By Velma M. Rose Smith

On my 8th birthday, Mama had a party for me, my school friends, boys and girls. I received nice presents, the glass doll dishes, the black jewelry box, a ring, etc. One gift was a pen wiper. (We used the pens you dip in ink and they had to be wiped off.) It was made from pretty woolen piece, cut round, smaller to bigger, and embroidered around the edges. A neighbor girl, my age, had made it, she was the oldest of a big family and they were poor.. I remember Mama telling me, to appreciate that gift, it was a gift of love.

When our family was growing up, we didn’t have much money, but we had a lot of love. That love is what has kept the family close.