It wasn’t until later years that I realized how much the small salary I brought home every two weeks as a teenager was needed to pay family bills.
Following high school classes at Presentation Academy’s Fourth and Breckenridge building, I would journey the several blocks farther downtown each afternoon on a City Bus to Stewart’s Department Store which was located on the corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets in Louisville, Kentucky.
I worked at Stewart’s throughout my high school years and met some very interesting people during my days as a gift wrapper and candy salesperson. I learned to twirl ribbons during the holidays and pack dresses with tissue folded just so in the elegant Stewart’s boxes throughout the rest of the year.
Stewart’s was known for its mechanized windows and families made a point of bringing young children downtown during the holidays to view Santa with his helpers busy tapping out toys amid sparkles and snowflake decorations.
During the Christmas season, Stewart’s, as other fine Louisville Department Stores, remained open on Monday nights until 9:00 p. m. On other days, the Stores closed at 5:00 p.m.
In my Senior year, I overheard my Mother saying she needed a new pair of glasses and that they would cost Twenty Dollars. I was glad to have the extra Holiday hours to guarantee my intended goal. Calculating how many hours I would need in a two-week period, I found that I could not wait on the City Bus schedule to place me at Stewart’s in time to log in enough hours. However, by walking at a brisk pace instead of waiting for the bus, I should manage to earn the needed money.
With much relief, I opened my pay envelope at the end of two weeks to find a crisp Twenty Dollar Bill along with a full ten cents to spare!
Filled with pride, I took my prized envelope home and presented it to my Mother. To my dismay, she thanked me, but her glasses did not show up in our home for another month.
The crisp Twenty Dollar Bill went to a Louisville Gas and Electric payment and I learned that sometimes Mothers put themselves last in line.