Beech Tree News Network

What of the drifters, vagabonds, and wayfarers? – people who seem to be at loose ends? No doubt in my generation The Great Depression of the 1930s spawned a good many of the folks – people on the move in a quest for better times. Men such as: Burl Billbrew, Jockey Bill Ward, Walkin’ Mun Wilson, and Srinner Stewart.

Stewart was the last of the recall. Not too many years back, driving thorugh my hometown in the middle of a hot July, I spotted Stewart sleeping on the well-manicured lawn of one of the more affluent houses in town. Although the temperature was close to a hundred degrees, Stewart was dressed in a long wool army overcoat and a wool cap. In his sock feet, his lace-up boots were beside him. He still lived under a railroad bridge.

These drifters weren’t necessarily beggars. Most of them would chop wood, sharpen knives or scissors for a night of lodging and a meal. Some traded. My daddy bought me my first pocket watch from Jockey Bill Ward – it had a black face and white numbers. It cost 50 cents.

Walkin’ Mun Wilson came by my grandparents’ house from time to time. It was told that Mun spent time doing chores at the governor’s mansion. They said one morning when the cook asked Mun what he was having he said, “oh I’ll have whatever the governor’s having.”
Burl Billbrew’s forte was making on-the-spot rhymes. Once old doctor Slayton – as folks called him – met Burl on the street and told him he’d give him a dollar if he could make a quick rhyme.

Burl said, “Doctor Slayton’s tired of waitin’. I’ll take my dollar and step across the holler.”

Such is the passing parade. I’ll take my dollar and step across the holler.

Kindest regards.