Appalachia is a land with many traditions, beliefs, and customs. However,
outsiders often view these traditions, beliefs, and customs as primitive and
uncivilized. They may associate things like illiteracy, bad grammar,
superstition, uncleanness, and folklore with mountain people. The essay “Buggers
and Spirits Pick Their Noses on Weekends,” by Verna Mae Slone, paints a
different picture of mountain life by showing how her father taught her, as well
as her siblings, many of life’s important lessons.
The first story in the essay tells of how Verna was not permitted by her father
to believe in ghosts (or buggers, as she refers to them at one point). He tells
her, along with her siblings, that whenever they hear a ghost story, they should
smile and nod, and then upon arriving home, share it with him. He would then
make a fanning motion and blow the ghost away. This example taught the children
to respect other people’s beliefs while still honoring their father’s wishes.
Even though they didn’t believe in ghosts, they should still respect those who
did. Their father’s example also taught them that no matter what problems they
had in life, they could always take them to their daddy and he would be there
for them.
The second story in the essay is about Verna’s father as a child. At that time
in history a common belief was that a cow’s cud was something that could be
lost. If the cow lost their cud, then they believed the cow would die. So, one
day while the boy was watching his family’s cow, he made the cow spit out its
cud so that he could see it. This story taught the children to explore their
world. Also, that even though everyone else around them believed something to be
true, that didn’t necessarily make it so.
Two of the next stories in the essay go hand in hand. The first is about an old
lady who believed that someone had put a spell on her cow, causing it to give
sour milk. Verna’s father knew that the real reason was because she didn’t
sterilize her milk bucket and churn. So, he told her to wash her churn and milk
bucket with boiling water and then put three small pebbles in the bottom of the
bucket. This, he claimed, would break the spell. The second is about an old lady
who, every night, would hear three knocks coming from her loft. She asked
Verna’s father to come and investigate. So, one night, Verna’s father came and
spent the night in the woman’s loft. He discovered that the knocking sounds were
made by a rat running across a board to get to some food that the woman had
stored there. These stories again taught the children about respecting others.
Even though the first old woman believed something that wasn’t true, it was
still her belief, and the father respected that. These stories also taught the
children that there is a scientific explanation for almost everything since both
the spoiled milk and the knocking noises were caused by nature.
One of the last main parts of the essay is a collection of sayings. The first
saying taught the children to stand up for what they believe in, and not to let
others talk them into believing something else. The second saying taught
children the value of hard work. The third saying taught children to tell the
truth. The fourth saying taught children that they can make a difference, even
if it seems unlikely. The fifth saying taught children to keep their noses out
of other people’s business.
In conclusion, even though outsiders may think of Appalachia as an uncivilized
wilderness, many people who live there have figured out more about life than
“educated” city people ever do. They use simple examples, stories, and sayings
to teach their children important lessons. Their children then pass those things
down to their children and grandchildren, leaving behind a wonderful legacy.
Please Send All Comments Or Suggestions To: Ruth