Dad’s whistle —
That was our signal to “come home” you see. Dad’s whistle could be to gather us for supper or we children could be traipsing, deep in the woods, at the cul-de-sac at the end of our road, down by the sandy creek bed or near the Old Lucas’s Water Mill.
We could be at the creek, inside the old water mill exploring the steps walking up finding a shed snake skin or empty burlap sack or what seemed like a very tall child’s highchair. The water mill had long been silent from grinding corn into grits or cornmeal. We could have been standing by the tall water dam as the water circled down to the deep pool below, watching the water moccasin snakes swimming or the water spiders standing on the water with their long legs. We may have been standing on the sand bar skipping rocks or sitting there baiting a hook on a cane rod fishing or turning rocks in the stream to find crawdads, salamanders or collecting muscle shells in our pail of water.
Then again, we could be in the woods scouting out an old wagon trail the Indians walked and hunted on. You see, brother Archie had found arrow heads as dad tilled our new garden plot and mom hoed rows to plant. I could have been eating sour wood sorrel, a clover-like herb mom had shown me when 8 years old, and wild violet flowers or in the winter, gazing up into the arbor canopy of glistening ice crystals formed on the trees above like a crystal chandelier, following a sleet storm while listening to the silence walking on the creek trail. Oh, what a blessed childhood we children had.
Wherever we were, we knew we were to go home when daddy blew his “two-finger whistle” using his two pinky fingers in opposite corners of his mouth. It was so shrill you could hear it a mile away it seemed to me.
Dad would also use his whistle when there was a big crowd and silence was needed, like at mom’s 85th birthday party or maybe Thanksgiving or a Christmas Eve family gathering of 40-50 people crowded into mom and dad’s home. Oh what wonderful memories, loving every second of being cramped together with our family, Grandma Taylor, cousins, aunts and uncles.
One time I especially remember, was at a gathering outside in mom and dad’s yard. Everyone was talking and we needed to pray, asking God’s blessings on our food. I asked dad to blow his whistle. God Bless him. He tried and his little finger that was crushed a few years earlier, by a wood splitter, would not work right. You see, he would use his two pinky fingers at the corners of his mouth. He looked crushed, an uncommon look for dad, saddened with the thought that he could not whistle any more.
I encouraged him, “Dad try again.”
He said, “My little finger’s crippled.”
I said a little more forceful this time, “Try again Daddy.” Seeing delight, a twinkle in his eyes once more, he said, “I know. I will try the next two fingers (the ring fingers).”
He blew hard. The sound was as clear as a bell. That old whistle I love so much, brings back so many wonderful memories.
Today, as I was reading morning scriptures, I came across where God will whistle for His beloveds to come home from the corners of the earth. This reminded me of Dad’s whistle and his love for his own children to come home to him.
Dad, when you get to heaven, whistle for us when it’s our turn to leave this ole world.
Maybe I will learn that whistle someday, so I can whistle for all of my beloveds, when I get to those Pearly Gates.
Love you Dad!
- "And I shall strengthen the house of Judah, And I shall save the house of Joseph, And I shall bring them back, Because I have had compassion on them; And they will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them.” Zechariah 10:6
- "And Ephraim will be like a mighty man, And their heart will be glad as if from wine; Indeed, their children will see it and be glad, Their heart will rejoice in the LORD.” Zechariah 10:7
- "I will whistle for them, to gather them together. For I have redeemed them; And they will be as numerous as they were before.” Zechariah 10:8
- “He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come!” Isaiah 5:26
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