I remember when there was no natural
or propane gas and everyone had a
fireplace or a metal heater in which they
burned coal or wood. A fire would have
to be started every morning. This was
difficult using newspaper and wood, then
coal was added. There was a type of
lighter wood (we southerners called
lightard) in the heart of a fallen pine. As
the tree rotted it would be full of
turpentine and it would burn very easily.
This was very popular in the stores and
with peddlers on the streets. I remember
one black man who came to town with a
mule and wagon selling it. He would not
knock on doors, but would sit in his
wagon and yell "Fat Lightard Kindling!"
People would go to his wagon to make a
purchase.   He would have it tied in
bundles of about 15-20 sticks and about
20 inches long and sell it for 20-25 cents.
These peddlers were prevalent during the.
period before the Second World War.

Back in those days it was my job to
keep fire wood to start the fire every
morning and coal in the box behind the
heater. My daddy had a small axe he
kept on top of the kitchen cabinet for me
to use. One night I was sleepwalking
looking for the axe and it woke my
daddy. He asked me what I was doing. I
said I was getting the axe to cut my
sister's head off. After that, my daddy
would hide the axe every night before
going to bed.

Where did we buy our coal in the
winter and ice in the summer? I
remember the ice and coal company
operated by Mr. Hays Arnold, Sr. It was
located on W. Walker Street where the
Burger King Restaurant is now located.

Getting warm or cool in those days
involved a lot of work.