Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Di]

In order to help support her family, Gladys was forced to get a job when Elvis was only a few months old. She found a meager yet back-breaking job picking cotton for the Tupelo Garment Factory. She could not afford and did ot want to leave Elvis with a babysitter, so she wrapped him in a blanket and took him with her. After walking over a mile in the field, Gladys collected two sacks. The first was used to collect cotton; the second was used to carry her son. Elvis rested on a sack while Gladys plucked cotton from the seed pods. As she moved down the row of plants, she pulled Elvis along. When Elvis needed a diaper change, Gladys stopped picking and tended to her son. When he was hungry, she stopped working and breast fed him until he had his fill. Gladys continued to bring Elvis to the cotton fields until he grew active enough to require her full attention.

[Amanda Viola]

What an image to hold... that of Gladys pulling Elvis in a sack along, while picking cotton!

[Wanda June Hill]

Hi Di, yes I have and also Elvis told me about when he was a bit older and able to walk etc: I think about the time his dad was in jail-they needed money since the man who caused Vernon to be in jail, also reclaimed the shot-gun house Vernon had borrowed 100.00 to build for his wife and future child. Elvis was about 3 at that time-so his mom picked cotton, he rode on the sack he said and then she let him stay in the shade with some other kids whose parents were working in the field and she could see him all the time. He said he had picked cotton when older and it hurt his hands, and it did-I tried it when younger and had bloody hands from the effort! Elvis and his mom were so close-she hardly ever let him out of her sight from the moment of his birth. It must have been really, really difficult for her when he was sent off with the little band all over the country, miles and miles from her sight and so far it would have been hard to get there to help him. He called her every night, and she had to use a neighbors phone because they didn't have one he said, then they got one so he could call her and "she could sleep" then. He always kind of chuckled a little about that-softly like and he'd then say, "un so could I, maybe." Everytime he was upset he went home to talk to her, said he wanted to quit he was so upset, just fell on his bed and bawled like a baby and then she came in and talked it all out with him. And he went back to Hollywood to do what he had to do, he said.
He never forgot the things his mom especially did to get him grown and how much both his parents did to help him. His mom he said, never told him he couldn't, she just told him to be careful and do what his heart said was right. And he said, "That's what I've always done, listen to my heart and then my head, un see which one feels most right." wjh

[Di]

Thanks Wanda. What a wonderful relationship they had with each other.

Di

[Rainbow Light]

Thank you, Wanda, for sharing as always! Elvis and Gladys sure had a great relationship and this must have been touching to see!

Always so wonderful to read your posts, Wanda!

[MaryInTheMorning]

Thank you, Wanda, for sharing as always! Elvis and Gladys sure had a great relationship and this must have been touching to see!

Always so wonderful to read your posts, Wanda!

AMEN sweet Sue!!

[Rainbow Light]