Hoskins’s General Store

By: Felix L. Perry

Ah…things were so much simpler then

A man’s word was in his hand

Soda pop was one thin dime

Rhubarb wrapped in a rubber band

The man behind the counter always smiled

knew each and every customer’s name

Sunday he closed for the Lord’s Day of rest

Looking back now it seems a shame

Fishing hooks and home made lace

Enamel paint, waxed bologna or comic books

Things were sure a much slower pace

With treasures found in all the nooks

Old Port tobacco for Daddy’s pipe

A special hat for Uncle Tom’s bald head

Fresh picked valley apples nice and ripe

Or a pillow for Grandma’s feather bed

A place to hear all the local news

Sit on a packing crate or a wicker chair

Hank Williams sang on the radio

Or perhaps a baseball game for us to cheer

Hoskin’s General Store in black on glass

A spring loaded screen door on front and back

Two ESSO pumps if you needed gas

And groceries all packed in a paper sack

Oh I miss my youth and those good old days

They now seem so much better in so many ways…