Many years ago Mama introduced what she called "peach tree tea" to me. I must admit, however, after all these years I have spent pondering this thing. I have yet to know for sure just why she called it "Peach tree tea". But that's what she called it and I must say it had a lasting effect. So much so that I am made to doubt that any other dose of medicine Mama ever gave me did me any more good.

It happened this way: Papa and Mama and me (and I suppose, other brothers and sisters) were at old Second Creek Church where services were in progress.

Papa had taken his place over in the Amen corner while Mama and I sat over on the other side of the pulpit in what some call the A-woman corner. Sure I was a wee lad at the time and I reckon I was supposed to sit over there with Mama but somehow when the preacher got in a big way preaching I could hear Papa over in the Amen corner every now and then say, Amen and I reckon I had rather be over there with him, but for some reason Mama thought I ought to stay right where I was and whats more she seemed to think I ought to be quiet about it. Leastwise, she told me if I didnt she would take me outside and give me a dose of Peach tree tea. I didnt have the least idea what mama meant, but I had an idea I wouldnt like it when she promised it to me, but Papa kept saying Amen every now and then and anybody ought to have known I had rather be over there where he was. So be it, I thought, but again Mama thought otherwise, and now I was being gently led down the center aisle and out the front door. Well, even this is better than having to sit still and be quiet even if I couldnt be with Papa. Such pleasing thoughts were soon to fade and die though, for once outside, Mama led me to an old Blackgum tree that stood in front of the church house. I had seen other old sisters go to it and break off twigs before so this wasnt so unusual for Mama to do. I thought she was going to chew one end of the twig into a pliant little brush and dip her snuff with it as I had seen others do before. Mama got her twig trimmed up but she didnt break it off short; instead she began applying it to my legs below my knee pants and it stung something awful. Then she reminded me that this was in keeping with her promise she had made inside the house. So this is Peach tree tea. Well, not feeling so good now I decided that there were two things I didnt especially care for, one was knee pants and the other was Peach tree tea. But that little dose of Peach tree tea, though it came from an old Blackgum tree, was strong enough to keep a little boy quiet by his mothers side for the rest of the services that day. Whats more, that dose of Peach tree tea stung its way into the very conscience of a wee boy for all time to come.

That little boy is almost a half century old now, and as these years have gone swiftly, God has blessed wife and me to raise a little family of our own and I do not yet claim to know the great mystery, how Peach tree tee can come from Blackgum twigs, but now as one being experienced I can truly say whether Blackgum, peach or even Sassafras, it matters not, a well-rounded dose of Mamas Peach tree tea is quite recommended as sufficient to cure the greater part of the every day ills of a wee lad. So now as I walk with my face toward the setting sun of my life, I can yet behold the wee ones, and quite sympathize with both mother and child as I see them rise and leave their seats in the A-woman-corner in keeping with that great admonition to bring them up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. Sometimes I even wonder, what kind of twig will it be this time? But again, no matter, Perhaps another child will one day say, Much obliged, Mama, for that good dose of Peach tree tea! Elder Robert Harlan (Deceased)