episode #2

Childhood after Mother's death. Days, nights and night, days passed until it all became a reality that mother was no longer with us. My sister, Liz was our mother now and she did everything she could to try to kept us together. She had heard from others and social workers that we would have to have someone tot take care of the seven smaller children and if not the state would have to be informed of the matter. It came to passed that our sister go married to D.L. Fountain and got a small house beside the lake on tail bottom street. It was all good until one day the social worker came and said "We have found homes for your brothers and sisters, you can not keep them, but you can go and visit any time you wish. We'll get back with your on where we are placing them. They have to leave with us right now. Get there clothes and pack hem up for them. The state was our parents now. The seven of us left and was divided up on which foster parents could take what. It was four boys and three girls, ages from thirteen to one year old. Rosetta the oldest girl was placed with Mr. and Mrs.(Gertude) Allen Woods. Fred and William Harry the oldest of the boys were placed with Mr. and Mrs. (Adeline)Johnny Swanson. Arlean, Lugertha and Linda was placed with Mr. Ernest and Mrs. Elizabeth Hadnot and what a time we had from then on. Mr and Mrs Wood were a couple that had been married about 28 years with three grown sons, no grandchildren and along at their home in Colfax, La. Oh of course they had been foster parent to two other children from little babies sister and brother Ernestine and Earl Dixon. My sister did as she was told. She worked and the man, Mr. Allen would call her out, Rosetta to the barn and did sexual things that was not approved. One day when no one was home Mr. Allen did the NO NO! and after that she was not able to get out of bed for the pain she had. Mrs Wood took her to the doctor and they didn't check her private parts. They claimed because she was a ward of the state she had a mind problem. She was placed in a insane hospital and just left there, because she was hurt and told and that taught the other girls what not to do or say. The Swanson were good people. They had no children and my two brothers was in a sweet loving home. Fred left and came a lot. I had no idea where he would be gone too. I just knew he was about one of the busy people I knew.