THE OLD SORGHUM LAPPER

The bent old man walked slowly down the hard gray ribbon of a road that led to the Barnes farm. It was about noon by the sun and he was looking forward to Mae’s good cooking.

“They’ll sure be surprised to see me,” he chortled to himself.

These were bright spots in Old Tom’s life, the golden autumn months, when he came to this part of the country to visit old friends. Most of the year he occupied a tiny room in his sister’s house out in Almena, but in the autumn, he grew restless and would set out afoot to visit families he had worked for as a hired man in his younger days. He had worked for Mae’s parents for a number of years. Though they were now dead, he visited their daughters and their son. He never forgot anyone who had treated him well and fairly. Sometimes he visited for a few days, sometimes for a few weeks, and if everything was going well, he might stay on into the winter.

Old Tom’s attire consisted of a soiled baggy dress suit, a grease spotted vest, a striped shirt and an elegant gold watch chain. On his head he wore a gray derby hat. His tangled brush of a moustache often caught food particles when he ate and could produce unusual noises when he drank. He was not known for frequent bathing, but maintained himself as best he could.

Some folks said Old Tom was a bit simple minded and others said he was just peculiar. He was the butt of many a joke. Mother said he had more sense than most of the people who said these things about him, and that if everyone were as good hearted as he was, the world would be in better shape than it is now. He adored children, and many times he would rock a colicky baby until it fell asleep. There was a photo in the drawer of Old Tom holding Margaret when she was a tiny baby, which showed pride and joy and tenderness in his countenance. If he had a few spare dollars left from his old age assistance, he would bring nice gifts to the ladies and children. He loved being the bearer of news, both good and bad. He enjoyed reminiscing about the “good old days.” He was no longer physically able to do farm work. He had a serious hernia from the heavy lifting he had once done.

They had watched him coming down the road, but Mother said they should pretend surprise,
and above all, act very glad to see him, no matter what. He was not always so well received by busy people who did not want to trouble with this strange old fellow. Margaret fell right into the act and thought it great fun. Daddy was usually congenial to all.

A grin spread across Old Tom’s face as he knocked at the door. Nor was he disappointed, for he received the heartiest of welcomes and the hoped for exclamations of surprise.

Jenny had been playing on the other side of the house and had not seen Old Tom come in.

Mother called, “Jen-ny! Time for dinner . Come in and eat now.”

Jenny trotted to the house and opened the door. She spied the old man and stared at him for a few seconds. Then he swooped her up off the floor and lifted her high into the air, rubbing his stiff moustache against her tender face.

“You remember me, don’t you Dinny? ” he croaked hoarsely in his husky old voice.

“Put me down,” screamed Jenny, and burst into wild sobs. Old Tom set her down in injured surprise.

“Ding bust it. I didn’t mean to scare or hurt the little un.”

Jenny ran to Daddy, who was standing nearby. He put his arms comfortingly around her and sat down in the chair and bounced her around until her sobs subsided and she began laughing as hard as she had been sobbing.

“Now, you don’t ever have to be afraid of that old Sorghum Lapper again,” Daddy said. “He
would never hurt you. He’s nothing but an old Sorghum Lapper.”