The old library still stands. It was here that I was first exposed to the joys of a library. I discovered mysterious secrets solved by Nancy Drew; sorrowed when Jo married the “old man” in Little Women; dreamed of being a nurse like Cherry Ames.
I read about poor children in “The Boxcar Children” and “The Five Little Peppers” all the while envying the brothers and sisters who played together.
I fell in love with the Hardy Boys. I enjoyed their books, but fell in love with the boys! I can’t remember which was my favorite, probably Frank.
Ahh, Libraries!
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Written for 100-word Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle.
PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
https://rochellewisoff.com/
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About oneta hayes
ABOUT ME
Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
Sweet aroma 
Oh, how I loved Five Little Peppers! And how disappointed I was when I discovered my library did not have the last one in the series.
I can’t remember much about the Five Little Peppers, but they have a place in my head! 😀
Memories of libraries. I too loved Little women. Something is familiar about Little Peppers but distant memory. Seven little Australians broke my heart when Judith died. But grew up on all classics and read prolifically. Jane Ayre, Pride and Prejudice, Even Tarzan and the Apes, Loved the Biggles books but was thrilled when Worrells the female aviator was birthed. I had a rich childhood peppered with books and poetry prized and valued by mum and gran. Always wanted a book for birthdays and Christmas. Somehow for me libraries and books still hold more appeal than the internet and e-books. Thanks for the memories.? How do you insert an emotive on a comment like Judy did above? Cheers!
I so much wanted Jo to marry Laurence. Wasn’t that his name? He was the neighbor boy. I don’t know about the little Australians, Biggles, and Worrels. I’m sure I must have checked out books from the High School library, but I don’t remember them especially well as I do those from the County Library before starting high school. I have g-grands who are being home-schooled. I hope they can get credit for these kinds of books. I think The Box Car Kids is still being used in some places. Glad to stir some memories. I don’t know about the emotives; I only know the one I always use. Thanks to a blogger who helped me out.
I loved all those books!
Thanks for reading. I received comments that reminded me of others. They might also stir your memories.
I’ve not run across anyone else who was a fan of Cherry Ames. I loved those books, as well as Nancy Drew, the Bobbsey Twins, and all the books of Munro Leaf. Remember “The Story of Ferdinand” — the bull who preferred smelling flowers to fighting? I liked smelling flowers, too, so of course I imagined that bull as a friend.
I forgot the Bobsey Twins; I have three (I think) on my shelf now. And I have eight of the Cherry Ames series. Others I loved were Meg of Mystery Mountain, Rilla of the Lighthouse, Nan of the Gypsies. I have them now also. But they were all purchased my me when I was going through my buying-old-books stage of life: I don’t have any of the originals. When I left home, the books stayed with my sister who loaned them to a friend whose house burned. Alas, my books went up in flames. I also have a Munro Leaf Book of Manners that is in my give-away stuff right now. I think Ferdinand came along later. I remember it more from my teaching days.
I LOVED that book of manners! Maybe we could send a copy of that to each of our senators and representatives — and a few others I can think of. I probably could stand to re-read it myself.
Good idea. You don’t think it would be too difficult for them, do you? So I am the one who has read it most recently. I’m afraid I did it like I do the Bible – heed the parts I want to. Just joking!
A nice post on so many things we can learn from libraries.
Thank you. Those books certainly played an important role in my life.
This post brings back memories! I did not have to cross a street walking home from the public library, which is a good thing, because I generally read while I walked. I read every Hardy Boys book the library had, most of them more than once. I had a copy of the Five Little Peppers at home that I read at least once a year. I didn’t know there were more than one book about them until I was an adult. J.
I knew we had a lot in common. With a background like this, no wonder. 😀
I think these must be American memories? Apart from Jo, of course!
Did you read Jo’s Boys? I didn’t like it much because I still lined over Laurance. Wasn’t that the name of the boy next door?
Libraries are full of good memories. Nice take on the prompt.
Thanks. Did you read much as an early teen?
I taught myself to read before I started school. My mother had to pry books out of my hands so I could get some sleep.
Wonderful! I knew how to read very early but we did not have books in our homr. The first books I remember going were My Friend, Flickr and another horse themed book (?) which my aunt gave me probably for a birthday. She was the “rich” person in our family. I considered her most generous.
We spent a lot of time at the library. I remember checking out the max limit of books multiple times a week. I read them far too quickly to buy them.
We lived in the country and made weekly visits to town. Nice chat. Thanks.
What an absolute gem of take on the prompt, Oneta! I so feel the same way!!
Thanks, Dale. It brought back memories. I think my old library only had windows in the front. Other walls were books.
Dear Oneta,
I related to this one. Oh how I loved the Five Little Peppers and Little Women (Read that one in every edition). Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks, Rochelle. Just checking my memory. Were the girls Jo, Meg, Anne, Beth? I have the book on my shelf. I need to get it down and browse a bit, even if I don’t read it all again. I might get hooked again.
Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy
Oh, yes, Amy instead of Anne. Thanks.
Yes, indeed! My very first experience in a public library was also in a stone building. I’d forgotten that 🙂
Glad to stir memories. My library was probably a WPA project from the Roosevelt years.
Many of these books I still have to read. Wonderful read!
My 31 year old granddaughter is now reading Little Women; no, I think she read it and went to a movie. Something on FB about it. Thanks for response, lisarey.
How I love Little Women. It has been a mainstay of my reading life forever now. A lovely piece of writing.
The author was so good at giving each of the girls a distinct personality – and making us love them all. 😀