Story as told by Shirley Napier - Daughter of Charles Michael Napier:
Lum’s Family at the Dinner Table
When Lum’s Family were all at home at the dinner table, the kids had a habit of teasing the younger sister, Opal. She was quite small when this started but was still able to quickly catch onto the “part that she was to play.” She would be sitting on her Mom’s (Martha or “Mattie”) lap eating peacefully when one of the boys would wink at her, make a face, or twitch just right - anything to get her attention and annoy her. She would pitch a fit. Apparently she wasn’t big enough to tell on them because Charlie said that his Mom never knew what happened. About the time Martha would get Opal calmed down someone would wink and it would start all over again. Lum would keep a small, red handled children’s broom close by the table and it was not uncommon for him to go down the row popping the tops of heads with the broom. He didn’t hit them hard but he did mean business and made them stop laughing and causing a disturbance at the table.
At this time and place the Napier brothers (Gordon, Bill, Charlie, and Odell) liked to play practical jokes. It was pretty common then and, although they thought they were really funny, by today’s standards some of them were really brutal. Charlie’s daughter, Shirley Marie Napier (Smith) told me (William Stephen Napier - Bill Napier’s Grandson) this story and I have heard it too but neither of us remembers who it was done to or who did this if it was ever told. One time, while a couple was not at home, a prankster put a bull in their house and closed the door. When The owners came home, as Shirley says, “It was not a pretty sight.”
The following was told by Shirley Napier - Daughter of Charles Michael Napier:
Gordon Napier, Grandson Frankie Downen
Gordon had a 3-year old grandson, Frankie, who just adored him. Frankie liked to imitate his grandpa by shaking hands with everyone he was introduced to. Gordon was a preacher so he was always shaking hands at church, etc and Frankie never missed a cue. Charlie knew that and one day Gordon came in carrying Frankie. Charlie’s good friend, a black man named Mr. Cochran was there. Charlie said, “Frankie, I want you to meet Mr. Cochran.” Immediately Frankie stuck out his and shook the hand of Mr. Cochran, then without even looking at his hand wiped it on his pants leg. Charlie said, “Here Frank is a towel you can use.” Frank said “That’s all right, I just got it on one hand.” Charlie knew Mr. Cochran would get a laugh out of it and he did.
I have forgotten the preacher's name but he and U. Gordon went to visit a family and the woman answered the door and she was alone but she invited them in and after awhile she asked if they would like some lemonade and they said they would I think it was summer time. When she left the room a large dog that had been asleep roused up and made for U. Gordon and as he jumped, U. Gordon caught him by the throat and choked him to death. He laid him back down where he was and she served the lemonade, and made some comment about the dog being so quiet and they drank their lemonade and left pretty quick.
Story as told by his daughter Shirley:
Charlie Napier in School
Charlie was chewing gum in school. The teacher caught him and gave him a short lecture and made him throw it out. He threw it out the window. There happened to be two dogs just outside and they got into a fight - maybe over the gum? He looked at the teacher and said, “Now see what you did!”Martha Ann Napier (Sutherlin); Her daughter Freda Nancy Jane Napier; and son Charlie Napier
Martha was plucking geese to use the feathers for pillows, featherbeds, etc. Freda was holding the goose for her while she was plucking it. She had it under her arm plucking away when Charlie came around the corner just in time to hear her say, “Freda, if you let that goose bite me one more time I’m going to slap you.” Charlie was behind her and so was the goose’s head so he pinched his Mom on the arm and she immediately slapped Freda.Lum’s Goat
Lum (Columbus Napier) had a couple of goats that his neighbors the Shehe’s or someone gave him. One was a billy-goat that was interested in everything he saw. His son Charlie and wife Norma lived close by in a small shack that had a button for a latch on their front door. Early one morning the goat came by their house. Charlie and Norma were not up yet and didn’t hear their caller at the front door. Somehow the goat got the latch and door open and came on inside. The first they knew of his entrance was when Norma awoke, opening her eyes and screaming waking Charlie instantly. When she opened her eyes all she could see was the goat’s face about 2 inches from hers, calmly staring at her and chewing his cud.