There's a funny story I'd like to tell
It's about my dear Uncle Ewell
He was married to Daddy's sister, Sadie
A rare and much-loved jewel

Uncle Ewell was a traveling salesman
Worked many years for Fuller Brush
He eked out a pretty good living
Though the family certainly wasn't flush

He made his rounds five days a week
And always came home at night
A fine and religious family man
Ewell never complained of his plight

There also lived in the neighborhood
A woman whose mind seemed hazy
She did such wild and wacky things
That people thought Dressie was crazy

She behaved in such a peculiar way
But she had never done any real harm
Some folks said she wouldn’t hurt a fly
While others saw reason for alarm

Poor thing had become a Peeping Tom
Her gawking was downright pesky
One night, Daddy rolled over in bed
And locked eyeballs with Dressie

He then let out a horrendous yell
And Dressie just ran off screaming
Not sure if he saw what he thought he saw
Daddy wondered if he'd been dreaming

She'd peeked in several windows that night
And the whole situation was messy
People got together and decided that
Something had to be done about Dressie

Ewell was elected, since he had a car
To take her to the county looney bin
He left her with a nurse just inside the door
'Cause he just couldn't bear to go in

He worked for several hours that day
And didn't sell much of anything
When he trudged up his front porch steps
Dressie was sitting in Ewell's old swing

She told him she'd had such fun that day
Wondered when they could do it again
People realized they could tolerate her
And they decided to let her remain

I never knew what became of Dressie
Don't think she ever went very far
Except for the day that Uncle Ewell
Took her to Pikeville in his motor car

Kathleen McCoy Eldridge©
June 16, 2006
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