PAGE 10 -- The Perkins Journal Thursday, November 28, 1985
Thumbin
the
By Bud England
This picture reveals a
nostalgic trip for the grand-
father Milo Williams (of Still-
water) and a memorable story
for his grandson, Monte Eng-
land of Tulsa. This was in the
early 1970's.
The story was that Mflo, as
just a lad, moved from Pekin,
Illinois to the Stillwater area in
1898 along with his family. Dur-
ing his teens Milo lived not far
from this secluded rock out-
cropping in a grove of trees.
These rocks formed a sheltered
circle in which to build a fire.
Being in the 'possom woods it
was naturally the spot to build
a fire during a winter hunting
season, to grab a warmup and
let the dogs hunt out the
surrounding timber. The young
fellows would carry a syrup
bucket and some coffee {dry).
With a water supply nearby
they brewed a strong gut-
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Milo Williams, left, and grandson Monte England at a favorite
to roast a stolen chicken, now and then.
chicken house so the heads or
tails of the moment determined
the fate of certain farmer's
fowls in the selection of the
fowlers.
Milo said none of them ever
got shot at but a few times
some mongrel dog unworthy for
the hunt would be left at home
and raise cane when they raid-
ed the rooster's harem. So they
were yelled at and threatened a
few times.
My son Monte and I shared
many tales from Milo as he
directed us from place to place
warming drink over the open
fire. At times the undisciplined
dogs would bay a rabbit in a
That was als0 good roast-
ing material. When nothing else
was available for hungry ap-
petites they would flip a coin to
see which two of them went to
some nearby neighbor and steal
a chicken. No night out was
complete without good meat
broiled over the fire between
these big rocks. Those whom
fate chose by coin-flip to steal
the chicken were never required
to go to their own parents
Q
Perkins, Oklahoma
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boyhood spot for Milo and friends where they used
in his old haunts west and north
of Stillwater. And in Milo's last
years, when he was confined in
a nursing home in Stillwater,
my wife Ewanna {Milo's daugh-
ter) drove to Stillwater about
once a week and when Milo
could be out they took many
nostalgic drives back into
Milo's youth. Too often the
younger generations don't real-
ize just how much twilight peo-
ple need and want to ramble
back toward their daylight
years, verbally or geographical-
ly or both. I 'm glad our son
Monte was interested and I 'm
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happy that I had my
along that day.
My brother Paul
on such a trip to a
Eufaula where dad
ly one year, but it
to him to see the place
crown it all, he found one
old boyhood pals still
nearby after almost sixty l
had passed. And now
a longer shadow I too
understand many
feel a need for
to the youthful years.
@
Perkins, O&taho~e .
