Story really captures the old time Appalachian people. They'd be surprised to find themselves the object of our interest.

This chapter got me to thinking about my grandfather who was born in the late 1890's. I can't remember if I ever heard anything about his schooling. My Dad born in 1919 had a 3rd grade education but was one of the smartest men I've ever known. Alex was quite the character. I would love to have seen his workmanship. Thanks for sharing this story with us.

on time tonight. loved hearing him talk about old Christmas. plus all the things they made for themselves. I can't imagine walking 40 miles round trip for coffee. and I'm a coffee drinker. now that's determination. loving learning about this man as we go along.

oh yes him going blind and the slippery elm helping him.simply amazing.

Caught on fire. Hard to believe I’ve grown this old not knowing this. And I went to school for 12 yrs too.

The "catch fire" was interesting to hear about. The part about the Elderberry bush creeping up at Old Christmas stood out. I love how he was so close to his grandpap. the 40 mile trek with the chairs to get coffee really stood out since I love coffee too and had to go fix me a cup during the reading. I am glad his sight restored and how interesting it was from the slippery elm poultice Loved the part about the old chair. Oh if we could just have some of our ancestors toughness and resilience!! LOL too funny about the feller and the chicken poop. My favorite part was when asked if is grandfather had a good education and he said, "he had a pretty good education, but I dont know how much schooling he had".

Love this....glad he was able to document this also....such a treasure ....they were different people ,and had to be tough ....my grandparents loved coffee , they had a pot brewing all day long ....they got me drinking coffee at a young age , and black like them ....the chairs are awesome, those are the only types of chairs my family had ,back in the day....I can see them now .....thanks tipper.....God bless....🙏❤

I really liked how grateful the children were getting a little candy. We should all be so grateful I think. Wonderful reading, thank you so much Tipper.

Something else that I liked that he said was when his friend came up he said I am so proud to see you such beautiful phrases I wish people still talk this way

It's all fascinating, Tipper. Trying to select a favorite part is like trying to identify a favorite grain of sand on a beach.

I love love love this story about Alex. I have never heard the true meaning of catch fire. So that was very interesting to me. Of course the story about slippery elm was wonderful to hear. I’m so thankful that it cured his eyesight. I also love the story about the rocker. There was no way you were going to convince him that his Grandpap had not made that. I am looking forward to learning much more about Alex. Thank you so much for this important education Tipper.

Love this reading, thanks so much

Such times gone by in actually a very short time everyone should be very thankful for what is available to them now

Thank you Tipper for sharing this book. After I listened to episode 2, my husband and I decided to take a Sunday drive to the Museum of Appalachia. It’s about 2 1/2 hours drive from our southeast Tennessee home. What an amazing place. The website doesn’t do it justice. We were so glad we went. I encourage anyone with interest in Appalachia to take the trip, you won’t be disappointed. Just allow several hours to take it all in at your on pace. Tipper, you and the girls should definitely go. They have an unbelievable collection of musical instruments. I still can’t believe how much Appalachia history they have on display. I appreciate Mr. Irwin, he put his heart and soul into collecting so that future generations could see it. The pioneer buildings, the artifacts, relics and much more. I bought the Alex Stewart Portrait of a Pioneer book in the gift shop, but I am still listening to you read it. I have enjoyed all of your readings. Thank you again for continuing to celebrate Appalachia with us.

Lots of cool stuff in this one! I loved the parts about the slippery elm and Alex recognizing his Grandpa's chair!

I had to look up "polecat grease" to see if it was what I thought it was. It is hard for me to imagine that anybody would use that for anything! I recognized the word "kyarn" as one that my grandparents said, but I have trouble pronoucing it or even spelling it correctly. Lots of great interesting stuff in this chapter.

The part where the man took the chairs to town reminds me of a story my mom told that her grandfather would tell. Some fella named Olaf?? lived way back in the hills and went to town for supplies and on and on "never thinkin' he'd see a bear. Then aaalllll the way home never thinkin he'd see a bear and well he never did see a bear. I can picture my mom and her 4 little sisters , spell bound and then phhhhht, no bear after all. This is a fascinating book, Tipper thank you for reading it, can hardly wait for more.

This all so interesting. I love all the details. I like how you paused before reading out loud, dam. (Notice I spelled it differently)

I just love this book. So much information about how people lived in earlier times. They sure were skilled and able to contend with most anything that came their way. ❤️

Another great chapter, Tipper! When hearing you read I think about your Pap when you read that name in this story. I have never heard of using the bark from a tree to go on top of a roof before. I guess they used what they had available. I look forward to the next chapter next Friday.

I am greatly enjoying this book and the rich Heritage and history! For me, your accent and wonderful pronunciation of all of the colorful language makes the reading 100x more impactful than if I would pick up this book and read it myself. I am so appreciative of you reading to us weekly and helping us all to Celebrate Appalachia. I just love your voice and accent. ❤️ Thank you, Tipper!

Liked this chapter and also watched him making that butter churn. He sure was a talented man and made a lot of beautiful things. Thanks for sharing that video with us. When I listen to you read these stories it alway amazes me how strong and resilient these people were. I think a lot of of our ancestors back in the olden times had a hard life and many didn’t live to be very old. Can’t wait for next Friday! ❤️

Alex for one has an excellent memory. So much stuck out on this reading to me. Like quoting the grandfather that taught him so much. The Christmas candy he only took a small bit of once in a while to make it last a long time. The paste his mom made per the instructions of another older man that cured his blindness so he could see again. And the amazing discovery that after all them years he recognized his grandfather’s wood work in that old chair. I don’t recall either of my grandfathers teaching me anything, not even my grandmothers. I guess that’s why I try my best to teach my granddaughter about something her parents or schools don’t teach her like sewing, because I’m hoping one day she, like Alex, she will tell someone her MawMaw taught her a skill she can use for life. This reading tonight just confirmed I need to continue teaching her until I can’t teach her no more. Great book, great life lessons for us all.

Thank you for reading this story. It is such a pleasure to let your voice and the words make pictures in my head. It was amazing that he recognized his grandpap’s chair. I remember when I had the measles, my grandmother wouldn’t let me read or sit outside...she said if I did the measles would “settle in your eyes.” Have a wonderful week!!

Earth shelter floor wearing down like a shallow bowl shape, and the strength of bark used in constructing roofs and walls. I enjoy seeing tree bark, enough of it winds up collected for my home pleasure!

Thank you so much for reaching this great book to us Tipper. What a slice of rich history of the mountain time past. I wish I knew more of my grandpa’s what I have heard they were great people. Tipper I love coffee too. Got to have my cup in the morning

I loved the part about the chairs. It just tickled me.

Tipper, I just relish your weekly readings. I allow myself just a few minutes a day to listen in order to make them last all week! Thank you so much for doing this. It is something I look forward to and always learn so much!

Loving to hear you read this book. Mr Stewart was a very interesting and intelligent man. The fact that he learned so much from his grandpap touched me. My mother spent a lot of time with her grandpa and could remember so many things about him.

So very interesting, I’m loving these accounts. Native Americans used bark in their buildings, long houses and such, perhaps they picked up the idea from them? Very resourceful talented folks!

Great story friend you are such a wonderful story teller keep those videos coming

I got a long ride to the grocery store a couple Fridays every month..and the whole time I'm gone I think, I can't wait to get home and see if Tipper uploaded yet. :D I really appreciate you reading these great books to us. Ok, time to hit play. Have a nice weekend fellow listeners and Tipper :))

I find it all very interesting, Ms.Tipper. The struggles of our kin were real. And, we have it way too easy by comparison. God Bless you for sharing and showing us the difference through the readings and thank you for bringing us together once again.

Another great chapter, i feel like I’m sitting there with Alex when you read

Loved the way he knew his grandfather's chair.awful how the guy put strychnine in the beer.very good book.look forward to next Friday.👍👍

17:00 Old Christmas. 😮 I’ve listened to this twice and cried both times. How beautiful.

Love your stories..it reminded me of a comment a lawyer made today on KZfaq..in the state of Virginia..under protected assets..( he was talking about bankruptcy.. something to do with the Johnny Depp trial and Virginia) the family bible is something that can't be taken and sold to pay debtors..a very old law and not that it was pointless cuz some very old bibles are certainly valuable ..the value to the family came first..had to share..lol

It was a hard life back then and a strong people to survive it. I've never heard the word, handwrite, it's so descriptive.

I could picture the little neighbor girls running home with the borrowed fire starter 😊

Oh, the loss of that Bible!! O my goodness. I literally gasped out loud. Here I sit, another lifetime later, mourning the loss a a priceless heirloom Book containing the Word of The Maker.

Hey Tipper I really enjoyed your reading about Alex Stewart. He was a remarkable person that inspires me to be a better human being. Your channel is our favorite. Matt seems a lot like Alex. Self reliant,and hard working with old fashioned values. Anyway, my wife Jane and me are just plain people that enjoy your channel. Thanks for giving us something good to watch on tv. Don and Jane Smith Bessemer City NC.

I first heard about slippery elm when it was mentioned in a book about baseball pitchers chewing the substance in order to increase the flow of saliva back when the spitball was legal (and even, in a few cases, after the pitch had been banned). Although we celebrated Christmas on December 25 when I was growing up, we didn't take the tree down until Epiphany (or, as my dad's mother called it, Three Kings).

I really love the language the way he talked I had forgotten the phrase now how he exactly said it but how he had gave out on on the man coming by to visit or he had fallen out I'll have to go back and listen again

Thanks for reading it helps me to relax after chasing my grandson I need too

I really appreciate you reading. My eyes aren’t what they used to be and after reading a little they ache. I just sit, close my eyes and listen to you read Thank you

Good ole birch bark. hummm poplar bark interesting, thanks for the reading.

My daddy would always catch fire! ❤️

I read the book/article by John Rice Irwin years ago about Alex. Also in the Fox fire books. I think the first book I read about him in was American Craftsman.

I fully understand that love if coffee. My grandfather used to spoon feed me coffee , mixed with tons of milk and sugar . As I've gotten older, I usually prefer it black, but I still drink it throughout the day. Although, I do rather like having a bit of, " sweetnin'", as grandfather would say, with my coffee. Haha!

Thank you Tipper really enjoyed the story today was so interesting with all the ways they lived God bless

I use slippery elm bark lozenges for a throat coating if you let them dissolve slowly, or as a soothing stomach help if you chew them up. I had no idea it could cure blindness, but from the description of redness, maybe fights inflammation? And Paulie and I both were again amazed how difficult their daily life was yet how well they persevered. Thanks again! Take care

Wow you’re bringing back memories My Pap was born in 1912 Pennsylvania. He used to tell me stories about growing up with dirt floors and the like. He said them floors would be so compacted down you could sweep them. I got a picture of my Pap when he was little. He was in a goat cart and I guess back then they would put boys in hand me down dresses for lack of pants.

I enjoyed hearing of the ways of life of early years

So glad to have been able to listen to this tonight. It's been a rough 2 weeks for me with seeing specialists, having tests & I'm not done yet. Listening to you read is such a help to me. It was so interesting to hear what old man Alex had to say about Christmas & there being no Christmas trees or presents. I can remember a time when I was a little girl, we wouldn't have a tree or presents or a big meal. Then later, as I got a little older, around 8 or so, I remember daddy would go out, cut down a tree, bring it home & secure it somehow in a bucket of water. We had very few, mostly handmade decorations. I do remember mama letting me help throw the long silver tinsel on the tree with her & daddy. She'd always tell me to keep my mouth closed & not breathe when I threw it cause I might get choked on it. I don't remember if something like that had happened in her family; she never mentioned it & guess I was too little to think to ask questions. Now that I'm older, 63, I really think more & more of the stories they would share. I miss them terribly. I was born in September of 1958 & mama turned 37 just a few days after. I guess that's one of the reasons I so enjoy your reading to us. Thank you, Tipper! God bless you!

Thank you so much Tipper! You such a good job reading. I get in a zone while listening to you!

Love the part about the cane bottom chair!! Thank you again, Tipper!!

My late husband Big Mom, always had a twist of tobacco in her house dress pocket, but never seen her put in or out of her mouth. As always, thanks for the read. God Bless. Jean

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Thanks

Great chapter tonight, Alex sure was a very interesting & knowledgeable man…I loved the “catch fire”, hearing where the phrase came from. Love that he learned a lot from his Grandpap..and wow, about the slippery elm helping him get his eyesight back…Thank you for reading 🤗

I couldn't imagine not being able to drink coffee! I have never heard of postem(?)...great chapter once again...thank you Tipper.

Love the.ALEX STEWART book ,i have it to,i live 18 mile from Jonesville,Va!

So much of this speaks to me !!! These book is so wonderful!!! All that reaches out to me is far too much to comment....❤❤😊😊

I love hearing about this man. Great book.

I think the whole reading you did was amazing and fascinating…loving it all 💖 transporting!!!

This book is so interesting Love listening to it I've been feeling poorly so when that fellow slipped in the chicken manure and got it all over him I had a much needed belly laugh 😅 another wonderful book

I really like this story. It is amazing how people used to do almost everything for themselves and grow all their food (except coffee). My Uncle Tim and my Aunt Lucy were like that. The part about taking chairs up the mountain to sell reminds me of my father-in-law telling me how when he was a child his uncle and he used to take bundles of lighterd (fat pine as some people call it) to town to sell. They did not get much money for it but in a time when no one had any money every little bit helped. I don't know if they bought coffee with the money they got or not! Thank you for reading this book. Everyone enjoys it and you have such a pleasant reading voice. Thank you Tipper. Dennis Morgan

Thank you Mrs. Tipper I sure appreciate you taking the time to read this! It’s a wealth of knowledge!

Dad would speak of Grandpa and his hand writing. He would say that he wasn't well educated, but have beautiful hand writing. He took great pride in his ability to write well. Thanks for reading this.. I listen every morning.😊

I am a step-grandson Eric. A great story. Thanks Tipper!

Love this book

Tipper I've never heard of bark used for a house roofing. When we moved to Tennessee we had alot of poplar trees on our land in the spring my husband would peel the bark off and sale it to a local store in Tellico were the would make furniture out of it and it could be use for siding on houses. If you're ever in Tellico you should stop by Everhart lumber company and see all their beautiful furniture.

Alex Stewart was such a fascinating man and his grandfather was very special. I thank God someone thought fit to listen and write down their stories and you for sharing them with us. Thank you Tipper.

I have that fault too, I need my coffee in the morning 😊.

Thank you so much for sharing this story. I am enjoying it something fierce.

I had no idea that bark peeling was used for roofing material. This story is just so fascinating. Edit it is a very old Eastern European tradition that on Christmas eve, your farm animals would gain the miracle of speech. I imagine it was probably in some other European countries like Germany. I tried telling our kids of the stories but they believed more in Santa then talking animals lol

Thank you.

Hearing that he mentioned that everyone grew a little patch of cotton was enlightening. Cotton must have been a much needed item for guns, clothing, blankets, and I'm sure lots of other things I have no clue about. The use of it for the gun was really telling - they grew what they needed or used what they grew for their needs. Just amazing. I wonder now what other ways it was used. I know that Q-tips used cotton for the tip end to clean with. I guess that is where the idea came from. Does anyone else have any ideas? Maybe to make a wick? Maybe to pack a wound? Gosh we have lost a lot of good information on surviving without a store handy.

I love the story this man.

Hi Tipper, I really enjoyed listening to this. What.i found fascinating is the surname Goyne. (I wasn't sure if you were saying Goyne or Goynes and I may be spelling it wrong) my uncle came from Arkansas and his last name was Goyne. His mother had 13 children I can't imagine living without some of the luxuries we have today.

I looked up slippery elm benefits and one of the things that it helps is inflammation which may have been what was wrong with his eyes! It also has a long list of other varied and interesting benefits! It is so fascinating to hear about this man's experiences that were not that long ago but SO very very different from our comfortable modern times! My mom has special memories of drinking Postum at her Grandmother's house. Here in Utah where there is a large mormon population I have found Postum and Pero which my boys have enjoyed drinking as a special "coffee drink". We like our real coffee though! :0)

I have used hand write. Don't recall if my mama used it but I do. An example I would say is use your hand write and put it down. To tell someone to write something down on paper. I even say it for the computer. My kids think I'm funny and tease me when I use it that way. They'll say computers don't have pens but let me write that down and pretend to be writing.

Hello Tipper. I plan on running this series on the radio station next. We live about 10 miles from Museum of Appalachia and John Rice Irwin was a common fixture in our area. Love the audible books and will add more links soon on the radio station homepage.

I have to wonder if the slippery elm poultice reduced inflammation which may have been causing his blindness. It is also very soothing to damaged tissues. Slippery elm (an other elm varieties) has many medicinal uses. I've learned a little about Old Christmas (some in other countries called it Women's Christmas or Little Christmas). It has also been called Twelfth Night or "Old Twelve" (technically Jan. 5th, the Eve of Epiphany). Living in Appalachia, I had never heard about these celebrations, other than a passing word about Epiphany and about the meaning of the carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas. I love the part about the pine torch and leaving the rosin in place until it dried and cooled. I make pine pitch salve. I also liked the part about the coffee. I love it and I roast my own beans. A few years ago we began gardening and farming and trying to source things more local to us. We visited a farmer's market where a family was selling roasted coffee beans. I got a wild hair and thought, "Well if they can do it, why can't I?!" So, I started out roasting in a hot air popcorn popper and then bought a little roaster, which does a fine job for family use. I think I'd walk a good piece for coffee, too. lol I like roasted chicory pretty well too~~but it isn't coffee. ;)

If visitors came by but didn't stay long, we'd ask 'em, "Did you come for a chunk o' fire?"

When I was young, anytime we had a cold or flu Mom would get her dad, Pap Paris Goins, to go back in the woods and dig a little Slippery Elm root. She would make a tea with it and horsemint and add a little honey to it to make cough syrup. It always seemed to cut it out of us pretty quick. The Presbyterian Church he speaks of still stands. It is now the museum. It was called Vardy Presbyterian Church, and they had a school, where Papaw Goins attended until 4th grade. Hailey Mullins' Cabin was moved out of the woods to there, also. We celebrated Christmas on Old Christmas until I was 16, when we had pastors come in from out of the county who celebrated it on December 25th.

Yeah, I haven't ever heard of someone making coffee out of wheat. That is interesting. I don't know how you kept a straight face when you read about the man with the jeans slipping and falling in the chicken poop. I just busted out laughing. Hahaha....!! 🤣🤣🤣 I could picture all of this happening. I love to hear you read. Thank you for sharing this with us. 🥰

Good morning Tipper l.🙏

I found Mr. Stewart’s response to several questions humorous. In fact, my tickle box turned over a few times. I wonder if Mr. Rice was familiar with the word “cairn”. Your pronunciation of the slang was perfect! I sure wished that family Bible had survived.

Thank you for reading. ❤️

love you reading

I enjoy your readings.

Hello Tipper, I am listening to you books a bit later than when you first put them out weekly. I sure enjoy listening to your voice and learning new words from Appalachia. My favorite part of this chapter is the coffee story. I love my coffee too but doubt I would walk that far for it. I’ve heard of chicory coffee before but not wheat.

When I was pregnant I had heartburn really bad. My dad went and peeled some bark( the white part under the bark)off a Slippery Elm tree and had me chew in it. I chewed on it until it was no longer “slippery” (10 min) and I didn’t have heartburn the rest of my pregnancy.

This reminds me of Tom T Hall albeit a much prettier female version, Tipper you are a natural and captivating story teller

Evening, Miss Tipper.

Up on the Skyline Drive at at Skyland Lodge there is a photo of a cabin with bark walls next time I will try a get that picture. Never Thought of children not having clothes or shoes would think everything got passed down

I don't think of people who didn't seem have so much back then, city, country or mountain folk as particularly poor. If they had food, shelter and family and that's all they knew, then they didn't think of themselves as poor either. As you said, if there was a need or desire enough, they'd find a way. The only way they could think of themselves as needy is if they saw others who had a lot more then they did and maybe that didn't occur with every one of them. Alex Stewart certainly fared well enough. Maybe I'm overlooking something?

Thanks!

This is a wonderful book Tipper . What year was the book first published in . I just might need to buy this one . So Good ! Thank you dear 💗

🧡🧡🧡 I was awake at 7 this morning, hoping you might be. I guess you slept a little later. 🤣😴