over the Christmas decorations and the toys, and wished she
could share this happy day with someone – someone like . . . Shirley. She
experienced a pang of loneliness at the thought, but she straightened her back
and pushed it out of her mind. She moved on to examine the leather-faced gloves
and make a selection which would be her gift to Jack – that and a can of Climax.
When she had finished her shopping,
the box boy helped Ina carry her groceries and Christmas supplies to Tom’s old
truck. Tom came along shortly and they were on their way up the old grade to
Gilbert. Ina had enjoyed the outing. It would give her something to think
about. KW
6 comments:
I'm trying to remember who Tom is. A neighbor?
And was the Merc where Oud's Hardware was in our day? I seem to remember from my very young days that it was the Merc and had a food store on the back side with a door on the side street.
I confess -- I made Tom up. I actually don't know with whom Ina rode up and down the grade. I don't think she went often but relied on the mail carrier to bring supplies. Myrtle mentioned catching a ride from the train station with Joe Ingram. I could have called him Joe but went with Tom.
You're correct about the Merc. Oud's did expand into that building -- had furniture there. Today it's where the Mexican restaurant is. Do you remember the mezzanine?
You don't find many mercantile stores anymore...or at least ones that call themselves mercantiles and are run locally. There was one in the middle of nowhere outside of Great Falls and it was an interesting place to stop. I remember a sign bragging "world's best milkshake." Can you believe that? Way out there in Montana...
"Mercantile" is defined as a general store. I suppose the concept is still alive somewhat in our marts and one-stop shopping. But the marts don't have the same feel. . .
Hmm, now that you mention it, I do remember the mezzanine. I had totally forgotten about it.
I was sure you would remember the mezzanine once you were reminded. Somehow it was an impressive feature of that building, especially if you were less than six years old.
The individual who appears to have driven the Dobsons up and down the hill was Ed Ingram. Apparently he was a farm hand, and that's one of the things he did for the family. I don't know anything about him -- am lucky to know that much.
But -- I do know someone to ask, come to think of it. Later . . .
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