JOSH HART                    0536-ALA/#223
     ALL RIGHT, MISS RUBY, I'S GLAD TO TELL YOU WHAT I KNOWS, AND IT AIN'T GONNA
  BE A LOT OF IFBBIN', BUT JES' LAK EVERYTHING WAS.  I'SE TELLING YOU LAK YOU AX
ED ME.
     NOW, 'BOUT HOW US IS GETTING ALONG.  I'S TELLING YOU DE TROOF, EF I WAS TOO
K 'FORE GOD, I'D SAY JES' LAK I'S SAYING NOW, EF MY CHILLUN EVER ET A MOUFFUL DA
T WASN'T HONEST, DEY ET IT SOMEWHAR ELSE, 'CA'SE I AIN'T EVER STOLE A MOUFFUL SO
MEPIN' T'EAT FOR 'EM IN ALL MY LIFE.  IT'S HONEST VITTLES DEY ET, AND VARMINTS I
'S KILLED IN DE WOODS, 'CA'SE US RAISED CHILLUNS FAST, AND US HAD A HEAP OF 'EM,
 SIXTEEN, IF I 'MEMBERS RIGHT, AND SOON'S I FOUND OUT DAT I COULD HELP FEED 'EM
 DAT WAY, I DONE A HEAP OF HUNTING.  AND EVERYBODY KNOWS I'S A GOOD HUNTER.   AL
ICE USED TO MAKE ME GO EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT; DEN US ALWAYS HAD A 'POSSUM OR TWO FO
R SUNDAY.
     WELL, I'LL TELL YOU,  ALICE IS A GOOD CHRISTIAN WOMAN, AND SHE KNOWED I'D H
UNT MIGHTY NIGH ALL NIGHT, AND SHE DIDN'T WANT NOBODY SEE ME COMING IN SUNDAY MO
RNING WID NO GUN AND NO DOGS;  SO I WENT EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT AND WENT IN DE WEEK
TOO, AND DAT HOLP A LOT TO FEED DE CHILLUN.  I DON'T OWE NOBODY, NOT A NICKEL.
     I LAK TO GOT IN DEBT, WHEN DE GOVERNMENT COME IN AND TRIED TO HELP US WID D
AT COTTON DOINGS.  DEY CUT IT DOWN SO ON ME, TELL I COULDN'T MAKE NOTHING;  BUT
 I'S GETTING ON ALL RIGHT NOW, AND SO IS MY CHILLUN.  US IS GO FOURTEEN LIVING,
AND DEY'S ALL BEEN TO SCHOOL, BUT AIN'T BUT ONE BEEN TO BOOKER WASHINGTON'S SCHO
OL, BUT DEY KIN ALL READ AND WRITE, AND SOME OF 'EM TEACHING SCHOOL OUT HERE IN
 DE COUNTRY.  DE DOCTOR, HE COME CLEAR OUT HERE TO SEE US, 'CA'SE I ALWAYS PAYS
HIM.  HE JES' HERE WID ALICE LAST NIGHT.  IT'S NINE MILE AND TWO OF DEM'S BACK H
ERE IN DE WOODS THROUGH MARSE JOHNNIE'S PLACE, BUT HE COME WHEN US WENT ATTER HI
M 'BOUT MIDNIGHT, AND DAT'S A COMFORT TO KNOW HE COME.
     WELL, I'LL TELL YOU MISS RUBY.  SHE WAS BACK DERE WID ME IN DE KITCHEN, AND
I GOT THROUGH EATING AND I COME OUT AND SET DOWN IN DE SWINGER TO GET SOME AIR.
DE MOON WAS SHINING, AND ALICE COME OUT, SAYING AS LOUD AS SHE COULD: WHO IS
YOU? WHO IS YOU?  DE CHILLUN RUN TO HER WID A LAMP EN I RUN, EN 'TWAN'T NOBODY D
ERE.  WELL, ALICE SAID 'TWAS A BIG MAN STANDING RIGHT 'SIDE HER DRESSED IN BLACK
 AND SHE CALLED IT DEATH.  US COULDN'T DO NOTHING WID HER, AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW N
OBODY, ME NOR DE CHILLUN, SO I WENT TO LIVINGSTON ATTER DR MCCAIN, AND HE COME A
ND SET WID HER 'BOUT A HOUR.  HE SAID 'TWAS DE 'CUTE 'DIGESTION OR SOMEPIN' LAK
DAT.  I KNOWED 'TWAN'T NO SPERRIT; I DON'T B'LIEVE IN NOTHING LAK DAT.
     YASSUM, IF YOU WANTS TO HEAR GHOST TALES, I KIN SHO TELL 'EM, CA'SE I SEED
DIS HERE WID MY OWN EYES.  'TAIN'T NO MADE UP NOTHING, NEEDER; JES' SOMEPIN' I S
EED JES' ALK I TELLS YOU.
     GREEN HALE AND ISHAM MATHEWS B'LONGED TO NEW HOPE CHURCH, AND DE REVEREND B
IRD HALL PASTORED DERE.  DEY AXED ME DOWN TO HEAR HIM PREACH ONE NIGHT, AND US T
HREE, ME AND GREEN AND ISHAM, WAS RIDING ALONG SIDE AND SIDE.  I'S RIDING A MULE
 BUT IT WAS A FAST MULE, AND GREEN COULDN'T KEEP UP, EN ISHAM SAID: SOMEBODY BEE
N HUNTING.  I LOOKED UP AND 'TWAS A SAPLING RIGHT 'CROSS DE ROAD.  HE SAID, FELL
OW OUGHTEN LEAVE NOTHING LAK DAT.  WHEN DE MOON GIT LOW, IT HIT HIM IN DE FACE.
 DE MOON WAS STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN DEN, AND I SAID: DAT'S RIGHT, AND I'S TELLING
 YOU DE TROOF, DAT SAPLING JES' RIZ UP, TURNED AROUN' IN DE AIR, EN DE BRESH PAR
T TICKLED MY MULE AND ISHAM'S HOSS IN DE FACE.  IF YOU EVER SEED 'EM BUCK AND RA
RE AND JUMP UP, DEY SHO DID.  DEN DEY TOOK OFF DOWN DE ROAD, AND WE DIDN'T HOLD
'EM BACK, AND HERE COME GREEN.  WE LEF' HIM BEHIND, 'CAUSE HIS MULE COULDN'T KEE
P UP.  IF YOU EVER HEARD A MAN PRAY MORE EARNESTER DAN OLD GREEN, I AIN'T]  HE C
OME DOWN DE ROAD AYELLING: LORD, US LIVE TOGEDDER, LET US DIE TOGEDDER.  HE MEAN
T FOR US TO WAIT ON HIM, BUT I COULDN'T HOLD DAT MULE, AND I WAN'T TRYING TO HOL
D HIM] I WAS GITTING AWAY FROM DAR]
     WHEN US COME TOGEDDER, US WAS A MILE FROM WHAR US DONE BEEN, DEN US HAD TO
DECIDE WHAT TO DO.  ISHAM SAID FOR US TO GO WID HIM, AND GREEN SAID NO, US NEARE
R TO HIS HOUSE; BUT US WAN'T NEAR TO NOBODY AND I WAS SO SCARED, HADN'T BEEN FOR
 ALICE, I'D A JES' STAYED RIGHT WHAR US WAS TELL SUNUP.  I SAID, NO, EVERY MAN B
ETTER TAKE KEER HIS OWN SELF, EN US DID.  WHEN I GOT HOME, I DIDN'T TAKE NOTHING
 OFF DAT MULE BU MYSELF.  I JES' LEFT HIM STANDING AT DE DO' WID DE SADDLE ON.
WHAT SKEERED GREEN SO, WAS A MAN, HE SAID, WHAT WAS RIDIN' RIGHT 'SIDE HIM EN DI
DN'T HAVE NO HEAD]  'TWAS A GOOD THING HE DIDN'T TELL ME DAT DEN, I'D JES' NACHE
RLY DRAP NEAD]
     NO'M, I DON'T 'ZACKLY BELIEVES IN GHOSTIES, BUT I HEARED MR MARSHALL LEE SA
Y HE WAS RIDING ON HOME ONE NIGHT AND A WOMAN STEPPED OUT IN DE ROAD AND SAY: MA
RAHLL, LET ME RIDE.  HE SAY: MY HOSS WON'T TOTE DOUBLE.  SHE SAY: YES IT WILL, A
ND SHE JUMP UP BEHIND HIM, AND DAT HOSS BUCKED AND JUMPED NIGH 'BOUT FROM UNDER
HIM, BUT WHEN HE GOT HOME, SHE WAN'T DERE.  HE SAY, HIS SISTER HAD JES' DIED AND
IT MOUT BEEN HER.
     'NOTHER TIME, ONE FRIDAY NIGHT, ALICE SAY US BETTER GIT A 'POSSUM FOR SUNDA
Y.  SHE SAY SHE DIDN'T WANT NONE CAUGHT ATTER MIDNIGHT ON SADDAY.  I WENT DOWN W
HAR I KNOWED DEY WAS 'SIMMONS, AND DEM DOGS NEVER TREED NOTHING; DEY JES' RUN 'R
OUND DAT 'SIMMON TREE LAK DEY GONE CRAZY.  I'M TELLING YOU DE TROOF, SOMEPIN' JU
MP OUTER DAT TREE, HAD A HEAD BACK'ERDS EN FOR'ERDS AND LOOK LAK A FLAME SHOOTIN
G OUT IT EYES]  'TWAN'T LAK NO 'POSSUM I EVER SEED, 'TWAN'T LAK NOTHING.  DEM DO
GS, LIZ AND ROGER EN CUBA, MADE A BLUGE AT ME.  COTTON WAS WAIST HIGH, AND I RUN
 DOWN DE COTTON ROW AND CROSS DE ROAD AND DEY TRAIL ME.  I SAY: WHAT AIL YOU DOG
S? AND DEY JES' COME ON ABARKIN', AND DEY RUN ME TO DE BRIDGE OVER KONKABYER.  S
O I CLUMB ON DE BANISTERS.  I SEED DEY HAD MY TRAIL AND DEY GONNA KETCH ME, SO I
 TURN 'ROUND AND TORE OUT FOR DE SLOUGH.  DEY LOST MY TRAIL DERE AND WHEN I GOT
HOME, 'BOUT DAYLIGHT, DE THORNS AND DE BRIARS AND ALL DONE TORE MY CLOTHES PLUM
OFF ME.  'TWAS T'REE DAYS 'FORE I EVER SEED DEM DOGS AG'IN.
     AND I KIN TELL YOU SOMEPIN' ELSE.  IT'S JES' LAK I SAY, I'S ALWAYS BEEN A H
UNTER, EN ONE NIGHT I WENT DOWN IN DE POST OAK WOODS HUNTING BY MYSELF.  DIS IS
A FACT; 'TAIN'T NO LIE.  IT'S WHAT I DONE.  I HAD A MIGHTY GOOD DOG, AND I JES'
KEPT WALKING AND WALKING, AND I GOT MIGHTY NIGH TO MR REDHEAD JIM LEE'S PLACE, A
ND I WALKED ON AND ATTER WHILE I SEED I'D LOST MY DOG.  I COULDN'T SEE HIM NOWHA
R AND I COULDN'T HEAR HIM NOWHAR, AND DEN SOMEPIN' SAY TO ME, JES' LAK DIS:  JOS
H, BLOW YOUR HORN]  JES' LAK DAT, LAK SOMEBODY TALKING TO ME.  WELL, I GIVE THRE
E LOUD, LONG BLOWS AND SET DERE AWHILE LONGER BUT DAT DOG DIDN'T COME.  CO'SE I
KNOWED HE'D COME SOMETIME, AND SO I JES' SET DERE ON DAT LOG AND I JES' TURNED A
 FOOL, I RECKON, BUT 'TWAS JES' LAK SOMEBODY TALKING TO ME, LAK IT 'PEARED TO ME
 WAS WHISPERING:  JOSH, YOU OUT HERE IN DESE WOODS BY YO'SELF.  YOU BLOWED DAT H
ORN AND YOUR ENEMY HEARD YOU.  YOU'S A FOOL YOU IS.  AND I WHISPERED BACK:  DAT'
S A FACT.  I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT IT WAS AWHISPERING TO ME, BUT US JES' TALK BACK
TO ONE 'NUTHER, AND 'BOUT DAT TIME I LOOK UP AND HERE COME THREE MEN RIDIN' ON N
EW SADDLES WID SHINY BUCKLES GWINE, SQUEECHY, SQUEECHY, JES LAK DAT.  I HEAR DE
HORSES FEET JES' AS NACHEL AS COULD BE.  I THOUGHT SHO I SEED 'EM, AND IT 'PEARS
 TO LOOK CLEAN OUTER REASON, BUT DEM MEN COME RIDING RIGHT ON UP TO ME, AND I JU
MP OVER DAT LOG AND LAY DOWN FLAT ON DE OTHER SIDE, AND IT LOOK LAK I COULD SEE
RIGHT THROUGH DAT LOG AND HEARED 'EM SAY:  DAR HE IS, DAR HE IS, AND I SEED 'EM
P'INTING DEY FINGER RIGHT WHAR I WAS.  I KNOWED DEM HOSSES GWINER STEP OVER DE L
OG ON TOP ME, AND I'S TELLING YOU DE TROOF, I JUMP UP FROM 'HIND DAT LOG AND RUN
8' OUT TWO MILES, AND IFIT HADN'T BEEN FOR DAT SLOUGH, I DON'T KNOW WHAR I'D A W
ENT.  I COME TO MYSELF IN DE MIDDLE OF DAT  WATER, UP TO HYAR, WAIST HIGH, AND D
AR WAS MY DOG, OLD CUBA, DONE TREED A 'POSSUM.
     DE FUST THING I 'MEMBERS 'BOUT SLAVERY TIME, I WAN'T NOTHING BUT A BOY, 'BO
UT FIFTEEN I RECKON, DAT'S WHAT MARSE JOHNNIE HORN SAY.  US BELONG TO MARSE IKE
HORN, MARSE JOHNNIE'S PA, RIGHT HERE ON DIS PLACE WHAR US IS NOW.  BUT DIS HERE
DIDN'T BELONG TO ME DEN, DIS HERE WAS ALL MARSE IKE'S PLACE.  MARSE IKE'S GIN GO
T OUTER FIX AND WE COULDN'T GIT IT FIXED.  COLONEL LEE HAD TWO GINS AND ONE OF '
EM WAS JES' BELOW OLD TURNER HOUSE.  RECOLLECK A BIG OLD HICKORY TREE?  WELL, DA
R'S WHAR IT WAS.
     I WAS PLENTY BIG 'NOUGH TO DRIVE DE MULES TO DE GIN.  SET ON DE LEVER AND D
RIVE 'EM, JES' LAK A 'LASSES MILL, SO DAT NIGHT MARSE IKE TOLD US HE WANT EVERYB
ODY GO WID HIM TO COLONEL LEE'S GIN NEX' MORNING, AND DIDN'T WANT NOBODY TO GIT
OUT AND GO AHEAD OF HIM.  DAT HELD UP DE GINNING; MADE US NOT TO GO TO DE GINHOU
SE TILL SUNUP.
      US7GOT DE MULES AND JES' WAITED.  'TWIXT DAYLIGHT AND SUNUP, US ALL STANDI
NG DAR AT DE GATE AND WE HEARED A LITTLE FINE HORN UP DE ROAD.  US DIDN'T KNOW W
HAT IT MEANT COMING TO DE HOUSE.  AND BIMEBY MR BEESLEY, WHAT LIVE NOT FUR FROM
MARSE IKE, HE RODE UP AND HAD FIVE DOGS, FIVE NIGGER DOGS, WHAT DEY CALL 'EM, AN
D SOON AS HE COME, MARSE IKE'S HOSS WAS SADDLED UP AND MARSE IKE AND HIM RODE OF
F DOWN DE ROAD AND DE DOGS WID 'EM, 'HEAD OF US.  US FOLLOWED 'LONG BEHIND 'EM,
STAY CLOSE AS DEY 'LOW US, TO SEE WHAT DEY WAS UP TO.  WHEN DEY GOT CLOSE TO DE
 GINHOUSE, GINHOUSE RIGHT 'SIDE DE ROAD, DEY STOP US AND MR BEESLEY TOLD OLD BRO
WN TO GO AHEAD.  OLD BROWN WAS DE LEAD DOG AND HAD A BELL ON HIM AND DEY WAS FAS
TEN TOGEDDER WID A ROD, JES' LAK STEERS.  HE TURN 'EM LOOSE, AND DEN HE POPPED D
E WHIP AND HOLLERED AT OLD BROWN AND TOLD HIM NIGGER.  OLD BROWN HOLLERED LAK HE
 HIT.  HE WANT TO GO.  AND DEY WAS A FENCE ON BOFE SIDES MADE IT A LANE, SO HE P
UT OLD BROWN OVER DE FENCE ON DE GINHOUSE SIDE, AND TOLD BROWN TO GO AHEAD.  HE
WENT AHEAD AND RUN ALL AROUN' DE GINHOUSE AND DEY LET HIM IN DE GINROOM AND HE G
RABBLED IN DE COTTONSEED IN A HOLE.
     DEN SOMEBODY HOLLER GUINEA JIM.
     I LOOKS AND I DIDN'T SEE HIM.  DIDN'T NOBODY SEE HIM, BUT DEY KNOW DAT'S WH
AR HE BEEN HIDING.  MR BEESLEY TOLD OLD BROWN HE JES' FOOLING HIM, AND OLD BROWN
 HOLLER AG'IN, LAK HE KILLING HIM, AND MR BEESLEY SAY: GO GIT DAT NIGGER AND OLD
 BROWN STARTED 'WAY FROM DAR LAK HE HADN'T BEEN HUNTING NOTHING, BUT HE WENT ARO
UN' AND AROUN' DAT GIN AND MR BEESLEY TOLD HIM HE HATTER DO BETTER DAN DAT OR HE
'D KILL HIM, 'CAUSE HE HADN'T COME DAR FOR NOTHING.
     BROWN MADE A CIRCLE AROUN' DAT GIN 'WAY DOWN TO DE FENCE DAT TIME, AND HE W
AS SO FAT HE COULDN'T GIT THROUGH DE FENCE.  YOU KNOW WHAT SORT OF FENCE, A RAIL
 FENCE IT WAS.  DEN HE STOP AND BARK FOR HELP.  NOW I SEED DIS WID MY OWN EYES.
 DEY PUT BROWN ON TOP DE FENCE AND HE JUMP WAY OUT IN DE ROAD, AND COULDN'T FIND
 NO SCENT FO JIM.  YOU KNOWS HOW DEY USED TO MAKE DEM RAIL FENCES?
     WELL, BROWN COME BACK DAR, AND DIS IS DE TRUFE, SO HELP ME GAWD.  HE BARK,
LOOK LAK, FOR DEM TO LIFT HIM BACK UP ON DE FENCE, AND BLESS GOD, IF DAT DOG DID
N'T WALK DAT RAIL FENCE LAK HE WALKING A LOG, AS FUR AS FROM HERE TO DAT GATE YO
NDER, AND TRACK JIM JES' LAK HE WAS ON DE GROUN'.  HE FELL OFF ONCE, AND DEY HAD
 TO PUT HIM BACK, AND HE RUN HIS TRACK RIGHT ON TO WHAR JIM JUMPED OFF DE FENCE
 WAY OUT IN DE ROAD.  OLD BROWN RUN RIGHT CROSS DE ROAD TO DE OTHER FENCE AND TR
EED AG'IN ON T'OTHER SIDE DE ROAD A GOOD PIECE, JES' LAK HE DONE ON DE OTHER SID
E, AND DEM OTHER DOGS, HE HADN'T NEVER TURNED DEM LOOSE.
     WHEN BROWN HE JUMP OFF DAT FENCE, HE JUMP JES' AS FUR AS HE KIN ON DE FIEL'
 SIDE, LAK HE GWINE KETCH JIM LAK A GNAT OR SOMEPIN' AND HE NEVER STOP BARKING N
O MORE, JES' LAK HE JUMPING A RABBIT.  DEN, MR BEESLEY TURN DEM OTHER DOGS LOOSE
 DAT HE HADN'T NEVDR TURNED LOOSE, 'CA'SE HE SAY OLD BROWN DONE GOT DE THING STR
AIGHT.  AND HE HAD IT STRAIGHT.  DEM DOGS RUN DAT TRACK RIGHT ON DOWN TO KONKABI
A AND CROSSED IT TO DE BLACKSHER SIDE.  DEY WAS A BIG OLD STRAW FIELD DAR DEN AN
D DEY CROSS IT AND COME ON THROUGH DAT FIELD, ALL DEM DOGS BARKIN' JES' LAK DEY
LOOKING AT JIM.  'RECKLEY, DEY COME UP ON JIM RUNNING WID A PINE BRESH TIED  BEH
IND HIM TO DRAG HIS SCENT AWAY, BUT IT DIDN'T BOTHER OLD BROWN.
     WHEN DEM DOGS 'GIN TO PUSH HIM, JIM DRAP DE BRESH AND RUNNED BACK TOWARD KO
NKABIA.  NOW ON KONKABIA DERE USED TO BE BEAVERS WORSE DEN ON SUCARNATCHEE NOW.
 DEY WAS A BIG BEAVER DAM 'TWIXT DE BRIDGE AND DE HALE PLACE, AND JIM RUN TO DAT
 BEAVER DAM.  YOU KNOW WHEN BEAVERS BUILD DEY DAM, DEY CUT DOWN TREES AND LET 'E
M FALL IN DE CREEK, AND PULL IN TRASH EN BRESH SAME AS FOLKS, TO DAM DE WATER UP
 DAR TELL ITS KNEE DEEP.  DE DOGS SEEN HIM, OLD BROWN LOOKING AT HIM, JES' 'FORE
 HE JUMP IN 'BOVE DE DAM RIGHT 'MONGST DE TRASH AND THINGS THEY'D DRUG IN DAR.
BROWN SEED HIM AND HE JUMP IN RIGHT BEHIND HIM.  JIM JES' DIVE DOWN UNDER DE RAF
F, EN LET HE NOSE STICK OUTER DE WATER.  EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE JIM HE PUT HE HEA
D DOWN UNDER, HE HOLDING TO A POLE DOWN DAR, AND ONCE MR BEESLEY SEED HIM, HE JE
S' LET HIM STAY DAR.
     BROWN WOULD SWIM 'BOUT 'MONGST DE BRESH, BACKERDS AND FOR'ERDS, AND TERRECK
LY MR BEESLEY TOLE OLD BROWN, GO GIT HIM.   DEN ALL DE MEN GOT POLES AND DUG 'BO
UT IN DE RAFF HUNTING HIM.  DEY KNOWED HE WAS DR, EN MARSE IKE HAD A POLE GIGGE
N AROUN' TRYING TO FIND HIM TOO.  DEN HE TOLD MR BEESLEY TO GIVE HIM DE HATCHET
AND LET HIM FIX HE POLE.  HE SHARPEN DE POLE RIGHT SHARP, DEN MARSE IKE START TO
 JUG AROUN' WID DE POLE, AND HE KINDER LAUGH TO HISSE'F, 'CA'SE HE KNOWED HE DON
E FOUND JIM.  'BOUT DAT TIME JIM POKE HE HEAD UP AND  SAY:  DIS HERE ME, AND EVE
RYBODY HOLLER.  DEN HE AX  'EM PLEASE, FOR GOD'S SAKE, DON'T LET DEM DOGS GIT HI
M.  DEY TOLD HIM COME ON OUT.
     YOU SEE, JIM BELONGED TO MISS MARY LEE, MR JOHN LEE'S MA, AND HIS PA WAS KI
LT IN DE WAR, SO MR BEESLEY WAS LOOKING OUT FOR HER.  WELL, DEY TOOK JIM OUTER D
AR, AND MR BEESLEY WHIPPED HIM A LITTLE AND TOLD HIM:  JIM YOU PUT UP A PRETTY G
OOD FIGHT AND I'S GWINE TO GIVE YOU A START FOR A RUN WID DE DOGS.
     JIM TOOK OUT TOWARDS MISS MARY'S AND MR BEESLEY HELT OLD BROWN AS LONG AS H
E COULD.  DEY CAUGHT JIM AND BIT HIM RIGHT SMART.  YOU SEE DEY HAD TO LET 'EM BI
TE HIM A LITTLE TO SATISFY DE DOGS.  JIM COULD HAVE MADE IT, 'CEPT HE WAS ALL HO
T AND WORE OUT.
     DAT'S 'BOUT ALL I KNOWS, 'CEPT US BELONGED TO MARSE IKE HORN, AND FUST US B
ELONGED TO MR PRICE WILLIAMS, WHAT RUN DE HOTEL IN LIVINGSTON.  HE TOOK MY GRAN'
MA TO MOBILE, DEN HE DIED.  US MA BELONGED TO DEY TWO CHILLUN, MISS NANCY GULLEY
 MR JAKE'S WIFE, EN MISS BURT BLAKENEY.  MARSE IKE HORN WAS DEY UNCLE, AND US AL
L COME 'ROUND TO HIM, AND US BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.  MY MAMMY WAS ANN CAMPBELL AN
D MY PAPPY WAS JOHN HORN, AND US AIN'T NEVER HAD NO TROUBLE WID NOBODY 'BOUT NOT
HING.
     WE' HAVING A BARBECUE ON DE FO'TH OF JULY AND US WANTS YOU TO C6ME DOWN TO
 IT, IF ALICE GITS ALONG WELL, AND I'S GWINE TELL YOU 'BOUT ROD AND BIG JOHN, AN
D JOHN GRAVERSON WHEN DEY RUNNED AWAY AND ABOUT HOW OLD MAN JIM DEVERS, ALICE'S
STEP PA, HID 'EM IN DE CAVE UNDER HE HOUSE WHAR DEY HAD AS NICE HAMS AS I EVER E
T, CO'SE A LITTLE TAINTED, BUT SHO WAS GOOD.  DEM NIGGERS WAS FAT AS BEAVERS, JE
S' SETTIN' DAR EATIN' DAT MEAT.
     AND 'BOUT DE TIME MARSE IKE SLIP UP ON A HEAP OF NIGGERS AT A  FROLIC 'TWIX
T SUMTERVILLE AND LIVINGSTON AND PUT A END TO DE FROLIC.  DE NIGGERS HAVING A BI
G DANCE, AND MARSE IKE AND DE PATTERROLLERS HAVING A BIG RUN, SAID DEY WANTED TO
 HAVE SOME FUN, AND DEY DID.  SAID HE EASED UP ON 'EM WID A WHITE SHEET 'ROUND H
IM AND A BIG BRESH IN HE HAND AND SOMEHOW OR 'NOTHER, DEY DIDN'T SEE HIM TELL HE
 SPOKE.  DEN HE HOLLER BY GOD I'M BIRD BLINDING, AND HE SAY DEM NIGGERS TORE DOW
N DEM DIRT CHIMLEYS AND RUN T'ROUGH DAT HOUSE.  HE SAY HE AIN'T NEVER HEEAD SICH
 A FUSS IN A CORN FIELD IN HIS BORN DAYS.  WHAT HE MEAN 'BOUT BIRD BLINDIN'?  WH
EN YOU GOES IN DE CANEBRAKE IT SO THICK, YOU TAKES A LIGHT TO SHINE DE BIRD'S EY
ES AND BLIND 'EM,  DEN YOU KIN KETCH 'EM.  DAT WHAT HE CALL BIRD BLINDIN'.  YASS
UM, MARSE IKE IN DAT TOO.  HE COULDN'T STAND FOR 'EM TO HAVE NO FUN 'THOUT HE IN
 IT.
     COME BACK ON DE FO'TH OF JULY, AND I'S GWINE TELL YOU SOME SHO NUFF TALES.
 YOU SORT OF CAUGHT ME WHEN MY MIN' WA'N'T ZACKLY ON IT.  I AIN'T HAD NO SLEEP,
JES' SETTIN' 'SIDE DE BED BY ALICE, KETCHING A NOD NOW AND DEN.  I'S TOO SLEEPY
TO SING YOU NO SONG, BUT ONE I LAKS IS DIS:  IT SUITS ME NOW IN MY AGE:  MY LATE
S' SUN IS SINKING FAS' MY RACE IS NEARLY RUN, MY STRONGES' TRIAL NOW IS PAS', MY
 TRIUMP' JES' BEGUN.
     YOU COME BACK AND I'LL SING DE RES', I'S GOT TO SEE 'BOUT THINGS NOW.
 X  XXX