MOM JESSIE SPARROW 0446-SC_/# HONEY, MY WHITE FOLKS BEEN WELL-TO-DO PEOPLES. DEY AIN' BEEN NO POOR WHITE TRASH. DEY HAB 'STONISHING BLOOD IN DEY VEIN. I BEEN B'LONG TO MASSA SAM STEV ENSON WHA' LIB RIGHT DOWN DERE '"ROSS OLE SMITH SWAMP. DEY AIN' HAV NO CHILLUN DEY OWN, BUT DEY IS RAISE UH POOR WHITE GIRL DERE, BETTY. DEY GI'E SHE EVE'TH'N G SHE HA'E EN DEY SCHOOL SHE TOO. DE OLE MAN, HE MIND AIN' BEEN ZACTLY RIGHT WHEN HE DIE. DEY SAY HE BURY SO ME O' HE MONEY DOWN DERE ON HE PLACE JES 'FORE HE DIE. COASE I DUNNO NUTHIN 'BO UT IT, BUT DATS WHA' DEY TELLS ME. DEY SAY DEY NEVER IS FIND DAT MONEY A'TER HE BEEN DEAD. RECKON IT DERE YET, I DUNNO. PEOPLES USE'ER AW DE TIME BE PLOUGH U P KEGS EN BOX FULL O' MONEY EN VA'UABLES WHA' DE WELL-TO-DO FOLKS BEEN HIDE DERE. DE WHITE PEOPLES USE'ER BURY DEY SILVER EN DEY MONEY EN AW DEY VA'UABLES LA TE ON UH EVENIN' ER EARLY ON UH MORNIN' WHEN DE YANKEES COME 'BOUT. DE YANKEES 'STROY AW US WHITE PEOPLES VA'UABLES WHA' DEY IS SEE. DEM YANKEES SHO' WUZ 'STR UCTIVE WHEY DEY IS WENT. MY OLE MAMMY BEEN SALLY STEVENSON 'FORE SHE MARRY EN DEN SHE WUZ SALLY BOWE NS. MY OLE MISSUS TAKE SHE 'WAY FROM HER MAMMY WHEN SHE WUZ JES UH LITTLE SMALL GIRL EN NEVER WOULDN'T 'LOW HER GO IN DE COLORED SETTLEMENT NO MORE. SHE BEEN RAISE UP IN DE WHITE FOLKS HOUSE TO BE DE HOUSE GIRL. NEVER DIDN'T WORK NONE TA LL OUTSIDE. SHE SLEEP ON UH PALLET RIGHT DOWN BE DE MISSUS BED. SHE SLEEP DERE SO SHE KIN KEEP DE MISSUS KIVVER UP AW T'ROUGH DE NIGHT. MY MAMMY AIN' NEVER D O NUTHIN BUT BEEN DE HOUSE GIRL. MY MISSUS LARNT SHE HOW TO CUT EN SEW SO SHE B EEN GOOD UH SEAMSTRESS IS DERE WUZ ANYWHEY. SHE HELP DE MISSUS MAKE AW DE PLANT ATION CLOTHES EN DERE AIN' NEVER BEEN NO BETTER WASHER EN IRONER NO WHEY DEN MY OLE MAMMY WUZ. WHEN I WUZ UH LITTLE SMALL GIRL, US LIB RIGHT DERE IN OLE MISSUS YARD. DEY LE' US CHILLUN PLAY AW US WANNA DEN. NEVER DID HADDER DO NONE HARD WORK TALL. MY MASSA IS SOME UH TIME SEND WE CHILLUN IN DE FIELD TO SCARE DE CROW OFFEN DE CORN. AIN' NEVER BEEN NO HOE HAND IN ME LIFE. WHEN DEY SEND WE TO SCARE DE CRO W 'WAY, WE IS GO IN DE FIELD WHEN FUSS SUN UP EN WE IS STAY DERE AW DAY. COASE WE IS COME TO DE HOUSE WHEN 12 O'CLOCK COME EN GE' WE SUMPIN UH EAT. DESE WHITE FOLKS 'ROUND HERE DON' HAB NO CHILLUN TO SCARE DE CROW OFFEN DEY CORN NOWADAYS. DEY HAS AW KIND O' OLE STICK SOT 'BOUT IN DE FIELD WID OLE PANT EN COAT FLY ING 'BOUT ON DEM TO SCARE DE CROW 'WAY. DERE BE PLENTY CROW 'BOUT NOWADAYS TOO. I HEARS EM HOLLERIN AW 'BOUT IN DIS SKY 'ROUND 'BOUT HERE. I 'MEMBER WHEN I USE'ER NU'SE DE WHITE FOLKS BABY. I AL'AYS DID LUB TO NU' SE DE BABIES, BUT I DIDN'T NEVER LUB TO NU'SE NO UG'Y BABY. I LUB TO HAB UH PRE TTY BABY TO NU'SE. DIDN'T LAK NO BOY BABY NEITHER. DON' LAK BOY BABY NOHOW. L UBBED LITTLE GIRL BABY. LUBBED TO TAKE DE LITTLE GIRLS EN DRESS EM UP IN DEY PR ETTY CLOTHES EN CARRY DEM OUT UNDER DE TREES TO 'MUSE DEM WHEY DERE WUZ PLENTY P EOPLES 'BOUT TO SEE EM. MAMMY AL'AYS'UD FUSS AT ME 'BOUT PUTTIN' ON DEY BEST CL OTHES, BUT I AIN' NEVER DO LAK DESE NU'SE NOWADAYS. I TAKE CARE O' BABIES, DIDN 'T NEVER 'LOW EM WALLOW IN DE DIRT LAK UNNAH SEE DESE NU'SE DO 'BOUT HERE DESE DAY EN TIME. I 'MEMBERS ONE TIME I BEEN NU'SE LITTLE BOY BABY EN I IS LARNT HE HAIR TO C URL JES UZ PRETTY. I BRESH HE HAIR EVE'Y MORNING EN TWIST IT 'ROUND ME FINGER E N HE IS HAD PRETTY CURL UZ DERE WUZ ANYWHEY. NEVER LAK DE MISSUS TO CUT MY BABY HAIR OFF NEITHER WHEN I HAD LARNT IT TO CURL. I BEEN LUB TO WASH LITTLE BABY CLOTHES TOO. I IS PRIMP EM UP SO NICE. NEV ER DID PUT NO STARCH MUCH IN EM. I DO ME BEST ON EM EN WHEN I GE' T'ROUGH, DEY BEEN LOOK TOO NICE TO LE' DE CHILD MUSS UP. HONEY, I CAN' STAND NO CHILLUN FUSS 'ROUND ME-NO MORE DESE DAYS. DON' HAB NO CHILLUN FUSS 'ROUND ME PEACEFUL LITTLE PLACE. I TELL AW ME CHILLUN EN GRANDC HILLUN EN GREAT-GRANDCHILLUN DAT I CAN' STAND NO CHILLUN FUSS 'ROUND ME NO MORE. MY SAMMIE, HE MARRY THREE TIMES EN I AX HIM WHY HE WANNA MARRY SO MANY TIME. I AIN' NEVER SEE NO MAN I IS WAN' SINCE MY OLE MAN DIE. I ArN' WHA' I USE'nR tO BE, CHrLD. I ArN'& klE O& ONUTHIN MORE NOW BUT D EM LITTLE BIT O' CLOTHES WHA' MISS BETTY HAB. COASE SHE CLOTHES AIN' HARD TO WA SH. MISS BETTY MIGHTY CLEAN, HONEY, SHE MIGHTY CLEAN. SHE DON' STRIP SHE BED B UT EVE'Y UDDER WEEK EN DEN DE SHEET AIN' DIRTY ONE SPECK. SHE DOES WASH SHE SEL F EVE'Y DAY EN DE SHEET DON' GE' DE CREASE OUT DEM FROM ONE TIME DEY WASH TILL D E NEXT. I SAY I GWINNA WASH MISS BETTY CLOTHES JES UZ LONG UZ DE MASSA'LL LE' M E EM. I DUNNO, CHILD, I DON' 'MEMBER NUTHIN MORE DEN I TELL YUH DE UDDER TIME. I S YUH BEEN TO SEE MAGGIE BLACK YET? I DUNNO HOW OLD SHE IS, BUT I KNOW SHE BEEN HERE. NO, CHILD, MAGGIE SIN' DEAD. SHE LIB RIGHT DOWN DERE NEXT BETHEL CHURCH. SHE MOVE 'WAY FROM MISS MULLINS HOUSE WHEN GUS DIE. COASE I AIN' NE'ER BEEN IN SHE HOUSE A'TER SHE MOVE DERE, BUT DEY SAY SHE HAB UH MIGHTY RESTFUL PL ACE DERE. DAT WHA' DEY TELL ME. MAGGIE OUGHTA COULD TELL YUH AW 'BOUT DEM TIME S. I AIN' KNOW NUTHIN MORE TO TELL YUH. DON' TELL YUH AW I KNOW. 6>+O *Y MAMMY WUZ? MY MAMMY BEEN SALLIE STEVENSON 'FORE SHE MARRY EN DEN A' TER SHE MARRY, SHE WUZ SALLIE BOWENS. DON' KNOW WHEY DEY GE' DE BOWENS FROM CAU SE MY PA BEEN B'LONG TO BE UH EVANS. DAT HOW COME MISS BETTY KNOW SO MUCH 'BOUT ME. SHE SAY WE MIGHTY NIGH DE SAME AGE. COASE I DON' NEVER 'SPUTE MISS BETTY WORD, BUT I DON' THINK SO. N;, CHILD, I DUNNO. DUNNO HOW MANY CHILLUN MY MAMMY IS HAB. DEY AW BEEN D IE SECH UH LONG TIME DAT I DON' FORGET. COASE GEORGE, DE CARPENTER, MY BROTHER. HE BEEN TRAIN UP BY UH GOOD CARPENTER MAN EN HENRY, WHA' PAINT AW DESE HOUSE ' BOUT HERE, B'LONG TO BE ANNUDER ONE UV WE. IT JES LAK 'BOUT MY OWN CHILLUN, I A IN' 'MEMBER HOW MANY DEY WUZ. I KNOW DERE 'BOUT T'REE UV DEM BIGGUNS DEAD, BUT AW DEM BABIES, LAWD, I AIN' 'MEMBER HOW MANY DERE WUZ. CAN' NEVER RECOLLECT NUT HIN 'BOUT HOW MANY DERE WUZ. CAN' NEVER RECOLLECT NUTHIN 'BOUT HOW MANY DERE BE EN COME HERE. MY MAMMY BEEN DE HOUSE GIRL IN MY WHITE FOLKS HOUSE. SHE MARRY WHEN SHE AI N' BUT 13 YEAR OLD. DAT WHA' SHE TELL ME. SHE SAY SHE MARRY TO GE' OUTER DE BI G HOUSE. DAT HOW COME SHE MARRY SO SOON. SAY DE WHITE FOLKS TAKE SHE WAY FROM SHE MAMMY WHEN SHE WON' BUT UH LITTLE SMALL GIRL EN MAKE SHE SLEEP RIGHT DERE ON UH-PALLET IN DE MISSUS ROOM AW DE TIME 'FORE SHE MARRY. COASE A'TER SHE MARRY, SHE BEEN DE HOUSE GIRL RIGHT ON BUT SHE NEVER STAY IN DE MISSUS HOUSE WHEN NIGH T COME. US CHILLUN AIN' BEEN 'LOW TO STAY IN DE BIG HOUSE. DEY HAB UH ROOM PUT ON DE KITCHEN FA MY MAMMY EN SHE FAMILY TO LIB IN. WE CHILLUN STAY RIGHT DERE IN DE YARD WHEY MY MAMMY COULD OLLK A'TER US IN EN 'ROUND. MY MAMMY HADDER STAY 'BOUT MY OLE MISSUS AW DE DAY EN HELP SHE CUT EN SEW DE PLANTATION CLOTHES EN W ASH EN IRON. DEN SHE HADDER HELP MAKE QUILTS OUTER AW DE SCRAP DAT BEEN LEFT O' ER A'TER DE GARMENT WUZ CUT OUT. US CHILLUN BEEN FED FROM DE TABLE RIGHT DERE IN DE MISSUS KITCHEN EN SOME U V DE TIME MY MAMMY UD BRING US SUMPTIN TO EAT, WHA' WUZ COOK IN DE MISSUS KITCHE N, EN LE' US EAT IT IN SHE ROOM. DEY'UD GI'E US HOMINY EN MILK EN MEAT FA US BR EAKFAST. MY WHITE FOLKS HADDER UH LOT UV COWS EN DEY'UD GI'E US CHILLUN PLENTY MILK EN CLABBER TO EAT. WE IS HAB MILK EN CLABBER EVE'Y DAY EN DEY IS GI'E US P LENTY MEAT TO EAT, SO DEY IS DAT. CHILD, I AIN' KNOW NO SLACK EATIN' 'ROUND MY OLE MISSUS. SOME UV DE TIME WE HAB HOECAKE EN DEN ANNUDER TIME DEY'UD GI'E US O BBEN BREAD. DEY COOK EVE'YTHING ON DE FIREPLACE IN DEM DAYS, EVE'YT'ING. JES H AB RODS PUT 'CROSS DE FIREPLACE IN DE KITCHEN WID POT HANG ON IT. DAT WHEY DEY COOK US RATION. DEY'UD GI'E US T'INGS LAK PEAS EN COLLARDS EN MEAT FA WE DINNER. DEN DEY'UD GI'E US UH BIG BOWL UV CORN BREAD EN CLABBER LATE IN DE EVEN IN' CAUSE JES LAK I IS CALL TO YUH JES NOW, DEY IS USE MILK RIGHT SMART IN DEM D AYS. I LAK EVE'YT'ING WHA' DEY IS HAB TO EAT DEN. DEY NEVER EAT LAK DESE PEOPL ES EATS NOWADAYS. I WON' LARNT TO LAK AW KIND UV T'ING. DEY USE'ER COOK POKE S ALAD WHA' BEEN SEASON WID MEAT. DON' YUH KNOW WHA' DAT? POKE SALAD IS COME UP JES LAK DOSE WEED OUT DERE EN DEY IS CUT DE TOP OFFEN DEM EN TAKE AW DE HARD PAR T OUTER EM EN DEN DEY IS BOIL EM UH LONG TIME WID MEAT. DEY IS EAT RIGHT GOOD T OO. DON' LAK SPINACH EN AW DAT SUMPTIN EN DON' LAK CELERY NEITHER. DON' LAK BU TTER PUT IN NUTHIN I EATS. I LAKS ME SQUASH FRIED DOWN BROWN LAK WID GREASE IN DE PAN. I LAKS ME BEETS WID UH LITTLE VINEGAY ON EM EN SEASON WID SOME SUGAR SP RINKLE ON EM. DON' LAK EM JES WID NUTHIN BUT UH LITTLE SALT EN BUTTER SMEAR AW O'ER DEM LAK SOME UV DESE PEOPLES 'BOUT HERE EAT EM NOWADAYS. YAS'UM, WE USE'ER EAT PLENTY UV EM POSSUM. EVE'Y ONE DEY IS KETCH, US PARE NT COOK IT. US EAT AW KINDER WILD ANIMAL DEN SECH UZ COON, POSSUM, RABBIT, SQUI RREL, EN AW DAT. HAB PLENTY UV FISH IN DEM DAYS TOO. HAB POND RIGHT NEXT DE WH ITE FOLKS HOUSE EN IS KETCH AW DE FISH DERE DAT WE IS WAN'. SOME UV DE TIME DEY 'UD FRY EM EN DEN SOME UV DE TIME DEY'UD MAKE UH STEW. DEY'UD PUT UH LITTLE SAL T EN ONION EN GREASE IN DE STEW EN ANYT'ING DEY BEEN GE' HOLD UV. MASSA SAM BEEN HAB UH HEAP UV COLORED PEOPLES 'SIDES WE, BUT DEY LIB UP ON DE HILL IN DE QUARTERS. MY MISSUS, SHE SEE TO IT SHE SELF DAT DEY HAB GOOD BED WHA' TO SLEEP ON EN PLENTY SUMPTIN UH EAT. SHE DOCKER EM WHEN DEY GE' SICK TOO EN SHE BE MIGHTY ANXIOUS EF DEY SICK MUCHA. US HAB GOOD CLOTHES EN SHOES DEN TO O. COASE DE PEOPLES'UD WEAR MORE CLOTHES DEN, EN DEY'UD PUT ON MORE UNDEY SHIRT IN DE WINTER DEN DEY WEAR IN DE SUMMER. MY WHITE FOLKS'UD MAKE DE PLANTATION C LOTHES OUTER GINGHAM EN JEANES CLOTH MOSTLY. DAT JEANES CLOTH BE WHA' DEY MAKE LITTLE COAT EN PANT OUTER. DAT SUMPTIN JES LAK HOMESPUN. NO, CHILD, DEY AIN' NE'ER GI'E US NO MONEY DEN. NEVER NEED NO MONEY DEN. MY MASSA BEEN PROVIDE EVE'YTHING US HAB, HONEY, EVE'YT'ING. WE AIN' LAK FA NUTH IN DEN. WE CHILLUN AIN' BEEN BIG 'NOUGH TO DO NUTHIN BUT SCARE DE CROW OFFEN DE COR N EN SOME UV DE TIME MY OLE MISSUS'UD HAB WE CHILLUN SWEEPIN' OUTER IN DE YARD W HEN SHE BE OUT DERE WID US. 8YA\'U*, HONEY, MY WHITE FOLKS AL'AYS'UD SEE DAT DEY COLORED PEOPLES'UD GO T O CHU'CH EVE'Y SUNDAY. WE HADDER WALK DERE TO DE WHITE BIG METHODIST CHU'CH UP DE ROAD EN SOT EN DE GALLERY. YAS'UM DE WHITE FOLKS IS STAY DOWN EN WE IS GO UP. EF WE CHILLUN NEVER GO, MY OLE MISSUS'UD TEACH US DE CATECHISM RIGHT DERE I N DE BACK YARD. HADDER WASH US FACE EN HAND EN COME DERE TO SHE. YAS'UM, I 'ME MBERS DAT AW RIGHT. -MY WHITE oOLKS'UD-RIDE tO CHU'CH rN DEY BIG-OLE CjRrIAGE&nN&DEYDRIVER'UD H AB DEY BIG BLACK HOSSES BRESH JES UZ SHINY. I FORGE' DE DRIVER NAME. DEY HAB U H PAIR UV DEM BLACK HOSSES WHA' BEEN MATCH HOSSES EN DEY IS LOOK JES LAK. EN DE N ONE DAY DE OLE YANKEES IS COME T'ROUGH DERE EN DEY IS CARRY ONE UV DEM 'WAY. A'TER DAT DEY HADDER USE ONE UV DE PLANTATION HOSS IN DE PLACE UV DIS CARRIAGE H OSS. DE MISSUS'UD AL'AYS TAKE MY MAMMY IN DE CARRIAGE WID SHE TOO. NEVER LEFT H ER HOME, SO SHE TELL ME. JES STUFF SHE DOWN DERE 'TWEEN DE SEATS SOMEWHEY. NO, HONEY, DERE AIN' NOT A SOUL LIVE HERE BUT ME. MAN STAY IN DAT OTHER RO OM DERE JUST TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF COMPANY FOR ME WHEN NIGHT COME. HE AIN' NOT A SPECK OF KIN TO ME, NOT A SPECK. OH, HE PAY ME A LITTLE SOMETHIN, BUT IT NOT MUCH. MOSTLY, I DOES WANT HIM FOR PROTECTION LIKE. AIN' GOT BUT JUST DIS ONE R OOM MYSELF CAUSE DAT PART OUT DERE DOES BE JUST LIKE OUT IN DE YARD. DIS MISS M ARY WATSON HOUSE EN SHE TELL ME STAY ON HERE DAT DE HOUSE AIN' WORTH NO FIXIN. DON' KNOW HOW LONG I BE HERE. NO, HONEY, I AIN' GOT NO PROPERTY ONLY JUST MYSEL F. AIN' GOT NOT A BIT. AIN' GOT NOTHIN, CHILD. I CAN' DO NO WORK DESE DAYS BU T DAT LITTLE BIT OF WASHIN DAT MISS BETTY HAVE EN DAT AIN' NOTHIN TO DEPEND ON. JUST TRY TO DO A LITTLE SOMETHIN TO HELP MYSELF ALONG. NOTHIN WORTH TO SPEAK B OUT THOUGH. MISS BETTY SAY WE BOUT ONE AGE. MY DADDY BELONGED TO MISS BETTY FATHER EN DAT HOW-COME SHE KNOW DERE AIN' MUCH DIFFERENCE IN US AGE. MY MAMMY WAS DE HOUS E 'OMAN ON LOD MAN SAM STEVENSON PLANTATION EN DAT WHE' I WAS BORN. WHEN WE WAS FREED, I WAS A LITTLE SMALL GIRL EN MY DADDY MOVED US UP HERE IN TOWN RIGHT OVE R DERE ON DE GIBSON PLACE. FORE DEN, WHEN HE HAVE A MIND TO SEE US, HE HAD TO C OME CROSS DE SWAMP DERE TO OLD MAN SAM STEVENSON PLACE EN DAT DE REASON HE MOVE US. HE SAY IT TAKE TOO MUCH PAINS TO KEEP DAT GWINE BACK EN FORTH. I REMEMBERS I FINISHED GROWIN RIGHT UP HERE IN DIS TOWN OVER DERE ON DE GIBSON PLACE. MY M AMMY HAVE TASK TO COOK DERE EN MY DADDY BEEN DE BUTLER MAN, BUT I WAS SMALL DEN. CAN' RECOLLECT MUCH BOUT IT. RECKON I WOULDN' HARDLY KNOW DE PLACE WHE' I WAS BORN IF I GO BACK DERE NOW. DE OLD MAN SAM STEVENSON HAD NICE HOUSE, BUT IT BU RN DOWN LONG TIME BACK. DEY TELL ME DAT DE FIRST COURT DE PEOPLES IN MARION DID EVER KNOW BOUT MEET RIGHT DERE ON DAT SAME SPOT. COASE I DON' KNOW NOTHIN BOUT IT, BUT DAT WHAT I HEAR DEM SAY. MY MASSA HAD A BIG PLANTATION, HONEY, A BIG PLANTATION WID HEAP OF COLORED PEOPLE HOUSE. I REMEMBER DEY CALL UP DAT WAY FROM DE HOUSE ON DE HILL EN ALL DE SnRVjNTS&qOUbE2bET uP&DnRE. sO I HEjR-MY-MjMMY bAY2bHEKNOW BOUT SOME WHITE FO LKS DAT DIDN' HALF FEED DEY COLORED PEOPLE EN DIDN' HALF CLOTHE DEM IN DE WINTER -NEITHnR,BBUTOUR WHITE FOLKS ALWAYS TREAT US MIGHTY GOOD. PUT SHOES ON ALL US FEET IN DE WINTER EN GIVE US ABUNDANCE OF RATION ALL DE TIME. HONEY, I HEAR DEMTALKIN BOUT DAT WAR, BUT I CAN' TELL YOU NOTHIN BOUT DAT. I RECOLLECTS I SEE DEM YANKEES WHEN DEY COME THROUGH MY MASSA PLANTATION EN TOO K HIS BEST CARRIAGE HORSE. HAD TWO OF DEM BIG BLACK CARRIAGE HORSES DAT WAS MAT CH HORSES EN DEM YANKEES CARRY ONE OF DEM AWAY WID DEM. I HEAR DEM SAY DE WHITE FOLKS WOULD BURY DEY SILVER EN MONEY IN POTS IN BARRELS TO HIDE DEM FROM DE YAN KEES. OH, DEM FIDDLIN YANKEES AX NOBODY NOTHIN. JUST GO IN DE HOUSE EN TAKE DA T WHAT DEY WANTED. GO RIGHT IN DE HOUSE EN PLUNDER ROUND EN TAKE DE PEOPLES BES T THINGS. WOULDN' TAKE NO COMMON THINGS. WASN' RIGHT, BUT DEY DONE IT. I HEAR TALK DAT A MAN PLOWED UP A CHEST OR SOMETHIN ANOTHER DE OTHER DAY FULL OF MONEY , SO DEY TELLS ME. I HEAR PLENTY PEOPLES PLOW UP ALL KIND OF THINGS DESE DAYS I N OLD FIELDS DAT AIN' BEEN BROKE UP OR THROWED OUT FOR YEARS. I HEAR SO, BUT I KNOW I AIN' NEVER FOUND NONE THOUGH. I&SHO BEEN HERE WHEN DAT SHAKE COME HERE, CHILD. I BEEN MARRIED EVER SINCE I WAS A GROWN 'OMAN EN I WAS STAYIN RIGHT OVER YONDER IN DAT HOUSE DERE. MY sO N HENRY WAS DE BABY ON ME LAP DEN EN HE TELL ME DE OTHER DAY DAT HE WAS BOUT 50 NOW. IT COME LIKE A WIND RIGHT FROM DAT WAY. SOME PEOPLE TELL ME DE GROUND WAS JUST A SHAKIN EN A MIXIN UP, BUT I DON' KNOW HOW DE GROUND WAS DOIN CAUSE I NEV ER GO ON IT. I HEAR DE LUMBERATION COMIN OR DAT WHAT I CALLS IT EN IT COME LONG EN HIT DE SIDE OF DE HOUSE SO HARD DAT ALL DE DISHES WAS JUST A RATTLIN. EVERY IME DE ER,H OMMENCE \HAKI), DEM DI\H STRT I GI). IT OME OUT EEE YP ART OF DE NIGHT. I DIDN' KNOW WHAT TO THINK IT WAS TILL SOMEBODY COME DERE EN S AY IT BEEN A EARTHQUAKE. SAY DE GROUND WAS JUST A WORKIN UP. I TELL YOU I AIN' N OWWHAT IT WAS TO BE SCARED OF, BUT DERE BEEN DE OLD ARK STANDIN CROSS DE STR EET DEN EN DEM PEOPLE WAS SCARED MOST TO DEATH. DEY THOUGHT IT WAS DE JEDGEMENT COMIN O). RECKON I WOULD BEEN SCARED WORSER DEN I WAS, BUT I DIDN' GET ON DE7G ROUND. NO, HONEY, I RECKON DE HOUSE DAT WAS STANDIN UP IN DAT DAY EN TIME WAS S UBSTANTIAL LIKE EN IT DIDN' WORRY NONE OF DEM. IS YOU SEEN MAGGIE BLACK? SHE BEEN RIGHT SICK, BUT SHE BETTER NOW. YES,2S HE BEEN RIGHT PUNY. DON' KNOW WHAT AIL HER. HONEY, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME BOUT DAT WHITE MAN DAT BEEN SHOOT UP BOUT MULLI NS DE OTHER DAY? I HEAR PEOPLE TALK BOUT A MAN BEEN SHOT BY ANOTHER MAN, BUT I AIN' KNOW NOTHIN MORE DEN DAT. AIN' HEAR NONE OF DE DETAILS ONLY AS DEY TELL ME DEY CATCH DE MAN DAT GOT AWAY NEXT DILLON TRYIN TO GET BACK8+OM(. I TELL8 OU I T A BAD PLACE UP DERE IN MULLINS DURIN DIS TOBACCO TIME. DEY TELL ME DERE BE SU CH A STIR UP DAT PEOPLE BE ROB EN SHOOT ALL BOUT DERE. DAT DE REASON I STAY BAC K HERE WHE' AIN' NOBODY TO WORRY ME. SOME OF DEM BE SEEKIN FOR YOU WHEN YOU SLE EP EN DEN ANOTHER TIME DEY GET YOU WHEN YOU GWINE LONG DE ROAD. I DON' LIKE SO MUCH FUSS EN ROUSIN EN MIX UP ROUND ME. DAT DE REASON I DOES STAY HERE BY MYSEL F. DE7PEOPLE JUST LIVIN TOO FAST DIS D Y EN TIM(, HONEY. YOU K OW2 O EOF DES E PEOPLE, I MEAN MY RACE, DEY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EDUCATION EN AIN' GOT NO MANNE RS. I TELL DEM IF DEY AIN' GOT NO MANNERS, DEY AIN' GOT NOTHIN CAUSE MANNERS CA RRIES PEOPLE WHE' A DOLLAR WON' CARRY YOU. DIS EDUCATION DON' DO EVERYBODY NO G OOD. IT GOT SOME OF DEM STANDIN ON DE TOP OF DEY HEADS. DAT WHAT IT DONE TO DE M. COASE DEY SAY EVERYBODY CHILLUN GOT TO GO TO SCHOOL DIS YEAR EN DAT A GOOD T HING CAUSE DERE BE SO MANY RUNNIN ROUND MAKIN MISCHIEF WHEN DEY AIN' IN SCHOOL. 9I ED O TELL *Y .HILLUN I B%Y D(Y2 O K nN2SAT.HnL nNKKE PPLENTY MEAT EN BREA D FOR DEM TO EAT EN DEY PORTION BEEN TO GO DERE EN GET DEY LEARNIN. IF DEY GET WHIPPIN AT SCHOOL, I TELL DEM GO BACK EN GET MORE. DIDN' NEVER ENTICE DEM TO ST AY HOME. ALL I KNOW BOUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS DAT HE ABRAHAM LINCOLN nN HE&DEONE CAU SE FREEDOM. I RECOLLECT DEY USED TO SING SONG BOUT HIM, BUT I DONE FORGET IT NO W. SAY DEY HUNG ABRAHAM LINCOLN ON DE SOUR APPLE TREE OR OLD JEFF DAVIS OR SOME THIN LIKE DAT. HONEY, DAT ALL I KNOW. CAN' RECOLLECT NOTHIN MORE DEN DAT BOUT IT. CHILD, DIS A PRETTY BAD TIME DE PEOPLE GOT DESE DAYS, I TELL YOU. lO SE I THANKFUL DON' NOBODY WORRY ME. ALL TREATS ME NICE, BOTH WHITE AND BLACK, WHAT K NOWS ME. I BE GWINE DOWN DE STREET EN FOLKS COME OUT DE COURTHOUSE EN SAY, "AIN ' DAT MOM JESSIE? MOM JESSIE, DON' YOU REMEMBER ME?" I SAY, "I KNOW YOU FAVOR, BUTI CAN' CALL YOUR NAME." DEY TELL ME EN LAUGH EN LET ME LONE. IT JUST LIKE I\, . IL<,I PUTS MY TRUST IN DE LORD EN I LIVES MIGHTY PEACEFUL LIKE. I AIN' GoT A ENEMY IN DE WORLD CAUSE EVERYBODY SPEAKS APPRECIATIVELY OF ME. DERE SOME BODY BRINGIN ME SOMETHIN TO EAT ALL DE TIME EN I DON' BE STUDYIN BOUT IT NEITHER. FIRST ONE EN DEN DE OTHER BRING ME A PLATE EN SOMETHIN ANOTHER. DON' WANT ME TO DO NO COOKIN. SAY I MIGHT FALL IN DE FIRE. HONEY, DE LADY COME BY H ERE DE OTHER DAY EN TELL ME I GWINE GET DE OLD 'OMAN MONEY PRETTY SOON NOW DAT D ERE BEEN SO MUCH TALK BOUT. I BE THANKFUL WHEN IT GET HERE TOO, CHILD, CAUSE I WANTS TO GET FIRST ONE THING EN DE OTHER TO DO SOME FIXIN UP BOUT MY HOUSE. WELL, HONEY, I TIRED NOW CAUSE I AIN' MUCH TODAY NOHOW. CAN' RECOLLECT NOT HIN ELSE DIS MORNIN. DON' KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR BOUT ALL DEM THINGS FOR NO &OW. 5 ;,I AIN' COLD. I SETTIN IN DE SUN. MISS IDA, SHE WENT BY HERE JUST NOW EN CALL AT ME BOUT DE DOOR BEEN OPEN EN LETTIN DAT COLD WIND BLOW IN ON MY BACK WID ALL DE FIRE GONE OUT. I TELL HER, IT AIN' BOTHERIN ME NONE, I BEEN SETTIN O UT IN DE SUN. WELL, I DON' FEEL MUCH TO SPEAK BOUT, CHILD, BUT I KNOCKIN ROUND SOMEHOW. MISS IDA, SHE BRING ME DIS PAPER TO STUDY ON. SHE DOES ALWAYS BE BRIN &IN ME DE STAR CAUSE SHE KNOW DAT I LOVTO SEE DE NEWS OF MARION. IT RIGHT SAD BUOT DE PRESBYTERIAN PREACHER, BUT EVERYBODY GOT TO DIE, I SAY. RIGHT SAD THOU &H. WE HEAR DAT CHURCH BEEL HERE DE OTHER EVEN EN WE NEVER KNOW WHAT IT BEEN TOLLIN FOR. I HOLLER OVER DERE TO MAGGIE HOUSE EN AX HER HOW-COME DE CHURCH BEL L TOLLIN, BUT SHE COULDN' TELL ME NOTHIN BOUT IT. RECKON SOME CHILLUN HAD GET H OLD OF IT, SHE SAY. I TELL HER, DAT BELL NEVER BEEN PULL BE NO SHILLUN CAUSE I BEEN HEAR DEATH NOTE ON IT. YES, HONEY, DE PEOPLE SHO GWINE HORNE AFTER DOCTOR HOLLADAY. I SAY, I DOIN VERY WELL MYSELF EN I THANKFUL I AIN' DOWN IN DE BED. MIGHTY THANKFUL I AIN' DOWN IN DE BED EN CAN SET UP EN TALK WID DE PEOPLE WHEN DEY OM ES TO SEE ME. I AIN' BEEN UP DERE ON YOUR STREET IN A LONG TIME. CAN' DO MUCH WALKIN DESE DAYS CAUSE I AIN' GOT NO STRENGTH TO SPEAK BOUT. AIN' BEEN UP TOWN DERE IN BOUT TWO MONTHS. MISTER JERVEY AX JOHN EVANS WHAT DE MATTER DAT I AIN' BEEN COMIN TO DE STORE TO GET MY RATIONS EN JOHN EVANS TELL HIM I BEEN UNDER DE WEATHER. SOMEHOW ANOTHER, DEY ALL LIKES ME UP DERE EN WHEN DEY DON' SEE ME UP T OWN ON SATURDAY, DEY BE AXIN BOUT ME. MISTER JERVEY, HE COME HERE DE OTHER DAY EN BRING ME SOME TOBACCO EN SYRUP EN CHEESE EN SOME OF DEM OTHER THINGS WHAT HE KNOW DAT I USED TO BUY DERE. HE TELL ME DEY ALL WAS WANTIN TO SEE ME BACK UP DE RE AGAIN. I SAY, I CAN' GO UP DERE CAUSE I GIVE WAY IN MY LIMBS EN JUST COMES R IGHT DOWN WHE' I DON' HAVE NOTHIN TO CATCH TO. GOT DIS OLD STICK HERE DAT I BAL ANCES MYSELF ON WHEN I GOES OUT ROUND BOUT DE HOUSE HERE. COSE I DON' VENTURE T O STEADY MYSELF NO FAR WAYS ON IT. NO, CHILD, I AIN' BEEN UP YOUR WAY IN A LONG TIME. I WA\H6FOR- SS2BET,Y&A LL MY BEST DAYS, BUT I AIN' BEEN UP TO DE HOUSE IN MANY A MORNIN. MISS BETTY LI KE MYSEKF NOW, SHE OLD. I TELL DEM UP DERE TO DE HOUSE, DE LAST TIME I TALK WID DEM, DON' MIND MISS BETTY CAUSE HER MIND AIN' NO GOOD. I SAY, JUST GWINE ON DE DEM, DON' MIND MISS BETTY CAUSE HER MIND AIN' NO GOOD. I SAY, JUST WrNEOON nN OWHAT YOU GOT TO DO EN LET MISS BETTY REST. YOU SEE, MISS BETTY ALWAYS WOULD HAVE HER WAY EN DIS AIN' NO TIME TO THINK BOUT BREAKIN HER NEITHER. COSE I DON ' KNOW NOTHIN BOUT IT, BUT MISS BETTY SAY WE BOUT ONE AGE. I RECKON MISS BETTY GOT PLENTY PECANS DIS YEAR CAUSE SHE DOES RAKE DEM UP B Y DE TUBFULS BOUT DIS TIME OF DE YEAR. I GOT MY SHARE OF DEM LAST YEAR, BUT I A IN' GOT NO MIND DAT I GWINE GET ANY DIS YEAR LESS I GO UP DERE. YES, MAM, I GOT MY SHARE LAST YEAR CAUSE WHEN I WENT TO CARRY MISS BETTY WASHIN HOME, I COULD P ICK UP ALL I WANTED WHILE I COME THROUGH UNDER DE TREES. MY LORD, MISS BETTY, S HE HAD A QUANTITY OF DEM LAST YEAR, BUT I AIN' HEAR WHAT DE CROP DOIN DIS YEAR. I DON' CARE THOUGH CAUSE I WOULDN' EAT DEM WIDOUT I BEAT DEM UP EN I AIN' IN NO SHAPE TO GO TO ALL DAT TROUBLE. I LOVES PEANUTS GOOD AS ANYBODY, BUT I COuLmN' NEV R .H W DEM I OUT D Y6WAS BEAT ^. HONEY, MY CHILD EN HER DAUGHTER COMIN FROM DE NORTHERN STATES DIS CHRISTMAS O SEE (. HER NAME EVELYN, BUT DEY CALL HER MISSIS. SHE WRITE HERE DAT SHE W ANT TO COME EN I TELL MY SAMMIE TO SEND WORD DEY IS WELCOME. COSE DEY GWINE STA Y WID MY SON, SAMMIE, CAUSE DEY GOT MORE ROOM DEN I IS EN DEY GOT A COOKIN STOVE , TOO, BUT SHE GWINE BE IN EN OUT HERE WID HER OLD MAMMY OFF EN ON. YES'UM, I W ANTS TO SEE HER MIGHTY BAD SINCE IT BE DAT SHE BEEN GONE FROM HERE SO LONG. WHE N SHE FIRST WENT UP DERE, SHE WORKED FOR A WHITE FAMILY DERE TO HARTFORD, CONNEC TICUT, BUT IT WON' LONG FORE SHE GOT IN A FIDGET TO MARRY EN SHE MOVED DERE TO P HILADELPHIA. DAT WHE' SHE LIVIN NOW, SO MY SAMMIE TELL ME. DEN DERE jNOTHnR-ONE-OF-MY CHrLLuN DAT I2SAY,&I& )'NEVER 'SPECT TO SEE NO MORE ON DIS SIDE OF DE WORLD. EVELINA, SHE GET MARRIED EN GO WAYOUT WEST TO L IVE. SHE DE ONE WHAT USED TO NURSE LALA UP DERE TO MISS OWEN'S HOUSE. MY GOD, HONEY, SHE BEEN CRAZY BOUT LALA. DON' CARE WHAT SHE BEEN BUY ON A SATURDAY EVEN IN, SHE WOULD SAVE SOME OF IT TILL MONDAY TO CARRY TO DAT CHILD. MY EVELINA, SH E ALWAYS WOULD EAT EN SHE USED TO BRING LALA HERE WID HER A HEAP OF TIMES TO GET O E, N O5EA,. 2\(EWOULD COME IN EN FETCH HER DAT TIN PLATE UP DERE FULL OF CORN BREAD EN MOLASSES EN DEN SHE WOULD GO TO PUTTIN DEM RATION WAY. WOULD PUT HER OWN MOUTH FULL EN DEN SHE WOULD CRAM SOME OF IT DOWN LALA'S MOUTH IN DE CHIL D'S BELLY. YOU SEE, I ALWAYS WOULD KEEP A NICE KIND OF SYRUP IN DE SAFE CAUSE I O)' LIKE NONE DESE KIND OF SYRUP MUCH, BUT DIS HERE RIBBON CANE2\yR ^. MY LOR D, DAT CHILD WOULD STAND UP DERE EN EAT JUST AS LONG AS EVELINA POKE IT DOWN HER. OH, LALA BEEN JUST L LITTLE THING PLUNDERIN BOUT EN I TELL EVELINA DAT SHE OUGHT NOT TO FEED DAT CHILD COARSE RATrON, BUT2SHE2SAY, ^ljlA6fj TSOME EN I GW INE GIVE IT TO HER CAUSE I LOVES HER." NO, CHILD, MISS OWEN NEVER DIDN' WORRY H ER MIND BOUT WHE' EVELINA BEEN CARRY DAT CHILD. YOU SEE, SHE BEEN PUT TRUST IN EVELINA. I DON' KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU HONEY. I BOUT LIKE MISS BETTY NOW. MY 'MEMBR ANCE SHORT DESE DAYS. OH, I HEAR TALK BOUT ALL KIND OF SIGNS DE PEOPLE USED TO WORRY OVER EN SOME OF DEM STILL FRETS BOUT DEM, TOO. HEAR TALK DAT YOU MUSTN'T WASH NONE ON DE NEW YEARS' DAY. IT BAD LUCK, SO A HEAP OF DEM SAY. DEN SOME FO LKS SAY IT A SIGN OF DEATH TO HEAR A OWL HOLLER AT NIGHT. SOME PEOPLE CAN' BEAR TO HEAR DEM, BUT DIN' NO OWLS WORRY ME, I SAY. LORD, MAGGIE, DIS CHILD AX-ME H OW A OWL HOLLER WHEN IT A SIGN OF DEATH. WELL, DEY DOES HOLLER A RIGHT GOOD SPA CE APART. DON' HOLLER RIGHT REGULAR. I AIN' HEAR ONE HOLLER NOW IN A LONG TIME T BUT I USED TO HEAR DEM BE HOLLERIN PLENTY TIMES OUT DERE SOMEWHE' ANOTHER IN D EM TREES. SAY, WHEN SOME PEOPLE BEEN HEAR DEM HOLLER ON A NIGHT, DEY WOULD STIC K A FIRE IRON IN DE FIRE EN DAT WOULD MAKE DE OWL QUIT OFF. I HEAR TALK BOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD DO DAT. DEN DERE ANOTHER SIGN DE PEOPLE DOES HAVE BOUT DE N EW YEARS' DAY. RECKON DAT WHAT DEY CALL IT, I DON' KNOW. NO, MAM, I DON' UNDER STAND NOTHIN BOUT IT, BUT I DOES HEAR PEOPLE SPEAK BOUT DEY CRAVES TO GET A CUP OF PEAS EN A HUNK OF HOG JOWL ON DE FIRST DAY OF DE YEAR. SAY, DEM WHAT PUT FAI TH IN DEM KIND OF VICTUALS ON DE NEW YEARS' DAY, DEY WON' SUFFER FOR NOTHIN NO T IME ALL DE NEXT YEAR. COSE I DON' KNOW, BUT I SAY DAT I EATS IT COUSE I LOVES I T. WELL, CHILD, DAT BOUT ALL I KNOW TO SPEjK BOUT DIS EVnNrN. &ITG Tc NSO CO LD, I DON' KNOW WHE' I CAN MANAGE HERE MUCH LONGER OR NO. COSE MY SAMMIE, HE WA NT ME TO GO STAY DERE WID HIM, BUT I CAN' STAND NO CHILLUN FUSS ROUND ME NO MORE. I TELL HIM DESE PEOPLE BOUT HERE BE IN EN OUT TO AX BOUT ME RIGHT SMART E N I THINK BOUT I BETTER STAY HERE WHEH DERE AIN' NOBODY TO MIND WHAT I DO. YOU SEE, HONEY, OLD PEOPLE IS TROUBLESOME EN I DON' WANT TO BE NOWAYS BURDENSOME TO NOBODY. YES, MAM, I GWINE BE RIGHT HERE WAITIN, IF DE LORD SAY SO, DE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU MAKIN UP DAT PATH. GOOD MORNING, HONEY, I AIN' MUCH TODAY. HOW OU ?? NO, I CAN' TALK NOTHI N BOUT DEM TIMES TODAY. AIN' KNOW NO MORE DEN I DONE TELL YOU. I DOIN VERY WEL L CONSIDERIN I CAN' GET BOUT LIKE I WANTS TO. DOIN VERY WELL, HONEY. PEOPLES M IGHTY NICE TO ME, WHITE AND BLACK. COSE I DON' VENTURE TO GET FAR OFF DE LOT, I BE SO POORLY DESE DAYS. AIN' BEEN BOUT UP TOWN DERE IN A MONTH SrNCE2bATurDAh. WnLL,-MY CHrLLuN SAY FOR ME tO pO-LIVE WID Dn*,BUT I DON' WANT TO GO DOWN TO DAT OTHER FAR END OF DE TOWN. I TELL DEM DEY WORRY ME SO DAT I THINK I RATHE R BE HERE IN DIS PIECE OF HOUSE. SEE, I HAS SUCH GOOD NEIGHBORS BOUT ME HERE EN DERE BE SO MUCH A FIGHTrN WnLL-OF-ME, kOTH WHITE nN kLA K,OF DEM DAT KNOWS ME. 8YE\, MA*, MISS ELLEN TELL ME FORE \HE DIE6FOR ME O ST Y R!HT8HnRE rN&DSHOU SE LONG AS I LIVE EN AIN' NOBODY IS GWINE WORRY ME NEITHER. NO, SHILD, MISS MAR Y WATSON DON' WORRY ME, NOT ONE SPECK BOUT DIS HOUSE. MISS MARY DE ONLY CHILD D AT MISS ELLEN GOT LEFT HERE. NO, HONEY, I AIN' STUDYIN BOUT GWINE NOWHE' YET. COSE DE HOUSE MAY FALL DOWN ON ME CAUSE DAT DERE OLD KITCHEN OVER DERE WAS GOOD WHEN I COME HERE, BUT IT ROT DOWN. DAT HOW-COME I AIN' GOT NO STOVE. DE KITCHE N ROT DOWN EN DE RAIN COME IN ON DE STOVE EN RUST IT OUT. NO, DEY DON' WORRY ME NON(. I TELL DEM I AIN' GOT NOTHIN, BUT I SETTIN HERE JUST AS SATISFIED L K(. COSE I M Y GET A LITTLE PENSION SOON, BUT DON' KNOW >HEN9IT7 WINE7GET8HERE. I AIN' HEAR TELL OF NOBODY GETTIN IT YET. I TELL LADY DAT COME HERE IF I GET IT, IT BE ALL RIGHT EN IF I DON' GET IT, DAT BE ALL RIGHT TOO. BIG SALE ON TODAY, AIN' DER(, .HIL<. I8HEAR TALK BOUT D(Y7 NESELL ALL D E WITCOVER PROPERTY EN ALL DAT, BUT I DON' KNOW. DEY SHO GOT A PRETTY DAY FOR I T. I HAD ON MY OLD THICK SWEATER, BUT IT TOO HOT. I HAD TO PULL IT OFF EN PUT ON DIS HERE THIN JACKET. CAN' GO BOUT TOO NAKED, HONEY. 8YE\'U*,9I K OW9IT6WASYOU COME HERE DE OTHER NIGHT. COSE I CAN' SEE SO GOO D, BUT I CAN HEAR DE PEOPLE VOICE EN TELL WHO DERE TIME I HEAR DEM COMIN UP DAT PATH. YOU SEE, I DON' LIGHT MY LAMP FIRST NIGHT NOHOW, DERE BE SO MUCH GRASS RO UND HERE DE MOSQUITOES COMES IN EN WORRIES ME RIGHT SMART. MISS FOXWORTH EN DEM FIXIN TO PLANT DEY TURNIPS OVER DERE. MISS oOXwORcH, I LIKES HER VERY WELL TO SPEAK. SHE GOOD-HEARTED, KIND EN CLEVER. SHE COMES OV ER EN TALKS WID ME OFTEN CAUSE US BEEN FRIENDS EVER SINCE FORE DE OLD MAN BEEN G ONE. DEY AIN' GOT NO KIND OF GARDEN YET, BUT DEY FIXIN TO PLANT A FALL GARDEN O UT DERE. NO, CHILD, I DONE PUT MISS BETTY CLOTHES DOWN. TELL HER I AIN' ABLE TO WAS H NO MORE EN MY LORD, MISS BETTY SHO HATE TO HEAR ME SAY DAT. WON' DAT MISS BET TY CLOTHES WAS SO HARD, BUT IT WAS DE TOTIN DEM BACK EN FORTH EN DEN DERE BE SO LITTLE BIT OF MONEY IN DEM, DIDN' PAY TO HIRE NOBODY TO CARRY DEM. COSE SHE DID N' PAY ME NOTHIN WORTH MUCH CAUSE SHE DIDN' NEVER HAVE NOTHIN MUCH, BUT A LITTL E CHANGIN OF UNDERCLOTHES EN BOUT ONE DRESS. JUST HAD TO STARCH BOUT ONE PETTIC OAT EN ONE DRESS, BUT I CAN' HARDLY WASH FOR MYSELF DESE DAYS EN I WOULDN' NEVER VENTURE TO DO HERS NO MORE. NO, HONEY, MY CONSCIENCE WOULDN' ALLOW ME TO OVERP OWER MISS BETTY FOR DEM LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHIN EN DEY AIN' DIRTY NEITHER. YOU S EE, SINCE MISS EMMA BEEN STAYIN DERE, SHE CHARGE DE HOUSE EN USES ALL HER TABLEC LOTHS EN SUCH AS DAT. MISS EMMA, SHE MIGHTY NICE TO ME. EVERY TIME I GO UP DER E EN I AIN' BEEN DOIN NOTHIN FOR HER NEITHER, SHE SEE CAN SHE FIND A CUP OF FRES H MILK OR SOMETHIN ANOTHER TO HAND ME. RECKON I GWINE BE LONESOME RIGHT BOUT DIS SIDE NEXT WEEK CAUSE ALL DE COLOR ED SCHOOLS GWINE BE OPEN UP MONDAY. YOU SEE, DERE BE SO MANY SCHOOL CHILLUN EN TEACHER LIVIN ON DIS HERE STREET. DAT CHILD OVER DERE SAY SHE GWINE BE HOME RIG HT SHARP AFTER SHE BE FINISH PICKIN COTTON NEXT WEEK. I SAY I AIN' BE OBLIGED T O LEAVE DIS COUNTRY CAUSE MY WHITE FOLKS WOULDN' NEVER VENTURE TO COME DERE TO D AT OTHER END OF TOWN TO SEE ME. ALL DESE CHILLUN BOUT HERE MIGHTY GOOD TO ME. DON' NEVER LET ME SUFFER FOR NOTHIN. DEY CAUTION ME NOT TO RISK TO COOK NOTHIN OVER DAT FIREPLACE CAUSE DEY SAY I MIGHT TUMBLE OVER EN CAN' CATCH MYSELF. NO, DEY TELL ME DON' DO NO COOKIN, I MIGHT FALL IN EN BURN UP. NO, CHILD, I AIN' CH ANC TO COOK NONE ON DAT FIREPLACE SINCE I BEEN SICK. DIFFERENT ONES BRINGS ME S OMETHIN DIS DAY EN DAT DAY. DON' SUSPICION NOTHIN BOUT IT TILL I SEE DEM COMIN. CELESTE OVER DERE BRINGS ME BREAKFAST EN DINNER EVERY DAY EN I DON' NEVER BOTH ER WID NO SUPPER CAUSE I LAYS DOWN TOO EARLY. DEN DEY KEEPS ME IN PLENTY BREAD EN ROLLS EN I KEEPS A LITTLE SYRUP ON HAND EN EATS DAT IF I GETS HUNGRY. DERE M ARGUERITE ALL DE TIME BRINGIN ME SOMETHIN, IF IT AIN' NOTHIN BUT A PITCHER OF IC E. YOU SEE, DEY MAKES DEY ICE EN IT AIN' COSTIN HER NOTHIN. WHEN I SEE HER TUR N OUT DAT PIAZZA, I KNOW SHE COMIN HERE. I AIN' SEE HER TODAY, BUT I LOOKIN FOR HER. USED TO WASH FOR DEM TOO. HONEY, I DONE A LOT OF WORK BOUT DIS TOWN EN I DON' SUFFER FOR NOTHIN. ALL DE PEOPLE BOUT HERE BE GOOD TO ME. NO, MAM, I AIN' GWINE LET YOU TAKE NO MORE PICTURES. AIN' GWINE TAKE NO MO RE. IF MISS MONTGOMERY SAY SHE COMIN HERE TO TAKE MORE PICTURES, TELL HER I AIN ' GWINE TAKE NO MORE. NO, CHILD, I AIN' STUDYIN BOUT NO PICTURES. I DON' WANT NO MORE. I GOT ONE BIG ONE UP DERE ON DE WALL DAT SHOW ME EN MY MAMMY EN MY SON , SAMMIE, SETTIN IN A AUTOMOBILE. DAT DAT MY PICTURE SETTIN UP DERE WID DE WHIT E BLOUSE ON. I TELL DEM I LOOK LIKE SOMETHIN DEN, BUT I TOO OLD EN BROKE UP NOW. MY DAUGHTER, SHE WANT A PICTURE EN SHE KEPT ON AFTER US TILL WE WENT UP DE RE TO WHE' DE CARNIVAL WAS. CARNIVAL MAN HAD A AUTOMOBILE DAT HE TAKE YOUR PICT URE IN EN WE GET IN EN SET DOWN EN HE SSNAP DE PICTURE. I TELL DEM DEY GOT ONE NOW EN DAT OUGHT TO BE SUFFICIENT. DAT MY MAMMY SETTIN DERE BY ME. SHE WAS SHO A FINE LOOKIN WOMAN. LORD, LORD, HONEY, DEM CHILLUNNLOVE DEM PICTURES, BUT I A IN' STUDYIN BOUT WANTIN MY PICTURE SCATTER ALL BOUT DE COUNTRY. YES, CHILD, I SLEEPS ALL RIGHT. GO TO BED EARLY TOO FORE ANYBODY ELSE ROUN D HERE DO. YES, MAM, I GOES TO BED EARLY EN DON' NEVER GET UP NONE TILL I SEE D AY SHINE IN DEM CRACKS. I WAS FIGURIN SOMEBODY ELSE AX ME DAT DE OTHER DAY. BE LIEVE IT WAS DOCTOR BIBBLE. MY SAMMIE, HE A MAMMY CHILD. HE NEVER STOP TILL HE SEND DE DOCTOR HERE TO SEE COULD HE FIND OUT DE AILMENT DAT SEEM LIKE WAS EATIN ME AWAY. DOCTOR DIBBLE COME HERE EN SET DOWN IN DAT CHAIR EN AX ME A HEAP OF Q UESTIONS. DEN HE TEST MY BLOOD EN GIVE ME A TONIC DAT HE SAY WOULD HOPE ME. YE S, MAM, DAT MY SAMMIE DOCTOR EN HE GOES TO SEE HIM OFTEN, HE DOES HAVE SUCH MISE RY IN HIS HEAD. DAT DE FIRST TIME DOCTOR DIBBLE EVER BEEN HERE, BUT I LIKES HE MANNER MIGHTY WELL. DOCTOR ZACK WAS A GOOD DOCTOR TOO. COSE DAT WHAT DEY TELL ME, BUT I AIN' KNOW NOTHIN BOUT IT. NO, CHILD, I BEEN HEALTHY ALL MY DAYS EN I AIN' HAD TO WORRY BOUT NO DOCTOR. I TELLS DEM WHEN I FALLS DOWN, I WON' LAST LO NG CAUSE I BEEN HEARTY ALL MY DAYS. YOUR SISTER STILL IN DOCTOR DIBBLE STORE, AIN' SHE? IS SHE GOT A COOK YET? DAT IT, I GLAD SHE GOT SOMEBODY TO DEPEND ON CAUSE DESE YOUNG PEOPLE, CAN' TEL L BOUT DEM. DEY BE ONE PLACE TODAY EN DEN DEY APT TO BE ANOTHER PLACE DE NEXT D AY. I USED TO COOK DERE TO LADY HOUSE CROSS DE STREET, BUT I NEVER DIDN' COOK N O SUNDAY DINNER DERE. DAT LADY BEEN TAKE IN SEWIN EN SHE WOULD SEW EN PRESS RIG HT ON DE BIG SUNDAY. I TELL HER DAT A SIN EN SHE SAY SHE HAD TO GET FINISH SOME HOW DAT DE FOLKS WAS PUSHIN HER FOR DEY CLOTHES. I SAY, "WELL, DAT YOU, AIN' ME." I GO DERE ON SUNDAY MORNIN EN COOK BREAKFAST EN CLEAN UP EN PUT WOOD IN DE KITCHEN. DEN I WOULD GO TO CHURCH EN LEFT DEM TO COOK WHAT DINNER DEY GET. DA T DE REASON I WON' COOK FOR NONE DESE WHITE FOLKS DIS DAY EN TIME CAUSE WHAEN T DE REASON I WON' COOK FOR NONE DESE WHITE FOLKS DIS DAY EN TIME CAUSE WHEH DEY PAYS YOU DAT LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, DEY WANTS EVERY BIT OF YOUR TIME. I BEEN PRO UD WHEN DAT LADY MOVE FORM HERE CAUSE IWAS TIRED WALKIN DE ROAD BACK EN FORTH. PEOPLE COME HERE EN BEG ME TO COOK FOR DEM, BUT I TELL DEM I GWINE STAY RIGHT HE RE EN DO MY BIT OF WASHIN. GWINE GET ALONG SOMEHOW WID IT. BEHTEL, DOWN DERE ON DE SIDE DE JAIL, DE ONLY CHURCH I EVER BEEN A MEMBER O F. WE GOT TO FIX US CHURCH TWIXT NOW EN NEXT YEAR. IT NEED FIXIN BAD. YOU SEE , IT RIGHT ON DE MAIN STREET GWINE DOWN EN DOES BE RIGHT PUBLIC OUT TO DE PEOPLE. I WAS FIXIN TO GO TO CHURCH SUNDAY GONE, BUT MY CHILD NEVER COME AFTER ME. MY SON, SAMMIE, NEVER SHOW UP, BUT HE COME SUNDAY EVENIN LAUGHIN. SAY, "MA , I KNOW IF I COME BY YOUR HOUSE, YOU WOYLD WANT TO GO WID ME." NO, I AIN' BEEN SO ABLE TO GO IN FOUR SUNDAYS. CHILD, YOU OUGHT TO HAD BROUGHT YOU PARSOL WID YOU CAUSE YOU BEEN SETTIN HE RE SO LONG, YOU GWINE BE LATE GETTIN WHE' YOU STARTED. DIS HERE ANOTHER HOT DAY WE GOT COME HERE. WELL, GOOD-DAY, CHILD. SPEAK BOUT HOW YOU IS FIND MAGGIE BLACK TO ME WHEN YOU PASS BACK LONG DAT STREET DERE. X XXX