FOR MOST OF THE CENTURY: JOURNAL ENTRIES (PART 35)

Jean Bell Mosley's new autobiography, "For Most of the Century," is only available in serialized form in the Southeast Missourian. Return each week for her continuing story.

Despite the usual childhood illnesses and accidents, and the death or disappearance of two pet dogs, Stephen's pre-school days were normal and, I hope, happy ones for him. Just the two of us had many backyard picnics under the weeping willow tree, the pear tree or one of the apple trees. We walked much in the developing Arena Park. Dressed in his fuzzy brown Teddy bear suit, he loved to walk the low white fence railing around the racetrack, especially if there was a layer of snow on it. I could not help but keep a hand on him, but he always wanted to do it alone.

At least once a week we dressed up, went to Woolworth's on Main Street, had ice cream or a ham salad sandwich and large cherry Coke, then bought a Little Golden Book. He was not tall enough to see the books on the counter so I lifted him to see the display and let him choose one. I had to read it to him immediately when we got home. After that came the Thornton Burgess Books, the Bobbsey Twin Books and on up the reading ladder.

Quite often, after supper, the three of us went for rides in the farming country to the west, or down to the Mississippi River to watch boats go by. No flood wall then.

I had kept daily journals for a number of years and, although on the national scene President Harry Truman was forming the North America Treaty Organization, breaking a Russian blockade of West Berlin, keeping an eye on the Korean situation, most of my entries consisted of home and gardening notations and what Stephen was doing, such as:

Stephen got first hair cut today at the barber shop in the lower floor of the First National Bank Building. Gone are the curls.

Mickey, Judy and Butch were over to play with Stephen today.

Stephen got his first puppy today, a black cocker spaniel.

Took Stephen to see Dr. Reynolds. Doctor suggested removal of tonsils in spring.

Edward and Stephen went to races. (Miniature car races at Arena Park)

Stephen has the mumps,

Stephen has the measles.

Stephen has the chicken pox.

Went fishing at Horseshoe Lake with Edward and Stephen. Had picnic lunch at the spillway.

Had Olan Mills take a picture of Stephen in his cowboy shirt and hat.

Stephen brought home from Kindergarten the much talked about recipe book. He had such a triumphant look as he walked up through the yard as if, at last, it was his time to have it. We made peanut butter cookies and "yummy" eggs.

Birthday party for Stephen today. Mickey, Judy, Janet, Sharon, Jimmy came. Judy brought Stephen two bantam chickens!

Stephen got a bicycle for Christmas. Started riding right away without any help. Remarkable balance.

Raked leaves on south side of yard, with Stephen's help.

Stephen had his sled out yesterday going down the front yard slope.

The best thing Stephen likes about Sunday School is the "candy lady" (Mrs. B. F. Johnson), who stands in the hallway after classes to pass out candy to the children.

Stephen has an imaginary playmate he calls, Honey Jamban.

Stephen and I went to the Fair today. Ate dinner there and played nearly all the carnival games. Rode the Merry-go-round and Ferris Wheel.

Edward, Stephen and I got on the 5:00 a.m. train to St. Louis. Arrived there about 8:30 a.m. Ate breakfast at the Forum then went over to Famous-Barr. Stephen liked the escalators. Bought him a Cardinal sweat shirt which he put on immediately. Got a cab and went to zoo. First time for Stephen. We walked miles. Got a cab and went to the Golden Ivy (Restaurant near Sportsman ball park.

It turned suddenly cold. I went to a neighboring store and bought myself a sweater. After we got in the ball park, Edward had to go buy himself a sweat shirt. The Browns played the Yankees. We bought cushions to wrap Stephen in. Went back to Famous-Barr for more shopping. Ate supper nearby and then went to Lowe's Theater to see "Girl Crazy" and "The Sailor Surprises His Wife." After show, took a cab to Union Station and got a hotel room for the three hour wait for our train to leave. We left at 11:00 p.m. and Stephen slept all the way back home. Got home about 2:30 a.m. Got a taxi home and it was to bed for three tired people. Big outing!

As mentioned above, the Rodney Vista area was not taken into the city limits until 1947.

Therefore, in order not to have to pay tuition outside our school district, which was the Kage District, the school being about two miles away, we enrolled Stephen in the Campus Training School when he was but two years old. The Campus school of Southeast Missouri University was often called the Lab school or the Training School for there is where a lot of the candidates for an Education Degree did their practice teaching, as did I.

By the time Stephen was ready for kindergarten, we had been taken into the city limits, but the Campus School kindergarten had a good reputation so we kept the enrollment in effect. Four year olds went in the morning; five year olds in the afternoon. He entered in September 1948. There was a car pool of mothers to transport the little ones back and forth.

Stephen did not get off to the best of starts under Louise Gross, the teacher. For some mistaken reason she was calling him Edward instead of Stephen. Edward was, of course, his father's name. Stephen did not respond when Miss Gross commanded "Edward" to do something. She called me in for observation and I saw right away what the trouble was. After that he was off to a good scholastic education, not only academically but to a brilliant sports career in both basketball and baseball all through his remaining twelve grades. His high school baseball team won the Southeast Missouri Conference championship in 1961 and 1962 and the baseball state championship in 1962.

Although many of his classmates changed from the Campus School to the Louis J. Schultz School after the sixth grade, Stephen stayed at Campus through the seventh grade, changing to Schultz in the eighth grade. After graduating there, he entered Central High School. Although much taken up by sports, he, nevertheless, became a member of the National Honor Society.

At graduation from Central High he obtained a partial scholarship (baseball) to the University of Missouri, but it was only for books and tuition. Since living expenses were high, he enrolled at Southeast Missouri University. Here he got down to serious studying, joined Sigma Chi, had a string of girlfriends and graduated in 1966, magna cum laude.

Just out of college, he went to New Athens, Illinois to teach in the high school there. After one year, he returned to work on his Master's Degree. After that he went to Sikeston, Missouri to teach, first in the Middle School for a few years, then to the Sikeston High School where he became a much loved and respected teacher. Loved and respected in the community too.

~Jean Bell Mosley is an author and longtime resident of Cape Girardeau.