it clear across the field and was waiting for him. 0ld Gene stood up at the supper table that night.

If it had not been for Joe, I'm not sure we younger boys would have survived. In the dark days of the depression, Joe would come on Sunday with new overalls for us boys and dresses for Charlotte and June. I can merely say "Thank you Big Brother." You always stood tall in the saddle to all your kid brothers. What a great father you would have been and how happy we all are to see you enjoying sons and grandchildren, even if you did wait to get them. How sweet it is!

Brother Delbert, you were really the most! When I was a small boy, you always had time for me. You always made me feel important. After all, with nine older brothers around, I was hardly noticed, but you had time for me. I could show you my report card, my sore thumbs and my scuffed knees. All guys have to have an older pal and you were it. I could tell you my tales of woes and you would listen. You must have really liked kids. I guess that is why the good Lord saw that you had the most. I also remember Delbert's "tinkeritis", his homemade radios, and his interest in electricity. If Delbert could have gone to engineering school he might have been another Thomas Edison.

Then there was Don. How sad we were when we lost him. I had so much in common with Don but at the time we were so different. I felt that he was a loner too, but oh, how he loved his brothers. Don was a great big sentimental guy whose heart was as big as he was. When I left to go in the Air Force in World War II, there was Don to tell me good-bye.

Bernice and our two little girls came down to Mississippi to stay a couple months with me. On the way back she had car trouble, ran out of money, and no place to get any. She telephoned Don and the money was there within a few hours. That was Don.. .He might ask but he always gave.

I remember his love of hounds, his love of hunting and his shooting ability; and I remember his great determination to learn to play the fiddle, his chording on the piano (one of the best), his favorite song, "Doodle De Doo." and his love of dancing. I remember the many hours he spent playing the fiddle while Bernice played the piano for him. He was quite a guy.

Then we get to Ethel who always looked after me. She claims she used to change my three cornered britches. I don't remember so I think she fibs a little on that. I do remember when she brought that city slicker out to us and said they were married. God, what nerve that guy had. He came out to the country and got a wife with ten brothers. Not me, I got one with no brothers. We got him country broke though, and he really has been a true blue solid guy        a great addition to the family. I guess Ethel knew what she was doing when she brought her Don down to see us that day. Anyhow, I am sure that all of us feel Don Walton has been a true friend.

What a thrill it was when their Bob was born. I got to be with him a lot when he was little. I would pull his little wagon and get him to walk behind it and pretty soon he was walking alone. And to Ethel, Thanks for looking after me Ethel.

Well, I'm over half way through the family and... if Sheldon permits     I will finish my story. He'll probably think it too long, but gee whiz, when he asked me to write about all of you he should have made the family smaller..., then I would have a shorter story. After all, it ain't my fault I had nine older brothers and three sisters. That was Mom and Pop's song, "A waltzing through life doing' what comes naturally" or I wouldn"t a be here.

Here come Walt and Sheldon. I might as well put them together cause when you see one you see both     The original Slim n' Spud guys. When one itched the other would scratch. We always called them "Itchy and Scratchy". Of course Alice came along and split them up but not for long.

Walter found Alice in our tomato patch. It took them twice as long to pick a bucket of tomatoes as it did us little guys. Alice nor Walt - neither one could carry a bucket alone it always took both of them. I don't reckon if we hadn't had tomatoes, we'd ever gotten Alice in the family as well as her "famous banana pie and fried bread."

I have a lot of good memories with Walt and Alice. A trip to the World's Fair, 1933 in Chicago; trips to the circus; trips to Alice's sister's family and making dear friends with the Allen boys. I've been associated with Walt and Sheldon for years in their business with - no fussing - no feuding - just a good relationship!!

Now Sheldon always made it his sacred duty to be the opposite of Walt. If Walt was bad, Sheldon was good. Sheldon always did the swearing for both of them. It's a good thing they teamed up together or Walt would have had to swear for himself. Would you believe that when Walt used to drive a team of mules he had to take Sheldon along just to swear at the "ever-lasting' mules." "B'leve me this is the truth".. .That was an example of Walt's plain old cussing'.

We had to watch Sheldon because if we were discussing changes or something we had to talk low or Sheldon would have it done before we even knew if it was a good idea. I will say, Sheldon and Gene were the doers of the young five.

All in all, in all the years I worked with Sheldon and Walt, I've really enjoyed my relationship with them more than anyone else. I consider these years the most eventful of my adult life. I also realize it was made possible through our growing up together on a farm in a small town. What a privilege it has been to work with and be with these two guys. It has been fun!

Verle and Gene were much like Walt and Sheldon, only we were very close in age. I was usually squeezed out of their games and was just the kid following along. They did not seem to have much time for me when we were little. Maybe that is why in the early years of high school I fell for that little brown eyed girl that I later married. She filled a need I had to be wanted and always seemed to understand.

Verle, Gene, and I eventually became great friends. We double dated all through high school. Later we worked together for several years. We probably would have been much closer but World War II came along.

Verle was the first to join the Service and spent over four years in the Army. Part of this time was in Japan. Gene, the next, went into the Navy for three years, most of it in the Pacific Theatre. Then I went into the Air Force for two years, leaving a wife and two little girls, two and four years old behind. Verle came back with a wife. Gene married soon after and we each went our separate ways. We have always been close but our lives were not related as much as we would have preferred.

Charlotte and June were the two little sisters, very devoted to their brothers, even me. As a little kid, I probably was closer to them than anybody. We had a wonderful childhood together. This rudely ended with the passing of our little sister June. This was a terrible shock to all of us, but especially confusing to Charlotte and me at our young ages. It was very hard to understand and no one realized we needed help through this period of our grief. Mom and Dad were too grief stricken, so we had to find our own way with friends to help us. The good Lord, time, and friends helped us through those trying days.

It wasn't too many years later when Charlotte found a new love. She went off one day and came back with this skinny guy as a husband. Now Harrison always blamed me for this. He was looking for a job one day and I told him Dad might be able to use him. I didn't know he was going to join our family, raise three girls and even throw in a boy as well. That was strictly their doings. What a break that was for the Helle family though. He has not only been a good kind husband and father, but he has been a friend as well.

He was devoted to our Morn and took her into his house. He gave her love, kindness and a "home", not just for a while but for almost thirty years. His only reward was her love for him and the respect we all owe him and Charlotte for this unselfish act. Only Harrison Osborn could have shown our mother this type of consideration. Thanks.

So now I have finished my chapter, which is my life as I have seen it and lived it. How sweet it is!

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