I have in my possession a book, “Elements of Civil Government.” It was copyrighted by Alex W. Peterman in 1891, and again in 1903. It is a school book used by what I would guess to be a 12 or 13-year-old girl. I knew this person when she had reached old age, back in the 1950s, and soon passed away.

I cannot, for decency’s sake, use a name. She went to Long Bridge School, which was beside the present-day Primitive Baptist church on the Berrien County side of the Cook-Berrien county line (Nashville-Adel Road).

Let’s, for a minute, go back in time 100 years or so. Some handwritten notes:

“Mr. Charlie Green”! Written with deep obvious care. Could be an admired teacher. It’s written several times.

Now, my dear friends, please don’t laugh at this. And, too, forgive me for displaying something that was not meant to be read by others. As it is written...



“as sure as the grapes grow on the vine

I’ll be yoursif you’ll be mine.”

______________

Two deep pencil lines

______________

“This world is wide

and you cant help

it, I love you and

you cant help it-”



All of this is an exact copy, diacritical and punctuation added. (Next page.)



“our eyes have met

our lips not yet

but oh you kid

I’ll get you yet”



Now, for this jewel.



“as sure as the

vine grows on

the popular I’ll

be yours if you’ll

ask papa.”



Two or three years ago I gave to one of my sisters’ girls, perhaps my favorite, the rabbit-eared double-barreled shotgun that a certain old man who was dead at my birth in 1938, would have used to straighten all that out, had that young lad asked. It is said that he was a rough old coot while “high sheriff” of Berrien County. You may from this find who this was, but I doubt it. I am not telling.

This book contains an 1891 copy of the Constitution of the United States:

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Article one freedom of religion, etc. (in italics). This hand-written note just above, in pencil — “Begin Monday.”

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; and etc.

This decent young girl started studying this on “Monday,” and helped keep it safe until the early ‘50s. We have not done a good job of protecting the First Amendment. If you please, say a prayer silently, in or out of school. God will hear you. In no wise be ashamed of your beliefs.





Raymond Sirmans

Tifton