In the late thirties and early forties one of my chores was to shell corn for Aunt Mai's chickens. This was an easy enough task: the corn was easily shucked and the sheller quickly shelled the ear with a turn of the handle and threw the cobs into a neat pile. The only obstacle: Papa's formidable jersey bull Frank (named for Mr. Frank Robley from whom he was purchased). Supposedly, he was harmless but I refused to be convinced. When I came to the gap I would scan the barnyard in an effort to locate Frank. If he wasn't too close to the barn I would quickly sprint to the barn and into the crib. With an empty sack this was easy. When I had the amount of shelled corn I could carry, I would peer out the crib door. If Frank was nearby I would start throwing out nubbins for him and wait until I was confident that he had enough to keep him busy until I could reach the gate. Carrying a sack of corn slowed me some but I still could have competed in a marathon. Reaching the gap I threw the sack over and scooted under. Who bothers to open a gap?
I had one experience with a mouse in the crib. For some reason I was standing on the pile of cobs thrown from the sheller. At about the same time I saw a mouse run across the floor. The cobs began to roll and the cobs and I managed to flatten the mouse. I never minded catching mice in a trap, but I felt this one didn't have a sporting chance.
The shelled corn was for the hens. The younger chicks had to have ground corn. Since the corn grinder was a man-killer, Aunt Mai and I would always go together for this chore. The handle inched its way around as I pushed with all my strength. Each of us could make only a few turns without resting. I'm sure Elton and Joe did most of the grinding. I encouraged the chicks to get ready for whole grains.
Baby chicks got special treatment, often mashed boiled eggs and cornbread. A sudden summer rain would send Aunt Mai into a frenzy; rounding up baby chicks and mother hens and putting them under an old wash tub (bottom out) with some sort of cover to protect them from the rain.
Aunt Mai's efforts provided us with eggs, chicken and vegetable soup, chicken and dumplings, chicken and dressing and fried chicken.
-- Betty Watlington Williams