Not only did violets and lilies bloom in profusion, but the snakes were coming out of their winter hibernations, the wild hogs were whelping their young, the skunks and raccoons and possums, foxes and bears were all viciously protective of their young.  So the children needed protection when picking wild flowers, no matter how innocent.   Uncle Joe and Buck, our pet Pit Bulldog, accompanied us.

The woods and swamps were also havens for escaped convicts and others needing to hid e from the law.  Uncle Joe himself was an ex-convict and knew the ways of defending himself and us children from harm. He was our protector as well as our stable man.  Children were taught to respect elders, black and white, by calling those close to us "Uncle" or "aunt"; thus Uncle Joe and Aunt Cindy, our cook, but also Aunt Mildred, our neighbor.