Document text
L IFE HI STORY
March 6, 1939
March?, 1939
Nick Waller (Negro)
290 Tabernacle St.
Athene, Ga.
1r:reacher and ,farmer)
Grace Moduli -6
and coming across
PRFACHER-12.ye kAr-X
Tom, Awmbe is a well-known
hit on one of the main streets,
444,-
I,askedidse if he would give me jbwirmstory of hiftlife. He /3eadilY
4-40^
.4.44,4" 44,1
vt
-tom 4-44me bus
-41-411.-11
/A4
Tom is famous for his kakffiZtV-cof.X&R-Bible as he understands
.4)41
it also for his ?power or gift of seeing things ,and predicting future
__As -444
---.E;Severea-i566-ple was -16 -Laipadae*,, and h ving a Ammer-
_tv_41 6.1
friendly(argufment.awde just asan14-='-';as told that he was
ust impossible, Tom came in.
The young man said, "Tom, did you hear what they called melamir
what do you think about it?
"That they is wrong," Tog46aIA "for with God, nothing
A
impossible. He. the only one that,4649615ossible.
"I knew Tom would .take up for m6,".the virmimii) "and
L
a 44A 44, /-4-1
AmellrI guess you all will let me alone after this.". AT-Iperm—i6.1#1444.0
1.4t,11
Lhey left.
As they went out Tom said, "Mistess just what is it that
old Tom can tell you, for you knows Ilse jutt a plain old ignorant
2.
stick man, that was born -d and raised in the country. YeN, I was
borned right down yonder in Oglethorpe County, and thatifrs still
home to me.
"I worked in the fields when I was too little to lastgout all
day. When I went to school it was in just a plain old country school.
The school house was made out of logs and the cracks was daubed with
red mud to keep the cold wind out for us really had winters then.
"Along in them times schools t no ways lak they is now.
Our only book was that old Blue Back Speller. Yes, Mistess, thaeLs
.040
what us larnt)and to us stayed all day, and aerstarted out to school
2
soon as it was good daylight. no going then at eight and nine
90
o'clock in the mornin' lak chilluAmdo now. I didn't git to go to
school, icepting just two or tWee years, 'cause I had to work in the
fields. '/When I was big air enough to work all day, I was paid 15
.06mmilra day. Yes'$W2015¢ a day was good pay for us chillun in them
days. My home was just like all the other houses then on the farms
'specially for the colored folks, just a plain old log cabin, and
they called 'em notched houses, don't 'spect you knows what a
notched house is?
"But you know us didn't have saw mills back then, so us couldn't
a4`
make planks, and nails wasit plentiful neither, so they just notched
)t
the loga fit and the cracks was all daubed with
red clay and them old chimblfe!jthey was made with sticks and red
clay tQlbut ma us was happy and contented%cause that was all us
knowed.
"I tell you them old black molasses and ash cakes sho' asted
good specially after a day in the fields and us only had a biscuit
on Sunday mornin', but that one biscuit made us feel rich, or as you
say now, lggi-millionaires, only us didn't know nothin' -'bout that
then. When us had biled vials it was most times just plain poke
3.
?vd
berry sallet, but-ttor enjoyed it.
"1 remember topthat good old eatin' when my mother fiallbed ash
cakes411i1444t milk and many a day that is what us et, and us was happy
to git it. Yesshft them was happy days, more so than they is now.
ZIO a)
flag t up to dressin' then lak us is now and most all as
Ta'-'14$4 44'4
wore was just one garment, that's rights and thdteas justAlong shirtA
_
S'se worked many a day in the fiel in jobba-t-a- long shirt4 They was
4
made right at home to,c,64-evese--my mother would weave the cloth on her
old loom at nights and plenty times when us didn't have candles, she
worked by the light from lightaid knots and us chillun would play
(:round on the floor.
"The very day I was big enough to plow*, what you 'spose I
&V'
plowshed with? Well it was limit old Mike, our old ox. He was just
0/4 eta
as good as.mule any day and when aergot out of bread, then4jjust
1
put a sack of corn on Mike's back and us went, and it was eight
or ten miles to the mill. While the corn was being ground, Mike had
his dinner of corn shuoks. an€1—vits—wa-s—Pettily4) --ter—stsiettr-iaaaa, 6-114Eme—faid- if
-t-14 rtrn-sdt,
it won't too latel‘ us went right on to the field cause Mistessjus was
raised to work.
"Long at that time, igthought Ug0006aie twenty-five or thirty
five cents a Gay es was limiat fipeA hen us had plenty of corn and
r I
"rot Ar-Ilt
'tater!) T at was some good meat 'cause we
raed our own hogs and cured the meat by smokin' it with hickory wood.
Back then, I don't know if you has done heered about this, but soda was
mighty eiga, Even that didn't 'mount to so powerful much 'cause corn
cobrsoda would sho make that bread rise. YeaaikJ just buraihe corn
N
00418 til they was just a fine powder. That was good as anybody's
soda.
4.
“That old persimmon beer was half 2; our living. Us chillun
would gather persimmons by the bucketfulls. Mother would cook Ofem
with wheat bran and make it out intbig pones that iloommem,r she used
she *lots of locusts in lita4-boer. gei 17: affs:
really good and so refreshinl after a hard day's work.
0$
"We waCnifit sickly long in that time, but when w
a.little
'sick, mother would go into the woods and git herbs and grass. There
was one kinda grass 'specially that she used. Just let me call Sally
Anne, that's my wife, and bless her soul, she'll know." Tom went
to the telephone and was back in a few minutes. He said, "I told
you Sally Ann would know. She always knows and I cant Ipend on her.
She stays right at home in her field of duty just right on the job
all the time.
"Sally Anne said it was just plain old scurvy grass, and you
find it mostly in pine woods. It has long yellow roots and the roots
is what they made the tea with. It was) and still 18 'cause US use,
J
it now, Its the fin st medicine anybody can gft to cure coldsaand
then when folks-amemeles, if they would just drink old scurvy
to make the beer4an
grass root tea, they would soon be well and immft wouldn't have to
4miadop.lbout gittinl
worry
Another good tonic is this very simple one, will make you
eat your head off and
ter not try it.
essen you wants to gain in weight you had bet
just the plain old turnip. Yes, that:ts
right. You just bile turnips in clear water 'til you have 'bout a
quart of the juice and drink that juice
two and three
times a day, but
I Ispects you woul.d have to put some sugar in it 'cause it's mighty
bitter. Along in them days us used the old black molasses to
sweeten most everything; even used it in our coffee. i)
5.
4.4244,4
Tom laughed and said, "Thy even our coffee weaLt what it is
today. Most all us had was corn meal, parched right brown, but to
us, that corneal coffee sweetened with mo"-lasses was really good,
and 114,was thankful for it.
"Another good medicine that the-woten folks used lots of
times -was what is known these -days all black hill root. They made
.tea out of that cause it won't easy to git out and buy medicine back
then, for us didn't have dru4stores lak us does now. A doctor was
seldomed called.. Folks just made their-oin medicine. Ye A,won t
many folks sick in them days.
"Long back in them days when Jrgot in distress, trying to
•4,444.4) 441k
make a living ..we Lgghts, burning lightaid knots
Limit 4e, lee
to make tar. Ag=4*et :.tpatiby the ouart or gallon. You know that
blessed old mother of mine has even used that old homemade tar as a
medicine. We had to drink •the water off of the tar for colas and it
was a good tonic also for any ones that didn't have no appetite.
"Still and too that w4i-L4Pjuat prezactly what us made it for
cause you knows back then us didn't have no such stuff as waaikin.
That old tar answeredlthe:aame=purpoee and it was used en
wheels and harness toPand just bout everything they-needed'to
eese.
"Anahber tning):Mistessus didn't git no shoes 'ceptint one
time a year, and that was on Christmas :that Was our Santa Clause
.0.*-would go to :bed and try to see when -the/ come
'foreAls would be sound asleepip morning
ho
brogan shoed
with the bright shiny brass tiW
juat thankful for everything.
.11144400,06.
ButA-Awat long
wo.
They said I was always a veryjntnaggell=4"peouliar sort of a
chap even when I was just a little tike. I was always asking 'ques-
tions. I was gifted with some kind of a strange power, but it was
sometime before I could really understand this strange 9d wonderful
X
,4447L IL7Att-A 4-14L :2 4** IL teta. VI/ 11.42 A4.4 fat/ALP
6.
power. Fact is, I don't understand it now.
"Hut things just comes to mo. I can see them and tell folks
for it is just like a vision. Atack then some'folke would -laugh at me
about them visions. But,;Mistees, they is all glad now when old ToM
can help them out sometimes. Sometimes I can't help them a -tall for
the vision just will not come and that is all I tells, is just what
the Lord shows me and tells me to help folks', and I has been trying
help
to_kamp for fifty years or more.
40 Jt"
"Along then .404.had confidence in each other. -"slow. taught
to live right and serve God. Never to take nothin' that didn't be-
long to us and never.to.do anything that'would hurt anyone. ejust
lived in the bonds of the law0 nobody broke the laws, and when night
come us could lay down and sleep with a good clear conscience.
"I still 'members the first time I ever heerd 'bout any one
breakinl the law. It was just. outrageous. People for miles around
were upset, skeered and shocked. A man killed his wife. It was just
terrible .44400t couldn't understand it. When they tried him in
court,i‘foli couldn't git nigh the place 'cause everybody tfttd to
go, 104 -he was sentenced and hung for 'murder.
"From that. time on folks-begOn-to grow weaker and wiser and
4.14P4
how wicked they are now) Murder is a very common thing and folks
ii j s take things that don't no ways belong to 'em. .4tft:eit
don't live right. And God is going to4how us one these days. Oh,
how wonderful and grateful it was that I could hear my mother pray.0
Here Tom broke down and cried. After a few minutes, he said: "You
couldn't go wrong on her prayers.‘
At this moment someone called an asked if Tom was there.
The proprietor of the shop called ToT to the telephone. He came
feci)
back to me imlxixtatt and said -ist....frear two menAtizet- wanted to see
7.
f.lotat I told them that I was busy;) Theryn didn't accept that
excwe and before Tom could get back to his story, therwere at
the shop for him.
Calling Tom to the door, they said, "We have just got to
see you for a few minutes, but we won't keep you lone Excusing
himself, Tom said,
ex14.144.17-fstrsews,
camordped Tom out to
hour and still Tom
in and said, "It is
"I',0011 ,be back in a few minutes." The men were
re, ,41'74cp.vvidiA
dressed in ‘004r overalls.and heavy shoes. They
their car. whape-4.0!eg"4104AmW4 I waited over an.
didn't get back. I wttt -inally he came
WIMP
Malmo.
so late and I just can't git 'way from them men.
What is I 1=4 to doi
Nim it/A
asked him if I could come to his home 441.44e -morning and
finish our interview.
Tom thanked me and said, sho sorry 'bout ;it, but one of
rt,A
these
4
A
men is in trouble and wants to see if I can help him
_II
me how to find his house 1111- askAgsif I
4.e.
come back to town and talk to me "cause he lived way cross town."
I wanted to see his home and said, "I will 4i there if you are going
e .jIti14.
to be at home. Yeelbm Ill beilessen someone dies 'cause that
happens very occasionally. I artll call you if that happens." He
went back to the car where the me4were waiting for him.
Reaching Tom's ho re earl, the next mornin, I found that
4 I I
even then he had V (444t -A -4,4,11 14; 14'-1") t,44,/ I /#':.41?-1.-fkiel..,!*'' ir*: -41,—
.4Askilakme to have a seat,
41-211-41
/1,,
4e.
in the livingroomand e cuse,*Urwhile
Loetobbe breakfas for
ja
went to town early so 4ti A. could git back by the time*Igot
,here.' As he went out of the room to eat his breakfast, I looked
around. The house was a new four -room cottage, painted white and
trimmed in green on the outside.
8.
ta.,_ The walls of the livingroom
44,..? -14
with comic/ sheets the Sunday papers, weepOrve.
border samium arou4d t4e topilof pictures cut from magazines. The /2.11
rmuotA..AA.,if
IPP- was ceileq5 The-f4erar-wrS-MVETTTriri-tit a brightly figured
,k4f4
,P1
-117-
eaagoleum square,,
----X-
("&player pian21iitJLe rolls of music neatly stocked on tiovmallf:Pf
.WM400'. a
v
114f,
a_9429.14,1,a_tap. --Amomeili4-cabinetxtyle victrola and three large, plain
414*
rocking chairs painted a bright green Fancy lace curtains were draped
C9
at the windows andgerocheted squares covered the glass panes in the
Tom 'a±L:.sak in ammo,* short time kid( me if I wouldnif
ged
like to go through the houses that he wanted me to see Sally Anne
et4,44x
I followed him through a bedroom. ftwaapaimial.altak
coveredswa red silk spread,
4.Larr,44-41,-)ri '94/.4"
Lalaphenv-stared.., 16,144.416e telephoneAnear the beds a dressing table,ej
several chair,8)amboszunlartatis. hheateri
fhttrrri-ekeem. The-wa-11-e-wer..,wlao-plastertsd-wi-th-
noacc-~-eoverect-d. faded wool rug. 4 The
-)r
.14.44411c
two windows were draped with ft clean scrim curtains. e). Aa,
The next room was also' a bedroom and .54fire was burning e4a*-
ittilivy) Lt.fryt
trigirtis in A --grate. T.114 bed in this room wernanikeek=sitidis2=±±2......
tetd..446.-bitep-ieptioneembe.Q.z.gghsrmextit was covered with a green al 1.43 pread
A dressing table sae a.amall table and several rocking cpairs.completed
-4 furniture On. The wall were e d idxtkax wi th
newspapers ,The floor was covered with linoleum square in front of
and his d
ar
.4.4A!cel
"large fernSin home-made
boxet
44fit
cushio
.04e -ft)
the fire was a box of baby chickens. The--eivrelerw--lowilitig
----wit-14t cream scrim 7 curtains. r/ 1 7; 4 er 4
1
9.
As we passed to thy next room, which was the kitchen, I
saw that it was pr,45 with newspapers.
It was warm and comfortable
from the Axe in the large woodburning range. A small dining table
was covered with a clean white cloth„ a side table held some dishes,
w og
and a very lare:,e cabinet was in one side of the room. A shelf just
inside of the door held several very brightly polished water buckets.
When we passed
and
the door was a well.
plain white
the kitchen door, we au.s.'in the yard
IL
Tom said, This is one
of the best wells of water that you will find any where -QM these days.
It is cold and pure too, but yonder is Sally Ann and Sister at the
washhouse. They are a little put out cause they is washing today,
and ain't had time to git fixed up.R, I told them that was all right
cause you knowed us had to work."
As we reached the wasc_ilouse I was greeted by Sally Anne,
who is a very dark ski
d NegrAeand in spite of the fact that they
were at work, very clean and neat/house drestiles.. As Sally
Anne smiled she showed a mouthful/ of gold teeth. She is rather inclindd
to be fat, but Sister, as they called her, is 10100...thin and tall, not
as dark as her mother and father, and her hair was combed back
Si
•j' close against her head.
we looked around the large
.oz;
clean yarde4) Showing me the hedges. and different kinds of flowers,
that they had just recently put out, Tom said:,, "If can ever gft
••=1:49...pareve. fixed up lak oe want AiR 44.will be a right nice little
place, but you know it takes money to do that. I have seen the time
when I wouldn't have to stop for that, but 14k4 most everything-11Mo.
1 O.
else, it is all gone now.
I has had my day, and I has been wonderfully blest by a
gracious and understanding God, and I wouldn't call back them days
if I could cause Ilse done had my day. I tried to make good use
0( 4
of the days past and I hope the good Lord can say done, when
I goes home, butA: will go back to the fire to talk. This sun-
shine is mighty warm and pleasant, but if you stay out too long
you can feel the chill."
As we were seated in comfortable chairs in the room, where
the fire was burning so bright, Tom removed his large white felt
JP
hat, and asked if he might smoke his pipe,
0
"cause 400 could think
I
oetter Jima& =laid' smoke. Assuring him that it would be all rightr)
1
to smoke, I watched him as h very carefully filled his old pipe.
40 i44.tt 4IAA
He was dressed in1 gray wool rousers and a blue coat, not new, but
n 6."4-41
clean and neatblack shoes and a very bright red and blue tied,
ajule-wirt-ter-eitirto completed his costume. 1=mmudgiosotivENFIgailike.
had-4.1..addr-ei-nee-l—sww-latqw-Ilialio4pwasim He does not look so old,
as he is tall and very straight. I judged that he was between sixty
and seventy.
Getting the pipe going good he looked around and smiled.
"Pride done ruint this old worlc,Idi:Misteas. Pride just done took the
day. Back long in them times, us won't Ifraid to work. Didn't know
what it,was to go tote st2re when 4s ent .to cook a meal,
''44V p1 41
40/71,4
•all the cooking tikron watvon the firepl cese clothes pit made at home.
cause
Why when us went to church, it was in old home-made clothes, that
J
our mothers made.
"But bless the Lord that sho didn't stop us from having
meeting. Folks had 'ligon then and from the time the pastor read
11.
out the song and the brother over the corner started it off, every
id eet?,4?
frni411
body 'gin to git happy and that old song, Amazing Grace How Sweet
The Sound was sung the shouting could be heard for a mighty long
ways off cause didn't nobody stay home 'cause they didn't have no
clothes to wear.
oi
44w-allworked hard in the fields, and as dutifully as the
sun rose in the morning it found us in our fields at labor for
that was the way we made our living and I did work. I wanted to
tlf-
have something and from daylight 'til dark 44 was at our work.
was tired out at that 44 was, and ready for the bed. Warn't
no running 'round at nights for us on the farms, but ig did learn
new things to grow and how to grow em better. As we 'vanced 'long
Moo
we could raise more things to eat and.wa.learnt how to grow sorghum
cane to make_syrup. That was a change from the old black mo-lasses
but Ifse frank to say, them black mo-lasses is still my favorite.
There was just nothing lak them ginger -bread cakes that my mother
made with mo-lasses and baked in them old ovens in the fireplace.
"I' farmed all my life and ILiae-made money in farming
and then and too I °La. lost money the same way, but mostly after
farmers started to raising cotton as the money crops for a while
us made money that way then prices of cotton would go up and then
to the bottom. When the price started up, everybody would hold all
allso
they possibily could just walaMt goin' to sell, just waitin' 'til
it got a little bit higher and lust thing us knowed it had done
hit the bottom.
"I was just lak everybody else. I knowed I was goin' to git
rich that way, but one thing I didn't do, I didn'ttAOtt raising plenty
of foodstuff for us as well as plenty for the stock. I done pretty
13.
As I waited for him to return, I picked up one of the small
chickens out of the)oox. Sally Anne came in tft=iimese. Seeing the
baby chick, ahe laughed and said, "Does you lak little things to?
Bet you lake dogs."
HI really do," I answered. "I think they are one of the most
faithful animals that we have, andOalways had a dog when I was at
home and the little girl where I board has one, that I am very
N\
tfond' of
Tom came back in the room and said, "It wag about them same
men that wanted to see me yis4ay. I done teld hi that I smolt
gwine nowhere Itil us got through talking 'cause they can just wait.
Weillt us talking 'bout cotton? I !member back in 1920 when things
was sky high and I had forty bales of cotton here in the warehouse.
"Cotton was sellin' for forty cents a pound, but lak every-
body else I•helton to that cotton, just knowed it would go higher,
and I 'vest -heavily in land also, bought every, bitI could git a
hol(of. Everybody was just money mad. But it right. And
I lost everything I
had 'long with the rest of the folks. I%imasA2
that the best way to make anything out of cotton is sell
it, just.as quick as it gits out of the ginhouse.
"I never plied up one stalk of cotton, cause I 'bided by
the laws and didn't plant only what I was Isposed.to plant;
I has stayed right in the bonds of the law. IlAimesgot some money
on my land and it was a blessing to me. Why)last year the farmers
didn't make anything. It was the :worst year I ever ',members for
farmin'. Course most folks wouldn't -do lak the great President
done asked 'em too. They just went ahead and planted their cotton
and then when it was ruint, they plogmbed it under so they could
git their check-
14.
"I think our President is the grandest man,that has ever set
in the ?resident's seat. He is a blessing to humanity. He has done
more for the farmers, than anyone else has ever done. He is just
lak Moses, leadin' the chillun of Israel; justtying to lead us
out of struction, but he don't git much help. He feeds the poorvo.
fixe4ljobs so that people eob4.4 work he is a blessidl sent by God."
Picking up aginiamworn Bible from the table, Tom 'said, "Does
you believe in this Good Book? Cause if it is wrong then there
ain'trothinl else left for use does you believe in it?
"Yes, indeed! I replied. "I was taught to believe in that
by my mother."
"Do you ever read your Bible?" he asked.
"I do," I answered.
LL
But did you just read it or did yoUistudy it? I'll find out
later, cause I am goin' to ask you some questions.
"I ain't never had much education. But when I married, I
decided that I was going to lam' and make a man out of myself. I
has sho tried to do that. I/}ges4rworked hard and I can read and
write a little specially can I read this Book of Life.
efle/J.24,60
"But tell me about' your wedding." I said.
A(14
"Well, along then times won't lak they are now. itiephad a
big weddin', big for Negroes. Crowds of people was at our weddin'
4 ,r
and there was plenty of white folks too. All Sally Anne's white
7„ ..4
folks was right there 'cause they sho did lak that gal and I'll tell
At` VL^
you, she is one of the bestAomenjand if I had a million dollars
today, I woad lay it all in her lap. She has never failed me. I
always know that she is riOit here in her field of duty. She has
worked rie,ht sine of me in everything.
15.
4,
"4e -has oath farmedl raised all our things to eat. I didn't
never try no Ibacco, just Jorn, peas, 'taters, ry!jand wheat. Yes,
I has made money farming and I has also lot money on the farm. It
is hard work, out any kind of work is that way if you stays at it.
ixtimiix My check from the Government for thirty dollars came just
before Christmas. It sho did come in a good time. I took that money
and bought us all something to eat and,clothes, wi*WtL
"We has just got two chillun: a girl, Sister, and a boy.
Sister is a good and smart girl, but my son is just no 'count."
At this time someone called him again and he went out to see who it
wasA'oming back in a few minutes, he said "I has been wonderfully
blest for god gives me these visions so that I can help folks and I
has been so thankful, but Mistess, war is comm'.
4I know it is, 'cause I has had the same visions I had before
the world War. I has seed the people gathering together and marching
in crowds, and then the Bible is fu*filling its teachinls, for it
says: 'There shall be wars and rumors of wars,' and the war that comm'
and comin' fast, is goinl to be bad 'cause folks is RktiliAilbk wiserovdpi
they than
in the last war.
"I has had visions and predicted for our Govenors. Yesf4m
I has had letters from more than one of,Aem, askin' me to help 'em.
But lessen I gits the vision I can't help altall. But when God lets
me see these things I think it is my bound duty to tell 'em.
"I/liesebeen a licen0d preacher for more than nineteen
years, but I/ lies never been ordained. They has wanted to ordain
me, but 1 just don't feel right yet in that way 'cause I is just
plain and ignorant, but I takes my stand c3 -n my Bible, if it is
wrong then I am wrong. But if this assed Book is right, then I
16.
am right, for as the Lord said to Nic4demus, "Yes must be bornidIK
again.'
"Churches ain't lak they used to be, just too much high
polut$in' preachin' now. I don't lak that. I lake to hear 'em
preach from the Bible, and the heart, not just read off a sermon
that somebody done Poepared and writ down for 'em. Why they don't
study the Bible no more.
They reads it, but not with understanding.
Some of our greatest preachers today, can't explain_ what the soul of
man is.
"Now my Bible says this, and I takes my stand on the Bible.
See right here in the secondlaa. chapter of Genesis in the
seventh verse." Tom slowly read with some difficulty, "'and the
Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul.'
Now that is plain for anyone to read. The soul is the breath of,
life. My white folks comes to me lots of times and ask me questions
about the Bible.
"I 'member one tide. Us had up a question about the Sabbath
Day. Has you always been taught that God made the earth in six
days and rested on the seventh day?
"Yes I have always been taught that." I.replied, wondering
just what he would say about that.
But he was ready, as he said "Well then Mistess just let -me
read the second verse of the second chapter of Genesis to,you..."
And again he slowly read, "And on the seventh day fmenxill
Elmix)rmrkmdasioxim God ended his work which he had made; and he
rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made."
Handing the Bible to me, he said, "There read it for yourself,
17.
and you can see where it says he ended his work on the seventh day."
ge has this place as well as the seventh verse which he had just
read marked with a ‘ross.
As I handed the Bible back to him, he said, "Don't you think
that is plain for anyone to understand? For he says he ended his
work on the seventh day. I is just a plain old Missionary Baptist
preacher, but that is plain to me, and if all people would read
with understandin' and belief it would be plain to them.
was called to preach at my old church where I.gps my
membership cause I never has moved it in all these years. -TheAmaas
1.6t little more than a month ago; Everybody was up -set and distressed
_
10-Uf these hard times. I just tore up that church. God just told
me what to say. I told them that UB didn't have no panic now, and
I took 'em back to the days of Moses and Aaron and when Elisha led
the people into Samaria and there was a great famine in that land.
"People lag 80 hungry that they et they own chillun. Some
,46.4
of them didn't lak it,sa d won't no sich thing in the Bible. I
asked them to read Scond -King; shr.#g chaptar, tweet -4414th and
twentiL ____ verses. They came to me and told me I was right.
I had took my stand on my Bible and.aaw it proved me right. Now
I want to read them verses to you. When he found the place which
woo marked with crosses, he read..
"And the King said unto her, Wh.at ailpth thee? And she
answered, This woman said unto me., Give thiy son that we may eat.
mataxx him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.
"So we boiled my son and did eat him and I said unto her
on the next aay: give tally son, that we may eat him:: and she hath
hid her son.'
"See I was right Mistess. This Blessed Book has never failed
18.
me yet. I always tried to preach just what I seer 'cause I don't
144\ this high polutin' preachinl and God don't laic' it neither.
He wants his asciples to preach the truth and nothin' but the
truth, but Oh, just for some more of them old meetin's when people
got happy and viralt 'fraid to show it, that is what I calls real
Iligion.
"But I -Ivias(had my day and I 'spects gittin' old. I
44
don't now 'cause my folks didn't know how to count. I still tr$44
to farm and I selLface creams, powdei; and sich things as that and
piddles
round on odd jobs all the time."
What did you do pack in those days' for pastime?" I asked.
"Well, bout the biggest times ,was them old corn shuckinls.
Now idistess they weae really enjoyable. Sometimes they lasted for
two and three days 'cause folks sho raised corn then. We had a gen-
eral that led the singin' and -big suppers I has shucked corn by
the light of the moon and pasp--fires. After thi work was done, there
was games and I tells you playine-maiftbles was a great sport.
"Whensi444just wanted-ftmAt,together supper and party, us
had hominy feasts. It was the real old lye hominy. jus*megaged
ik-n) Ce441
tx big pots full of it and that was something to enjoy and be
happy and thankful for. I was afraid to ask about dancing and I
6aggialgessinee
just asked if they AIR cornshucking
I .4e-11
Why, yes, lotii-brti-deiWhen the corn is all gathered in
'specially Imong the colored folks. They ivites crowds to help
git the corn shucked cause they don't change much as the white
folks and many of them is still lak they used to be but Aameme
gitting (fOlkE4 in better shape, just Ivancin' right along."
As the same men came back for Tom again, I prepared to
leave. He walked out to the sidewalk with me and said, "This
19.
sun is delicious today and makes me feel good. Ilse glad Ilse not
in the trouble dem folks is.
"Come back agin when our flowers gitto bloominl out, and
our place will look better."
As Sally Anne came around the house to tell me good-bye, Tom
said, "Mistess, I.446! =no come and tell you 'bout that vision,
-Qamee it ain't right clear yit, but I has seen enough to know that
you is on o suc ce Gs 0446101 -40V-yost, 7*,16.4-4 ek44-4t, 4,X 140n.
On my long walk back to the city I pondered Tom's parting
remarks, and I hope that he is right.
The End