Crisp County GaGenweb Archives - Correspondence Of Riley Sheppard Brown Of Crisp County, Ga. Submitted by Barbara Hootman ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Route 1 Cedartown, Georgia February 12, 1960 Dear Mr. Brown, Of course, you don't remember me! But I remember you. You were my fifth grade teacher at Hatley University - which no longer exists. Remember? I cried every day! You told my dad once to please teach me to fight. Once, you were going to send some studens to the store to get lemons for party lemon-ade. I was among the ones to go. You asked if I knew the difference in horses and lemons. I said, "No." You replied, "Gee, you might bring me horses instead of lemons." I cried--and wouldn't go. On another occasion you offered a dollar for the best U.S.A. map. I used wrapping paper from Whelchel's General Merchandise Store and how I worked on that map! Well, Jack Byrd, (remember him?) slung ink on it. I cried and cried! Finally, you offered me a dollar to hush! You made-up the little "mystery" play for our room at the school closing exercises. We thought you were pure magic. Once we tried to guess what the "S" in your name (your middle initial) stood for. We never could--so you told us it was Shepard. We thought that was very funny and to your back called you "sheep-herder." We know it was a family name. (I assume it is.) You taught us some very basic English rules. And I am glad you did. You made us keep a notebook in a 5c composition book. I still have mine, thought its mighty "dog-earred." Once we wrote a poem about you and a girl named Nell that you were dating. (Her last name I don't recall.) We thought it was pretty great. You thought differently. We, Estelle Sander, Virginia Davis, and I had to write this line 100 time: "It is always best not to deal in personality." Of course, we had no idea what it meant -- but we sure "used" that big word personality from that day forward! Now, do you believe that I remember you? I am the former Iva Carden. My parents live at Hatley. I graduated from Pitts High School in the year 1937. I married in September of the same year. After one and a half years of marriage and one baby I began doing some college work. I received my A.B. degree at Oglethorpe in 1946, and my M. Ed. at University of Georgia in 1953. I am in my 20th year of teaching and am serving as principal of an elementary school. I have worked mighty haard to go to school -- keep my family together - and work, too. I am still married to the same man. We have two children -- a son and a daughter. My hobby is writing. I've never done anything outstanding but I'm still dreaming! I have often made the Atlanta Journal's Little Story section. Now and then, Progressive Farmer sends me $5.00 or $10.00. I am, at present, writing the history of this county (Polk). Mother sent me the article that appeared in the Cordele Dispatch about you. Please, could I have an autographed copy? Do let me know the price, etc. I realize you are a busy person - but I would appreciate this greatly. With all my heart, I appreciate my good teachers. And I have had some great ones. You. Mr. J.R. Burgess, Jr. who is president of Rhinehardt College at Waleska, Georgia. Mr. J.L. Faircloth who is Wilcox County School Superintendent; Mr. S. E. Goss who is head of Georgia (University) Center at Waycross, Georgia; and Mr. S. H. Monroe who is head of the Univerwsity Center at Augusta, Georgia. I have had all these --- to say nothing of the many fine college professors I've studied with. Enough of this! Congratulations! Good wishes---and thanks for the contribution you made to my education. Incidentally, I refer to "Stringfellow the Fourth." ***************************************************************************** Transcribed from the private papers of Riley Sheppard Brown by his daughter Barbara Brown Hootman. Transcriber's note: This letter was received by my father when his book "Stringfellow of the Fourth" was published in 1960.