Edith Pearl says that back during World War II, help to work in the Drug Store was really hard to find. She remembers that one Saturday after the weekly drawing, her father ran out of fresh milk to make his famous chocolate milk shakes. Her mother, Allie, usually stayed at home and tended the Jersey milk cows. Allie ran a small milk route in town – this kept her busy staying at home where she was delighted to be anyway.

So after the drawing one Saturday afternoon, the druggist ran out of fresh milk. He didn’t want any of his customers leaving the store, so he asked his wife Allie to go home and milk one of the Jersey cows early and get the milk back to the Drug Store as soon as possible.

Allie had to stop by the Madden Grocery Store and pick up a few things to take back home. While she was in the store doing her shopping, Marvin Stewart checked her out. Allie asked him to hurry because she had to go to the home and drive the cows up and milk them early so Clyde would have milk for his fountain service which was the most popular part of the business.

Marvin was quite an entertainer in the grocery store. He told Allie to go home and get the cow and bring her down to the store, and he would milk the Jersey cow for Allie. Marvin was joking about it, but Allie was serious. She went to their home in the 400 block of Main Street, got a rope and led the gentle Jersey cow to the grocery store.

Marvin milked the cow in front of the Saturday afternoon crowd. When the bucket that she brought, was full of fresh milk, she took it into the Drug Store for the fountain service.

It was little capers of this nature that made the entire family such a charming and delightfully friendly group. They met their calling in serving the people in times of need, whether it was a snake bite or tragic accident – they filled the prescriptions prepared by the local doctors.

At this time, Aubrey had several doctors. They were Dr. Hawk, Dr. Pierce and Dr. Amos. Edith Pearl also remembered another story about Allie. This was when they were attending the First Baptist church as young people. They met for BYPU at the church at 6:00 p.m. each Sunday evening. Dorothy Ratchford was in charge of BYPU for one Sunday service.

Allie had made it known that she didn’t want to pray in public and Dorothy called on Allie for prayer. At everyone’s amazement, Allie stepped right in and led a long prayer which continued on and on and on. It became a never-ending prayer. When the prayer was over, Allie sat down and leaned over to Edith Pearl and whispered, "I bet she doesn’t call on me anymore." Edith Pearl says that she never remembers Allie being called on for prayer in public again.

The family was in business for many, many years. These are just some examples of the family entertainment this good family experienced.

I personally know that after more than forty years in business just 100 feet to the south of where the Simpson Drug Store was located, our hardware store has had some very entertaining experiences. But some of these experiences are not printable. Perhaps a few generations down the road some of these stories will be told.

I do appreciate the experiences that Edith Pearl has shared. I am sure that some of us older people recall the drug store and other happy and times of hardships in our lives.

While I was preparing this, I received another letter from Clydene, Edith Pearl’s sister. It is as follows:

My sister just emailed me the nice article you wrote about our Dad’s Drug Store in Aubrey. It was so nice to hear from someone who remembers the store and Daddy as we do....I have always been so proud of the heritage given to us by our parents....and am so glad to have lived during the days of soda fountains....(I stood on empty wooden Dr. Pepper crates to reach the spigots); wooden flooring, candy cases, a large white scales left out in front of store, etc. Of course the only time it would be put inside was on Halloween, when all of the local "teens" would create some mischief....I only wish that my little great grandchildren could experience the small town atmosphere like Aubrey....but, alas, those 2 little city critters will never know that feeling.

The photo for this week goes back to the school year of 1931 and 1932. Edith Pearl Simpson is the fist to be mentioned. She is on the back row and first on the left side. Others in this photo are listed in order. The photo was provided by Mary Alice Reding and was one that in the school reunion book of 1987. Others that are known at the time of the reunion are recorded and listed in order. Anyone that can help me fill in the blanks would be welcomed to do so, as we may have occasion to print the picture later.