This story is similar to the childhood life of my 97 year old mother. She remembers how the only way to go into town was on their wagon pulled by their two mules Slim and Adder. The same mules that pulled the plow for their cotton field and their garden. They had no electricity, no indoor plumbing and used the smoke house to keep the meat. There were six kids with 2 bedrooms that were shared. Lanterns for light and a hand pump to bring water inside. Washing machine outside with hand wringers. I have asked her before if she felt poor while growing up. She has said consistently that she never felt poor. She grew up feeling blessed.