About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherAuthorhouse

ISBN-101434347303

ISBN-139781434347305

eBay Product ID (ePID)65734977

Product Key Features

Book TitleI Was a Waif and Child Servant... : No Regrets

Number of Pages492 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication Year2008

TopicWomen, Divorce & Separation, General

GenreFamily & Relationships, Biography & Autobiography

AuthorJoyce A. Robinson

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.5 in

Item Weight1.9 Oz

Item Length0.4 in

Item Width0.2 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

SynopsisJoyce Ann Burke had a family like all others. She found herself at age seven suddenly without any family. Her parents separated in 1942 and divorced (rare for that era). Her mother had custody and left the children alone (abandoned). Joyce Ann was awarded to the court, and they in turn incorporated her into the Hendricks County, Indiana Welfare system. She was a welfare child, no parents, no love and no home. She was a textbook waif. She was placed in the country farm home of a sixty one year old widow lady who owned a 110 acre working dairy farm. You see the picture. She was tiny for seven with snow white blond hair and blue eyes. A total stranger she called Grandma would be her new mother, of sorts. Joyce Ann would be the little running legs for this sixty one year old guardian, and essentially a child servant. The white frame farm house was typical of a 1940's farm home without electricity, plumbing, and central heat. This household was totally self-supporting from the farm. Foods were grown there and preserved for winter. Animals were butchered, cows were milked, hogs were slopped and fields were tended. The days were not programmed for play. Totally unaware, she learned life's lessons, and, although sometimes reluctantly, developed a powerful' work ethic. Fourteen years with Grandma produced a young woman who became her own person. It was not easy and decisions she had to make many times were difficult and unfair for a child. Joyce Ann could not afford to make mistakes. Why? She had no one and no where to go. Mistakes were not possible and she knew it. Well, Grandma scared her to death and she walked the walk! Thank you Grandma because Joyce Ann became a woman you would be proud to know today., Joyce Ann Burke had a family like all others. She found herself at age seven suddenly without any family. Her parents separated in 1942 and divorced (rare for that era). Her mother had custody and left the children alone (abandoned). Joyce Ann was awarded to the court, and they in turn incorporated her into the Hendricks County, Indiana Welfare system. She was a welfare child, no parents, no love and no home. She was a textbook waif. She was placed in the country farm home of a sixty one year old widow lady who owned a 110 acre working dairy farm. You see the picture. She was tiny for seven with snow white blond hair and blue eyes. A total stranger she called Grandma would be her new mother, of sorts. Joyce Ann would be the little running legs for this sixty one year old guardian, and essentially a child servant. The white frame farm house was typical of a 1940's farm home without electricity, plumbing, and central heat. This household was totally self-supporting from the farm. Foods were grown there and preserved for winter. Animals were butchered, cows were milked, hogs were slopped and fields were tended. The days were not programmed for play. Totally unaware, she learned life's lessons, and, although sometimes reluctantly, developed a 'powerful' work ethic. Fourteen years with Grandma produced a young woman who became her own person. It was not easy and decisions she had to make many times were difficult and unfair for a child. Joyce Ann could not afford to make mistakes. Why? She had no one and no where to go. Mistakes were not possible and she knew it. Well, Grandma scared her to death and she walked the walk Thank you Grandma because Joyce Ann became a woman you would be proud to know today. You will read a very happy ending of the story of Joyce Ann's life, and how she flourished, despite a lonely beginning. She researched her family genealogy with intensity, and found she really did have a family she never shared. In short, she found peace and grateful thanks.