Every small child has his or her own idiosyncrasies and my own was my utter repulsion upon discovering at the age of six, that I was born into this world without a stitch of clothing.

Vicki, as a two-year-old, always had her imaginary " Mrs. Clavel" to play with and, according to Vicki, Mrs. Clavel followed her everywhere.

Greg and Rose, being close in age, usually found out things at the same time, and were horrified and unbelieving when older children in the neighborhood told them the myth of Christmas and Easter. Dad and Mom always told them the truth, and besides, this just couldn't be.

When on Sunday, I would try to find a few hours to myself, and as a result it would be necessary to have sandwiches, cake and milk for supper, ten-year-old Mike would always say, " The sample was good. Now where is my supper?"

Tim's favorite food, even as a baby, was always meat, it didn't matter what kind. So every Friday his fat little hand would smack his plate to get attention, and he would demand in his baby voice, " Where's the meek? "

Son number five was noted for making up his own jokes, and everyone has to know that was Nick. This was one of his favorites: " Hey, you guys, do you know what would happen if two bullets got married? No? Well, they would have be-be' s." Or the time he said that Eve was accusing Adam of having another girl friend, and Adam should have said, " Oh, no! Check my ribs!"

One time Chris's godmother brought him a gift two days before Christmas, and told him that he could feel it, smell it and squeeze it but he could not open it until Christmas day. When he finally thought he had it figured out, he announced that he was sure it was a band! He was close; it was a drum!

And there was the Christmas eight-year-old Dave got the electric train he had wanted for the last three years. His face was flushed with excitement and I thought he would burst with joy.

All of the children used to spend their birthday weekends at Grandma Hartzell' s; she would make homemade noodles and homemade bread and they would really feel special. But I think Betty looked forward to these weekends even more than the rest of the children because across the street lived three girl cousins who were about her same age, and to this day they are closer than most cousins.

As a little girl Marilyn was always so shy that she would hide under the kitchen table whenever we had company. And the company knowing how shy she was would usually go and hunt her up, especially if the company consisted of her godparents. When she grew up it was her special wish that her godmother take the honored place at her wedding reception and have the privilege of cutting the cake.

Now her younger brother Ben, that is a different story! He is not shy, and always from a little fellow on up he dearly loved to play football. Whenever there were not enough fellows on our quarter of an acre of lawn, he would get on the phone and round up a team.

(End of Chapter 16)