Spencer's Mountain: The Family That Inspired the TV Series the Waltons by Earl Hamner Jr

Author:Earl Hamner Jr.
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Coming of Age, Small Town, Family Life, Fiction, Literary, Rural, General
ISBN: 9780795339578
Publisher: Rosetta Books
Published: 2014-04-27T23:00:00+00:00

“What in the name of God is this?” exploded the Colonel when he read the item at breakfast.

“I don’t know, Daddy,” said Claris. “What are you talking about?”

“It says here you’re having a party Friday night. Is that true?”

Claris came around to her father’s place and read the item. Hoping that her mirth sounded convincing, she began to laugh.

“I don’t find it so amusing,” said the Colonel sternly.

“Don’t you see? She fell for it hook, line and sinker. She was around snooping and trying to find out things one day so I made up the story on the spot. I’ve done it before. Don’t you remember last year when I gave her that news item about a movie company coming to New Dominion on a talent search. She printed it.”

“It serves her right,” said the Colonel, beginning to smile a little. “But at the same time it seems to me you ought to have a few more friends around here than these hillbillies. I’ve a good many friends over in Charlottesville in my golf club. If you’d like to give a real party I could have them send some boys and girls over here your own age, more the kind of people you ought to be meeting.”

“Sure, Pop,” said Claris. “But may I have just one person from around here?”

“As long as it isn’t one of the nuts on this list in the paper.”

“Well, it is, as a matter of fact. Clay-Boy Spencer.”

“Ask him. It’s all right with me.”

Word that the original party had been called off and a second one planned in its place lost no time in making the rounds of the village. That Clay-Boy had been invited to both and that he was the only local boy to be invited to the second party was mentioned in every kitchen gathering and over every back fence.

When he went to deliver Mrs. Moses Hughes’ buttermilk she asked him into the kitchen and promptly began prying.

“I got it from Gilsee Joplin that you’re steppen into high society next Friday night,” she said.

“Well, I got invited. I couldn’t hardly turn it down,” he said.

“What does your mama say about you getten mixed up with high society?”

“Mama said I could go,” he said. “It don’t matter to her.”

“I reckon your picture’ll be in the Charlottesville Citizen and maybe the Richmond News Leader,” Mrs. Hughes observed teasingly.

“I expect so,” he said, trying to grin but succeeding only in pulling up the corners of his mouth.

“Well, it wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t end up marryen into that crowd and ownen half the mill before you’re through,” she said.

She had hit a tender spot and his face betrayed him. He blushed.

“When you and that girl goen to announce your engagement?” Mrs. Hughes asked and prodded him in the ribs, her fat jolly face next to his.

“Mrs. Hughes, Mama told me to hurry home if you don’t mind.”

“All right, son, there’s fifteen cents for the buttermilk there on the table. Don’t you mind me teasen. I’m glad you goen to that party ’cause I know you ain’t one to put on airs about it.

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