My first paying job was for driving a school bus while a student in high school. The salary was $15 each month less Social Security deduction, my first of many. But even before I joined the worker ranks, I ‘earned’ an allowance given to me by my Daddy. It was $1.50 each week which today sounds like a pittance but way back in the ancient of days it was a princely sum. For that amount, one could attend a movie on both Wednesday and Saturday and with such a treasure, you could feast on pop corn and candy of your choice and still have funds left over for ice cream at Fred’s Soda Shop on Main Street. I recall at one time paying only 9 cents for movie admission a real bargain on Saturday when you could see a Western, a short subject such as a Three Stooges screening and perhaps a Serial such as The Shadow along with the Previews for Coming Attractions. It was vicarious living at its peak for any boy ordinarily seated on the front row.
What led me to this topic was a piece I read in the WSJ discussing opposite views of how a child’s allowance should be handled. One of which I favor was that an allowance should be earned by doing chores; the other believed that an allowance should not be used as a method of ‘punishment’ should certain established benchmarks not be met believing that one cannot learn how to handle money if it is not present.
I lived on a farm setting meaning that there were related chores that a boy could easily perform. The difficult part was that the chores had to be carried out consistently, without fail, 7 days a week no matter what. The animals’ upkeep that is hogs, cows and chickens relied on your faithfulness. The chores taught you persistence if nothing else. The tasks were mainly feeding which took only a few minutes each day but nevertheless it was a responsibility with consequences if you failed to carry out your duties and not just for the animals. While I do not recall in my case (seriously) being penalized for shirking my duty, still it was theoretically possible to see my cash flow reduced should I fail to perform.
One statement mentioned in the piece was that there are certain chores that are routinely expected (without being paid) for children to perform as “citizens of the family.” Such tasks were making up one’s own bed, setting the table, helping wash dishes (for girls) and in the winter time in my case bringing in fuel (coal and wood) to provide warmth. I never made up a bed nor set the table and because we did not have a ‘lawn’ there was no grass to mow. Back then, a yard of distinction was not one with grass but one that was void of any vegetation and ordinarily swept clean with a ‘brush’ broom.
Somehow when the chores were assigned, I thankfully missed the most dreaded one: milking the cows. My brothers were the ‘lucky’ ones in that department. I mostly filled the stalls with hay for the cows, taking up the eggs and feeding and watering the hogs rain or shine.
For that I received free medical care, three meals a day, clothing, a clean warm bed and being a part of a family of 9 children whose parents excelled as great role models and examples worthy of imitation.
The weekly stipend of $1.50 was incidental when I think of my life back then. It was an incomparable bargain.
What price cans one place on being a member of a loving family?
Just call me lucky or perhaps a better word is blessed.
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Bill Lee, PO Box 128,
Hamer, SC 29547
