At the Old Home Place

"Grandpa Charlie" was my great-grandfather and he was not able to hold a conversation by the time I came along. He lived with his daughter, my great-aunt Rosie and her husband, in Gum Springs. I do remember that he used to try to get back to his original home which meant crossing a river. He was usually locked in his room, but on one final occasion, he got out of the house and headed for "home" while no one was aware. No one knew where he was and it led to his death. He was caught out in wet weather without any rainwear and was soaked by the time he was found hours later. He subsequently contracted pneumonia and died from it.