Ruby Hare Chicken & Noodles Recipe
written by her in 1994.
April 20, 1923
My Mother was 40 and my Daddy was 45 years old and What A Surprise! My Mother gave birth to 2 bundles of Joy: a little boy first, Ray Maxine Shouse, and then in 15 minutes, Oh NO! Out popped a little girl, Ruby Nadine Shouse. The Doctor came from Longton in a horse an buggy, so of course he was to late. But Mom’s sister, Aunt Ella, was there, so she took over. She noticed red spots on us, and law and behold, we were born with the Measles! Mom had them also, Grace Hall, who lived across the creek, had come to see Mom, as Mom was in poor health, and Grace brought her son Pat, with her, and he had the measles, and they didn’t know it. So that exposed Mom.
Back then you hardly ever heard of Twins, so we had plenty of company to come to see us 2 little buggers, even store keepers and bankers from Elk City and Longton. We really pepped up the old farm. Then, the first 2 winters, we had Pneumonia.
My Daddy had a new 1919 Ford car, but when he would go to Alva Shirley’s to get his plow shears sharpened, he would go with the team and wagon. Daddy always took us everywhere he went. He was so proud of us. Those big white butter cup flowers were all along the road, and he would stop and let us pick Mom a bouquet. Then, when we went to town in the car, he would stop along the way and get us some rosin gum to chew off of the rosin weeds (Cornpass Plants). Gee! that was so good!.
Also, Daddy always had a great big wood pile, in those days, the men liked to whittle, if they didn’t have anything else to do, So, he would sit on a chunk of wood and whittle. When he would come to some Slickery Elm, he would give us some to chew … Oh Boy! … was that ever good! (Slick as snott)
Mother was always working, as Daddy was pretty poorly then. Doc said he had ulcers but now I think it was cancer. He couldn’t eat anything, as it hurt his stomach, so he just lived on raw eggs, He would just break one and swallow it. But the time came when he had to do something. So, while he was waiting on his folks to come to take him to Wichita to the hospital to be operated on, he didn’t want to go, and he was walking the yard crying. Ray had ahold of one of his hands, and I had ahold of his other hand on the other side. Daddy reached in his pocket and pulled out 2 dimes and gave ray one and me one. Back then, that was a lot of money. Well, that was the last time we got to see our Daddy alive. We were 5 years old. Mom said for us to take our dimes and get something to remember our Daddy by. Ray got an iron toy Ford car, and I got a little yellow tea set. Our wonderful Mother became our Mother and Daddy both. She did a wonderful job of raising us.
Mom stayed on the farm (10 miles west of Elk City or 10 miles south of Longton. They lived there 29 years) for 2 years after Daddy died. She saw she couldn’t handle it, so she sold the farm and moved to Elk City in the northwest part of town. I went my 1st Grade year of school at West Liberty (before Mom moved to town, ). It was a one room school house with grades from 1st to 8th, and one teacher taught us all. We walked 2 miles there and 2 miles back home. We carried our lunch buckets and the school house was warmed by a big old pot bellied stove. There was a well with a pump in it, so when the water bucket got empty the teacher (Myrtle Cox) would send one of the big kids after a bucket of water. We all drank out of the same dipper, and if we didn’t drink it all … it just went back in the bucket.
Where Mom moved in town, there was an apple tree behind the house and we loved to “skin cats” (hang on a branch and flip over). There was a perfect limb on that tree to skin cats. Now remember, I wore black sateen bloomers down past my knees, and Ray wore overalls. We were really skinning them cats, and Mom looked out the window and saw us, and here she came! She told me “Ladies didn’t do things like that and I had disgraced her and myself!” Talk about being embarrassed – I was! And when she got through, we never skinned NO More cats!.
I went to grade school and graduated out of the 8th grade. I went to high school 1/2 day. Boy! Oh! Boy! Was I ever SMART!.
Then at 15 years old, I had inflammatory Rheumatism and was bedfast for several months. Then, Ray got killed playing football at 15 years old. I was sure lost – as we were so close to each other.
In 1940, I was 16, and my sister (Laurena Newton)) heard that Hattie Merrit and Tom Davidson, who were working for Falls City Cream Station, wanted to give it up. So my Sis wanted me to go in with her and take it over, So I did. It was in the brick building where Chinoweth had their photo shop, across the street, north of the lumber yard. At that time, Milo Bruce ran the lumber yard and June Schwatkins was his secretary,. Well the big day arrived when we took over, we bought cream and eggs. When the farmers drove up, we would go out, greet them with a smile, and pack in teir cream and eggs. Most of them had cars, but we had some with horses and wagons, and one old lady had a horse and buggy. First, we would weight their cans, buckets, pans, or whatever they had their cream in. Then we would stir it up, and some people had hardly enough to stir. Then we took out a sample to test, and then dumped it in a 10 gallon can, and washed their container. (Yes! it all went in the 10 gallon can, until that can was full, and then we started on another 10 gallon can, etc.) Some cream was sweet, some sour, and some really really sour! But it was all mixed together, very few people had refrigerators to keep it cool, so some cream was almost able to walk! Then after we had their container washed, we weighed the container again and figured up tier test. We would write them a check, and it kept us busy – stirring those 10 gallon cans of cream, so they wouldn’t foam over until the cream man picked it up, which was twice a week.
And the eggs …Well, we had to candle them. This was done in a wooden box which had a light build in it and a round hole in the end of the box. You had to put the egg up to the hole and you could see if they were good or bad. Of course we had some folks who thought their eggs were good – even though they were black as tar! Come to find out, they had found a hen’s nest. Well, the bad eggs were put back in their egg case or pan, whatever they had them in. We put the good eggs in a 30 dozen case until it was full, then gabbed another 30 dozen case, etc. Our egg man picked them up twice a week also. We had to make them weigh so much or we would get docked, and it was a job changing eggs from one case to another trying to get them to weigh out. During these years, my Sis and her husband went to the country to work for a farmer, but I continued to run the cream station.
Mom took in washings and when she would get the washings done, she would come and candle eggs for me. We had a big trade. We would buy 50 to 60 some cases of eggs (30 dozen to the case) and 40 to 50 – 10 gallon cans of cream each week.
As usual, the streets of Elk City always had a lot of surface water when it rained, so we had a board to walk on from our door to the street, so our feet wouldn’t get wet. And one of those days after a rain, in drove a guy (George) – that just got out of the army – with his Dad’s cream and he wouldn’t let me lug that big old can of cream in. So he grabbed hold of one handle and me the other, and as we were walking on the board to try and keep out of the water, he said – “Wouldn’t it be fun to float down the stream together?” OH MY GOSH! I was so bashful and I could feel my face burning, it was so RED! And I didn’t even answer! When he left Mom said, “Ruby, what is wrong with you? Your face is so RED!”
Well, soon after that my sister moved back to town and she was working at Drybread and Barnes grocery and dry goods store. One day, my Sis said, “I hear that Imel’s wants to sell out. Go down and make a deal, and let’s run a grocery store.” So, that’s what I did! I then went back to the store where she was working and said. “Come on and help me!. We’ve got a grocery store” she said. “I was just kidding!” I just laughed and said – “Too late now! So come on “. We sold groceries, and bought cream, eggs, and chickens. We had wonderful people for customers – but guess what? There were some folks who would keep saying – “We don’t understand it, but our chickens, keep disappearing and we never do find them dead! “Well We knew what was happening to them …OH GOSH! The kids would steal those old chickens out their folks hen house of Saturday nights and were bringing them and selling them to us for spending money! OH! YS! That’s back when kids were perfect! Ha! HA! I knew those chickens were really old, and to this day, I can’t hardly eat boughten chicken soup!
Pete Rush always had a free show on Saturday nights, outside, on the north side of the Marr’s Drug Store, and the streets were packed with people. I mean the streets were crammed, and you couldn’t even find a place to park, All the places were taken up two blocks off Main Street. We had most of the trade and we nearly worked our pants off. Besides, we hired 4 or 5 others to help on Saturdays. We were all busy as bees!
We bought most of our groceries through Kansas Wholesale of Coffeyville. The truck was to arrive on Friday, so we could stock our shelves on Friday and be ready for the big day on Saturday. Then of all things, here (Walt the driver) shows up on Saturday and it was a mess trying to wait on customers and stock shelves all at the same time. So, I laughed and said “Walt if you come next Saturday instead of Friday, I’m going to shoot you!” Well, you won’t believe this, but sure enough, here he came the next Saturday. We had a “gossip” bench in the store, and a little boy and his mother had came in during the week, and the little boy left his play gun on the bench. So When I heard the truck drive in, I ran over and grabbed the toy gun and went for the truck. When I got back there Walt had picked up one of those great big bundles of paper sacks and was ready to throw it off the truck, and who would he see? ME and, I had that toy gun pointed at him! He dropped those sacks and went and sat down on some cases of stuff. Sis went back to see what was going on and Walt said “That Ruby nearly scared me to death!” After the scare was over, we all had a big laugh.
My Sis never knew what I was going to do next. Yes, we might look alike, but we sure didn’t act alike. Another time, we had a cookie sales man and neither one of us liked to give him our order. So Sis said we had to take turns. As usual, it was my turn and Oh! Gee! Here he comes! Sis said, “Now Ruby! Remember! It’s your turn!” Our counter was all covered on the front and sides, but the back was open and vacant. I waited until he got to the door, and I slid under the counter. When Sis turned around to see where Ruby was, she realized I was gone! So, she had to give the order. But while she was giving the order, I was yanking on her dress-tail. She got so tickled, and the salesman thought she was laughing at him, and he walked out and never came back! I was always having FUN, but Sis had patience with me. Then, in 1951 we bought the building across the street, west of our old store, tore it down, and built this new store “L & R” Grocery”. George and Forrest built it. (It is now the Community Building) We then hired 6 or more to help with the new store, as we had so much trade.
By this time, I bought a little house up by the church, that Mom always wanted – wo she would be close to the church for #1,000.00. When I got the house paid for, I bought me a new 1951 maroon color Plymouth.
Well, on with my Love Affair with George. Every Saturday night, in would walk that cute, good looking, primpy guy. When he walked down the street, you would think he owned the town. He would throw them shoulders back and sling both arms as he walked. Boy! He was proud! He would keep asking me out, but Heaven’s to Betsey, I was so bashful! I just couldn’t say “Yes”. After I got my car, Melvena, Mom and I would go somewhere every Sunday afternoon. One Monday morning, one of our neighbors walked in the store and said “I wish you would stay home on Sundays as that 1950 maroon convertible with white top (Boy! was it ever snazzy!) comes every Sunday afternoon and you’re gone.”
Well, everyone was trying to get us together, so finally I thought, “What the heck! So I went out with him Sunday afternoon, May 21, 1951. Gee! As we drove down the street, people were hollering and whistling. How embarrassing! I was so bashful, I sat on my side of the car, with my arm up on the window, as he had the top up. He just kept pulling me over close too him, but I didn’t hesitate to move back over to my side. Well, you might know, my arm was so sunburned, it was a delicious brown, and then Everyone did tease me! Yes – he was the only one I ever went with. I had several ask me out, but I turned them down. But now I was 28, so thought it was time to do something if I ever was going to.
Well, from then on, it was going out 2 times a week and it just kept improving. Finally one Sunday afternoon, sitting in the snazzy sports car, he said “Let’s get married!” And to his disappointment, I said “NO” he said “Why” I said “I won’t marry no one until I go with them for one year” Well, after my year was up, I never heard the last of it, until I married him – June 2, 1952.
He was so polite, he always opened the car door for me and shut it .. but things have changed .. NOW, it’s “get in the best way you can” HA
I had set the date at last, June 2, 1952 and we went to Neodesha to Doc Morehead, (as he was George’s Doctor) – who finished taking George’s fingers off when he got them in the corn picker) and had him to take our blood tests. George was a farmer, so he cultivated the crops, and we were going to Florida after we got married on our Honeymoon. Well, of course, Memorial day came in there and we didn’t get our blood tests back, as Doc had to send it in. (Don’t know what they do now). George went to Independence on Friday to the Court House to get our license, and our blood tests hadn’t got back, as nobody worked on Memorial Day. We had planned our Wedding as simple as could be, so we could get gone. Lennard Denny, our Pastor, was going to marry us at his house. “Tar Bucket” (as we called Melvina), was going to sing and George wanted her to sing his favorite song – you won’t believe this, but it is true, “His favorite song… Mocking Bird Hill”) But, when we went to the court house on Saturday to get our license, our tests still hadn’t come in. They felt sorry for us, and said they would open up Sunday, which they did. Bright and early that convertible drove in, and was he handsome – dressed in a gray prep suit, as he just weighed 132 pounds. Prep was his size, and I mean that convertible was waxed and shinning!.
Mother had made me a beautiful blue crinkle nylon dress, with blue and white jeweled pins which went down to the waist – paid $.25 each. Boy! That was high, but were they ever pretty. Mom took our picture in front of her beautiful rose bush. We had already went to Sellers at Independence and had our Wedding pictures taken. Melvina was there to see us off, and brought me a beautiful corsage to wear. But what do you know, when we got to the Court House, the tests still had not come in. So, George said – “Let’s go to Bentonville, Arkansas and get married, as we won’t have to have a license.” He was afraid I would back out, so away we went, and all the way he would tease me and say “We won’t make it in time, and we’ll have to get a motel and sleep together. I said “NO WAY” He just kept teasing me and I was a nervous wreck! Yes – I was still bashful and he would say every time we had a date, that he had to do all the talking, as I wouldn’t say a word. (Gee! How the years has changed! He says now that I do all the talking!) We finally got hitched, and I didn’t have to sleep with him before I was married either!
We went to the Court House at Bentonville and W. D. Jackson married us. Then, away we went to Louisiana, and then on to Georgia, but we didn’t make it to Florida. We came back through Memphis, Tennessee, as we thought our crops needed taken care of. Or .. Wonder if it was because George knew he had finally gotten me? Oh! Gee! that we will never know! HAHA!
Well then we got back to our little love nest, the neighbors had left us the cutest little black dog (Mulazzani). George went to work in the field and I drove to Elk City to work in the store. Our friends and family shivvareed us. and there were over 100 people. We treated them to candy bars and cigars, and then the crowd served supper and Wedding cake to everyone.
I worked in the store until we had a red headed, black eyed, sweet little boy on December 31,1956. His name was Van De Arlyyn. I wanted out of the store, so we sold out. On June 5, 1958, we had the tiniest, cutest, blonde headed, blue eyed “Doll”. Since I had named our little boy, it was up to George to name her and he named her Millicent M. (after his old girl friend). OH! We were so proud of them. They were so cute and sweet!.
Then in 1960, I had Histoplasmosis, and then I had Ulcers. In 1970, I had a Tumor in my head (the weakest place). By that time, our “Dolls” were 11 and 12 and I really prayed, as the Doctors said “No Hope” for me, But, by the time I was ready too go to Kansas City to be operated on, I knew without a doubt, that I had prayed clear through. I asked the Lord to please let me live to help George raise our “Dolls”. I heard a voice, so plain say “If you will testify to your Doctors, things will be OK.” Well, I thought .. Oh! that will be easy!… but I didn’t know I’d have a Doctor for each test as they had to find where about the tumor was. I gladly said I would testify to the Doctors, and I did. I took tests for a whole week, but I never failed my promise to the Lord one time, and the good Lord never failed me. That has been 24 years, and I’m still here, so I guess my “Dolls” aren’t dry behind their ears yet!
The Lord has been so good to me, and healed me so many times. I love Him! Now, I have Pulmonary Fibrosis of the lungs, but I have no complaints. Just think – I have gotten to enjoy all my Grandkids!!
I have really enjoyed sharing my life with everyone, and everyone is so sweet to listen to me. You all will never know how much I LOVE YOU!
We are still on the same farm for 42 years, and just as HAPPY as if we had good sense!.