AN 1896 FAMILY INCIDENT

My Father was the eldest of eleven children. They lived on a small farm in Bount County, Alabama. He was born in 1875. Eeking out a living on a small farm in those days was a laborious chore. The incident I am going to tell you was not told to me by my Father nor by any relative. I told it to a cousin, who I look upon as our clan's family historian, but she said she had never heard of such a thing either. I was wondering if it were a common practice to do this back in those olden days. It was told to me several years ago by a non-related eldery man. I believe it to be true, but it is odd that I had never heard of it before. In February 1896...here we go now...my Father turned age 21 and he was still living at home. His Father told him you are 21 now and time for you to leave home. To help him on his way, his father told him he could have $50.00 cash or a mule and ten acres. My Father chose the $50.00. He spent the day and left the next morning after breakfast. His Father gave him some money. He (my Father) counted it, and it only came to $47.50. He inquired of his father, "Where is the rest of it?" His father replied, "Well, you ate supper, that's .75 cents, you had a night's lodging, that's $1.25, and you ate breakfast, thats .50 cents" So my Father took the money and departed for Waxahachie, Texas--the county seat of Ellis County, Texas, located just South of Dallas. I have heard that several families from Blount County, AL. migrated there back in latter 1800s when cheap land here was no longer available. They liked the area as it was hilly, similar to Blount County, I am told. My Dad stayed there at least one year, if not longer, I am not sure. He attended a school there and worked on the side. He returned to Blount County and lived there for the remainder of his life. He was a Teacher-Principal in rural elementary schools, often being only one or two rooms..maybe three or four sometimes. Have you ever heard of a similar incident?