Myrtle Charles Porter

Mommie and Her Cat

When my momma was a little girl about four or five years old, she was laying down on the back porch crying for something.  Her cat wound around her for a little while and then left.  After awhile, the cat came back with a mouse for her.  It came up to her and laid the mouse down.  She said the cat was trying to get her to quit crying, which she did, and starting laughing.  I'm sure I have heard her tell this lots of times.  I'm sure the cat was happy, too.

Momma Sliding Into a Cow Pile

One time, they had bought her a pretty dress and patent leather shoes. She had been dressed, probably for church, and when they went back to the house, her mother tried to get her to take off the new clothes and get play clothes. 

She didn't mind and away she went down through the cow pasture with some other young kids.  She didn't watch where she was going and she stepped in a big fresh cow pile and slid down, sitting right in the middle of it.  Of course, her pretty outfit was ruined.

Myrtle, the Artist, Musician and Singer - The Dykes Magic City Trio

I don't know too much about my grandfather's people, for when he died, some of his history was lost. I think he had a brother named Jake Porter.  I'm sure my mother spoke of him, for she called him “Uncle Jake”. 

Also, Jake's children were Ezra, Vernon, and Melinda.  Ezra (image) was a fine artist.  He entered the art contest that was for the best artist in the United States and Canada.  He won first prize.  The picture was of a little girl. 

My mother was a fine artist too; she was also a musician and singer.  She could play the Autoharp, (image) the guitar, and banjo.  She was the Autoharp player (image) for the "Dykes Magic City Trio" back in the twenties. (image)  Their recordings were in 1927 in New York City (image).