Preface
This family story was written by my late wife Sharla Kay about my Grandma Hattie who lived in the Southern Ozark hill country in the community of Flat Rock located 12 miles east of Summersville, Missouri.
Grandma Hattie raised 13 children, twelve girls and one boy, who provided her with 42 grandchildren. A highlight of her grandchildren's visit to Grandma’s house was listening to her relate hill country stories and sing a country ditty about “Ring Down the Bottom of a Kinbow.”
The following story is a true depiction, in the mind of this grandson, of what happened on most visits to Grandma's house; however, the characters and setting are fictional, but the song is very authentic. This children's story was presented as a finals project by Sharla Kay in her children's literature class in college.
I hope you enjoy this short story involving two great women in my life as much as I do in publishing it.
The Story: Rang Down the Bottom of a Kinbow
Many years ago a little boy named Billy lived in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri. Billy lived with his father, mother and grandmother in a small log cabin in the woods. Billy love to play in the woods with his dog Pickle. He liked to watch the frisky little squirrels jump from tree to tree. Sometimes he would skip stones on the river near the cabin.
One of the things Billy liked best was to listen to his grandmother's songs and stories. Every night at bedtime she sat by his bed and told about when she was a little girl.
Often granny let Billy choose the story or song he liked best and every time Billy would say, “Sing me Ring Down the Bottom of a Kinbow.”
“Aw, Billy,” Granny would say, "that song ain't nothing but pure hogwash."
"I know," said Billy, "but I love to hear those funny words."
“Aw, alright," Granny would say with a smile as she began to sing.
First came along was a hopping flea,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
He played his fiddle upon his knee,
Ring down the bottom of the Kinbow.
Kinbow Kingbow Hay-ru Ja-ru,
Hay come a Rap-a-trap,
Pennywinkle Flipp-a-doo Yellow-bug,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Next came along was a lady Bumblebee,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
She was all dressed up goin’ out to tea,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Kinbow Kingbow Hay-ru Ja-ru,
Hay come a Rap-a-trap,
Pennywinkle Flipp-a-doo Yellow-bug,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Next came along was a hopping frog,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
He ate three flies while sit’in on a log,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Kinbow Kingbow Hay-ru Ja-ru,
Hay come a Rap-a-trap,
Pennywinkle Flipp-a-doo Yellow-bug,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Next came along was a skinny cat,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
She ate so much it made her fat,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Kinbow Kingbow Hay-ru Ja-ru,
Hay come a Rap-a-trap,
Pennywinkle Flipp-a-doo Yellow-bug,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Next came along was an old brown cow,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
She tried to dance but she didn't know how,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Kinbow Kingbow Hay-ru Ja-ru,
Hay come a Rap-a-trap,
Pennywinkle Flipp-a-doo Yellow-bug,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Next came along was a wise old owl,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
He hooted and hooted at the old brown cow,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Kinbow Kingbow Hay-ru Ja-ru,
Hay come a Rap-a-trap,
Pennywinkle Flipp-a-doo Yellow-bug,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Next came along was an old yellar dog,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
He ate three shoulders of a great big hog,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Kinbow Kingbow Hay-ru Ja-ru,
Hay come a Rap-a-trap,
Pennywinkle Flipp-a-doo Yellow-bug,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
I'll lay my book upon the shelf,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
If you want more songs
You can sing them yourself,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
Kinbow Kingbow Hay-ru Ja-ru,
Hay come a Rap-a-trap,
Pennywinkle Flipp-a-doo Yellow-bug,
Ring down the bottom of a Kinbow.
By this time, Billy would sigh softly as his eyes grew heavy with sleep. Slowly he drifted to the land where cows danced, bees went out for tea, and fleas played their fiddle upon their knee.
