Quote 10
"Abby, I'm glad you finished high school and for yourself a nice education."
"It wasn't always nice, Mother Barker." Abby told the story of her humiliation at the Christmas program. (23.30-31)
Okay, so being humiliated in high school is totally terrible and awful. But we're thinking Abby's missing Mother Barker's point here—Abby received a formal education, all the way through high school. We're willing to bet Mother Barker wasn't afforded the same given her age and when she grew up.
Quote 11
"These here are mysteries they don't know about in the schools. There's power in you. Why, you could hit a straight lick with a crooked stick if you wanted to. And if you wished it, folks wouldn't want to meet you walking nor riding."
The old woman folded her hands in her lap and set her rocking chair in motion. She nodded her head as she rocked, stressing her agreement with the words she had just spoken.
"Why don't you just tell me the sweet part, where you do good for people?" Abby implored.
"The good part? The sweet part?" Mother Barker thought for a minute. "I got to give you the bitter and the sweet. I can't give you the light without showing you the dark." (23.68-71)
As Mother Barker prepares Abby to learn about folk remedies, midwifery, and more, she refuses to only show her the good parts—a key part of truly learning is understanding the bad along with the good. And importantly, school simply can't teach you everything.