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Show 60 Whether to sell offthe beef in the fall or hold out for a better price by winter-feeding was the never-ending question, and the men would argue the merits of both. The man who took the right gamble, which Papa usually did, were looked up to with respect. The cattle buyers, usually Jews, would come through, take supper with us and haggle prices until midnight. Papa soon learned to start with outrageous prices* like ten cents as opposed to the buyer's cent and a half. "My God! The man's a lunatic, " the buyer would say dramatically, smiting his forehead and rolling his eyes. "A robber! Tell you what I'll do. I'll give you two cents, and that's top. " "Nine and a half, " Papa would say. "Not a cent less. " It would get down to around five cents usually, and the deal would be closed. The cattle would be driven to Elsinore, seven miles away, and put on the train. Cattle cars rumbled northward toward the city all fall and again in the spring. When Papa invested in sheep, it was the same process. Since Papa was naturally industrious and the rest of us moved on his momentum, our family couldn't help but get ahead. The year Vetris was born saw an addition to the house, large rooms, a dining room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and pantry. As yet we had no running water. Papa dug a large cellar and cemented it in, built a huge barn with a large stable attached. The usual buildings evolved, a chicken coop, sheds, corrals, granary, harness and tool shed, and at long last, a coal shed and a garage. |
