Family Ties

Letter to the Editor

The Daily Oklahoman

December 2, 1956

Worship in Splendor

To the Editor:

                The modern trend among the churches seems to be which one can build the most magnificent structure in which to worship God, each one exceeding the other in grandeur and beauty. I am not saying this is not all right, but sometimes I wonder if it has God’s full approval, for was not Solomon’s temple destroyed because of the elaborate richness of it?

                Just think of all the good that could be done if the money they spend on finery alone for the churches were to be spent on feeding the orphans, the homeless and needy, or sending missionaries to carry the gospel to those who know not God.

                I have worshipped in expensive buildings. I have also attended services in lowly buildings, even in open air camp meetings. It seemed to me, God’s spirit hovered as lovingly near in the humble places as in the imposing structures.

                Please don’t misunderstand me; I know buildings are necessary these days in which to worship God, and I’m glad to see that the church-going people have grown in number until larger churches are necessary. I was trying only to point out the fact that they could be less imposing and be just as acceptable in the sight of God.

                Della Springer, Caddo

Worthwhile Pleasures...

I don’t know when my aunt, Betty Owens, wrote this or why she filled in as a “guest columnist” for my mother’s “Gentle Touch” column. It was simply another clipping in Mom’s collection. I loved Aunt Betty’s wit and wisdom. BTW, this doesn’t have a title:

“I don’t know which is more exciting- the announcement I’m getting in the mail saying that I have already passed through two levels and am now eligible to be selected from among 60 million entrants to win either $10 million or a set of luggage, OR, the colorful array of garden seed catalogs which have been brightening my January mailbox.

Somehow, as I lick the stamp to claim my “almost” certain fortune, I get the feeling I am being suckered out of 25 cents—on the other hand, when I gaze through the pages of the seed catalogs I get the feeling that there’s no other place where I can get such a rich return from my investment. After all, how many grains of corn or beans do you get from the one seed you plant in the dirt, not to mention the exercise, the fresh air, and sunshine you get as an added bonus?

There used to be a popular song titled, “I Overlooked an Orchid While Looking for a Rose”. I have a feeling a lot of people overlook some of life’s greatest pleasure while searching for that elusive fortune.

So—I plan to keep my seed catalog on hand, because I know that even though my $10 million is just around the corner, I will soon become bored with it and need the pleasure that really makes life worthwhile—an honest day’s work!

Words of wisdom...

 

The Daily Oklahoman

March 5, 1961

Prejudice Blamed

To the Editor:

There have been so many letters written and so much comment made concerning the cause for the present world situation, I thought I might as well put in my two cents worth.

I don’t claim to be a scholar about such things, but I know one thing that is critically, radically wrong with the average American’s way of thinking. It is prejudice.

Prejudice, an obnoxious, creeping octopus, reaching its slimy, tenacious legs into the utmost corners of the United States…blinds us to the rights of others.

Until we as a nation quit thinking if others are not of the same religion, political party, or color as we are, they are not on our level mentally, morally, and socially, we are not likely to improve the world situation much.

Della Springer, Caddo

A Walk in the Woods

Flamingos

Durant Weekly News

July 3, 1970

Thoughts

Della’s Unusual Yard Always Draws Comment

By Della Springer

Caddo- Would you believe July is just around the next corner, with its field corn, its purple peas, tomatoes, melons, etc.? In fact, we already have lots of nice new potatoes we sell here at 5 cents a pound or $2.50 a bushel. Just hang on a little longer for the other vegetables; watch Bob’s paper in the ad section. Somehow I storta think we make a team in the advertising business; he with his wide-spread paper that is so well liked and well read, and me with my purple peas and such.

So many nice people come out and hardly ever fail to notice and comment on my little arrangement here in the front of the house. It really doesn’t amount to so very much- an artificial tree covered with flowers bought from the five and ten stores, some fossils, rocks picked up here and there, crawling with plastic snakes and lizards, a used washer filled with geraniums sitting out by the porch- high enough to keep the marauding armadillos from digging up the plants and eating the bulbs.

Among our welcome guests last week were a Mr. and Mrs. Brooks from Brooks Produce, Durant; Mrs. Dugan from Caddo, along with her daughter and son-in-law from California; also, a gentleman and his nice wife from Durant, who is employed at the health clinic there, the Richard Northcutts. You who I failed to mention, I just didn’t get your name.

Teacher: “What are you drawing Willie?”

Willie: “I’m drawing a picture of God.”

Teacher: “You mustn’t do that; no one knows what God looks like.”

Willie: “They will when I get through.”

Careless of me not to mention while telling about my yard decorations, my beautiful pink flamingos! Four of them given to me for Mother’s Day by one of my favorite characters, Betty Owens. They stand proudly guarding my other treasures with watchful eyes.

Beans

Durant Daily Democrat

October 30, 1960

Thoughts of a Farm Woman

Budget Cutting Binge Turns into Beans, Beans, and Beans

By Della Springer

I always was one for bargains. When I shop, I try to get the most for my money. That’s why I bought all the canned goods that had the labels missing. I got them at a greatly reduced price.

Next day I was busy and didn’t start dinner until almost noon. I knew I had the canned goods to open. I opened one, it was pinto beans. Good, I thought, we all like pinto beans. I opened another. It was green beans. Not so good, I thought, but maybe we will eat them too.

I opened the third. You guessed it- Navy beans. I fried a skillet of potatoes and we had our bargain dinner- beans, beans, and more beans.

My grandson, Robbie Hamilton, has always been taught to compose his own prayers and being only four, sometimes they come out a little funny. For instance, one night he was returning thanks and this is what he said: “Thank you for Mommy, thank you for Daddy, thank you for Judy, and for our blessings, and no matter what they are, just send them.”

It doesn’t cost anyone to be nice, now does it? It’s a much better feeling at the end of the day if you have been nice to everyone with whom you come in contact.

I have to live with myself

As through this life I go.

So I try awfully hard

To be nice for me to know.

Courage

 

Durant Daily Democrat

January 20, 1960

Thoughts…

Mother’s Courage is Remembered

By Della Springer

I can close my eyes and visualize my mother, straight as an arrow. There was enough Seminole Indian blood in her veins to cause that. Her hair, black as a crow’s wing until her death at the age of 76, was parted in the middle and drawn severely back to form a bun at the back of her head.

Her health was never very good after an attack of rheumatic fever while very young, but she was strong in character and ready to fight if harm threatened her children.

I remember one time in particular when I was five years old. My father and the older children had gone into the fields to work, leaving mother and me alone at the house. As soon as I was up and had my breakfast I went outside to play.

Hearing a noise under the floor, I stooped down to investigate. From under the porch came a strange looking sight. It was a cat that was so stiff it could hardly walk. Its eyes were green as grass.

“Mamma”, I called, “come and see the funny kitty.”

At the sound of my voice, the cat headed straight for me, and when my mother appeared in the doorway, it was almost at my feet.

Taking one look, she screamed “Run, honey, run! That’s a mad cat.”

Her frightened voice scared me more than the meaning of her words, and not taking the time to turn around, I started running backwards.

Most women would have thrown up their hands and fainted. Not my mother! She circled the pain-enraged cat, and grabbing me up, made a dash for the house. She made it, too! Once inside, she got the shotgun, and from the safety of the house, she shot the cat.

Note: I find it ironic that when I was about the same age I was playing in the yard when I was confronted by a large snake. I screamed for Mama Della, who was working on a flowerbed on the other side of the house. She came around the corner with her hoe, chopped at the snake until it was dead, then chopped off its head. Being a “city child” at the time, and knowing little about snakes, I was afraid that it might grow another head and suddenly spring to life. To further convince me that it was not a problem, she threw it in the burn barrel and set it on fire.

Calvin

The Atoka County Times

January 6, 1959

Calvin W. Banta, County Native,

Passed Away in Lameda, California

Mrs. John Springer, Caddo, Rt.3 correspondent, received word Tuesday that her brother, Calvin W. Banta, aged 53, had passed away at his home in Lameda Calif. Mr. Banta grew up in Atoka and Atoka County. He also leaves another sister, Mrs. Clarissa Smith, at Caney.

Hoss

Durant Daily Democrat

April 5, 1981

Thoughts of a Farm Woman

Half Terrier, All Spirit and Effort

By Della Springer

 

We went to Sherman in answer to an advertisement for puppies to be given away. That is where we got our prized pup, Hoss.

“He is half rat terrier and half ‘anybody’s guess’,” his owner explained to me as she handed over the cute wriggling bundle. “All I ask is for you to love him and treat him well.”

“That I promise most sincerely,” I assured her, and thanking her, we headed for home.

Now that Hoss is full grown he is not a big dog, but what he lacks in stature he makes up for in spirit and effort. He will tackle the biggest dog that walks who dares to invade his territory.

Hoss has taken into his care the entire farm and its animals as his obligation to protect. He stands guard like a sentry while our two cats, Sir Thomas and Miss Miniver eat their food before eating his own meal.

One evening late, I went out to fasten the henhouse door so the varmints could not invade at night and carry the hens off the roost. Hoss, as was his custom, trotted along beside me. Seeing what I thought was the entire flock settled down, I locked the door and started to the house.

Halfway back Hoss stopped and whined to get my attention, then started barking excitedly toward the henhouse.

I turned and saw one lone hen stepping hurriedly around the corner in an effort to get to her roost. I went back, let her in so once more all was right in Hoss’s world.

Spring

The Durant Weekly News

March 6, 1959

Thoughts…

Smile, Kind Word Usually Go Long Way

By Della Springer

Of all the words

Of tongue or pen

The gladest are these—

It’s spring again.

 

And from the looks of things this morning, it looks like spring has about decided to unpack and stay awhile. There is a gentle breeze from the south, the birds are setting up a regular serenade of song just outside my window. Although the sun is hid behind a few thin clouds, it peeps forth once in a while to assure us that there can’t be too much more winter.

Have you ever given thought to the far-reaching effects a smile or a kind word can have? Given at the right time, it can mean a lot. A smile doesn’t cost a lot; it might create a few wrinkles about the mouth and eyes, but a frown causes more and the smile wrinkles are much more attractive.

I have met people on the street that looked like they had just crawled from a vinegar barrel and it always leaves me with a sort of depressed feeling. People should make a habit of at least looking pleasant for the world in general to see.

I heard this somewhere and liked it: A man was awfully energetic and when he wasn’t working at his job, he helped others; he never seemed to be still.

A friend said to him once, “Aren’t you afraid you will wear out?”

“Well”, replied the energetic one, “I had much rather wear out than rust out.”