•The Winchester By The Winchester By Tony SmithTony Smith

• Its early December and as I sit Its early December and as I sit here listening to the rain falling here listening to the rain falling down on my old tin roof, my mind down on my old tin roof, my mind wanders back to a time when I was wanders back to a time when I was about sixteen years old.. about sixteen years old..

• It was on a Saturday morning.The It was on a Saturday morning.The year was 1976. I t was a pretty, year was 1976. I t was a pretty, sunny day in June. I was walking sunny day in June. I was walking down the old gravel road..down the old gravel road..

• to my cousin Art Wynn’s house on to my cousin Art Wynn’s house on Trace Branch, to stay all day and Trace Branch, to stay all day and night with him. He was an old night with him. He was an old bachelor and I enjoyed talking with bachelor and I enjoyed talking with him.him.

• As I walked down the hill and As I walked down the hill and around the curve, I heard gravels around the curve, I heard gravels popping behind me. It was a one popping behind me. It was a one ton Dodge truck.ton Dodge truck.

• As it got closer to me I could tell As it got closer to me I could tell who it was. It was the county who it was. It was the county livestock trader, Delbert New. He livestock trader, Delbert New. He would buy cows, horses, and mules would buy cows, horses, and mules and then resell them. and then resell them.

• When he got up to me he stopped When he got up to me he stopped and asked “,Do you want a and asked “,Do you want a ride?”When I got in, he began to ride?”When I got in, he began to talk. He said, Tony, you do a lot of talk. He said, Tony, you do a lot of squirrel hunting don’t you?” squirrel hunting don’t you?”

• I said, “Yes, when season is in”. I said, “Yes, when season is in”. As we went down the road we came As we went down the road we came to a barn. to a barn.

• He stopped and said, “Get out, I He stopped and said, “Get out, I want to show you something”. want to show you something”. When I got out, I could see the When I got out, I could see the barn had four stalls and a haul barn had four stalls and a haul way. way.

•

• He said, “Look at all four stalls He said, “Look at all four stalls and tell me what you would charge and tell me what you would charge me to clean out my barn for me?”me to clean out my barn for me?”

• I looked at them and said, “I don’t I looked at them and said, “I don’t know, what would you give?” know, what would you give?”

• He said “I’ll tell you what, I’ll pay He said “I’ll tell you what, I’ll pay you good, Tony. I’ll bring the you good, Tony. I’ll bring the wheelbarrow and the mattock and wheelbarrow and the mattock and the shovel down to the barn the shovel down to the barn tomorrow, tomorrow,

• Monday morning you can start on Monday morning you can start on it.” After staying all day and night it.” After staying all day and night with my cousin Art, I went home with my cousin Art, I went home and told my dad about cleaning out and told my dad about cleaning out the barn. the barn.

• When Monday came, I started When Monday came, I started cleaning out the barn. The work cleaning out the barn. The work was hard, but back then I was used was hard, but back then I was used to it. After four days, I was done, a to it. After four days, I was done, a day earlier then he thought I wouldday earlier then he thought I would

• The next day he came and looked The next day he came and looked at it. He said, “Tony, you done a at it. He said, “Tony, you done a good job”. Then he walked over to good job”. Then he walked over to his truck, reached over behind the his truck, reached over behind the seat and pulled out a blanketseat and pulled out a blanket

• He had something wrapped up in it He had something wrapped up in it and he began to unwrap it. When and he began to unwrap it. When he got it out I could see it was a he got it out I could see it was a shotgun and not just any old shotgun and not just any old shotgun. shotgun.

• It was a Red Letter 37 Model, It was a Red Letter 37 Model, Winchester 12 gauge. I could tell Winchester 12 gauge. I could tell by looking at it because the by looking at it because the hammer was behind the breakdown hammer was behind the breakdown latch. They are the only ones like latch. They are the only ones like that. that.

• He said “Tony, a squirrel He said “Tony, a squirrel can’t climb too high, what this gun can’t climb too high, what this gun can’t shoot him down. I’ll tell you can’t shoot him down. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll give you this gun what I’ll do. I’ll give you this gun for the work you have done, if you for the work you have done, if you want it”. want it”.

• I couldn’t believe it. I said “OK, I couldn’t believe it. I said “OK, that sounds good to me.” I was that sounds good to me.” I was tickled to death and I was trying to tickled to death and I was trying to not let it shownot let it show

• He said “Tony, get in the truck and He said “Tony, get in the truck and I’ll take you home”. When we got I’ll take you home”. When we got there he blew his horn so dad there he blew his horn so dad could come up to the road to talk could come up to the road to talk to him. to him.

• When Dad got there, the trader When Dad got there, the trader said “Charley, if it’s alright with said “Charley, if it’s alright with you, I am going to let this boy have you, I am going to let this boy have a good gun for the work he has a good gun for the work he has done for me. So what do you say?” done for me. So what do you say?”

• Dad said, “It’s alright with me. It Dad said, “It’s alright with me. It will keep him from wearing my gun will keep him from wearing my gun out”. As me and Dad walked down out”. As me and Dad walked down to the house, I said to himto the house, I said to him

• Dad, I bet my model 37 Winchester Dad, I bet my model 37 Winchester will out shoot your old Model 12 will out shoot your old Model 12 Winchester pump.” Winchester pump.”

• He said “Son if you bring in half He said “Son if you bring in half the meat with that gun, that I have the meat with that gun, that I have with my gun, you will have really with my gun, you will have really done something”. done something”.

Its early December and as I sit here listening to the rain falling down on my old tin roof, my mind wanders back to a time when I was about sixteen years old. It was on a Saturday morning and it was a pretty sunny day in June. I was walking down the old gravel road to my cousin’s house to stay all day and night with him. He was an old bachelor and I enjoyed talking with him. As I walked down the hill and around the curve I heard gravels popping behind me. It was a one ton truck and as it got closer to me I could tell who it was. It was the county livestock trader. He would buy cows, horses, and mules and resell them.

When he got up to me he stopped and said "Do you want a ride?”When I got in, he began to talk. He said, Tony, you do a lot of hunting don’t you?” I said, “Yes, when season is in”. As we went down the road we came to a barn. He stopped and said, “Get out, I want to show you something”. When I got out I could see the barn had four stalls and a haul way. As we walked on in he said “look at all four stalls and tell me what you would charge me to clean out my barn for me?”

I looked at them and said, “I don’t know, what would you give?” He said “I’ll tell you what, I’ll pay you good, Tony”. I’ll bring the wheelbarrow and the mattock and the shovel down to the barn tomorrow and Monday morning you can start on it. After staying all day and night with my cousin I went home and told my dad about cleaning out the barn.

The Winchester By Tony SmithThe Winchester By Tony Smith

When Monday came I started cleaning out the barn. The work was hard but back then I was used to it. After four days I was done, a day earlier then he thought I would. The next day he came and looked at it. He said “Tony, you done a good job”. Then he walked over to his truck, reached over behind the seat and pulled out a blanket. He had something wrapped up in it. Then he began to unwrap it. When he got it out I could see it was a shotgun and not just any old shotgun. It was a 37 model Winchester 12 gauge. I could tell by looking at it because the hammer was behind the breakdown latch. They are the only ones like that.

He said “Tony, a squirrel can’t climb too high what this gun can’t shoot him down. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll give you this gun for the work you have done if you want it”. I couldn’t believe it. I said “OK, that sounds good to me.” I was tickled to death and I was trying to not let it show. He said “Tony, get in the truck and I’ll take you home”. When we got there he blew his horn so dad could come up to the road to talk to him.

When Dad got there, the trader said “Charley, if it’s alright with you, I am going to let this boy have a good gun for the work he has done for me. So what do you say?” Dad said, “It’s alright with me. It will keep him from wearing my gun out”. As me and Dad walked down to the house I said to him “Dad, I bet my model 37 Winchester will out shoot your old Model 12 Winchester pump.” He said “Son if you bring in half the meat with that gun, that I have with my gun, you will have really done something”.