Document text
October 4, 1939
A. F. Duncen-(Shoemnker)
Newton, N. C.
Ethel' Deal, Writer
Frank B. Rupert, Reviser
Original Names: Changed Names:
A. F. Duncan
Dr. Ramer
Walker County
F. A. Deacon
Dr. Rowse
Wilber County
'YPtah I own this shoe shop. Ilya got a good
trade but I OWL make a living at it."
The old man split ela a chew of tobacco into a
tin can, wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and
went on with his work.
"I ain't much to complain, I just go on and do
the best I can. My wife's been in the bad six years.
The doctor says it's low blood pressure. My opinion is
they don't know what they're talking about.
P. A. pulled out a tack with a pair of pliers and
threw the shoe on a bench.
"I was born in Wilber County in 1891. My father
wes a farmer. We lived from hand to mouth. That's
about all poor folks can do. If you live on a rented
farm you can't make a living. Its not much better if
you work for wages. The rich man gets it all. A poor
man's nothing but a tool or piece of machinery in a
rich man's hands. I got no education but a few months
here in the public schools. my folks was bad to move
around. There wns nobody to make ma go to school so
I didn't go. When I was twenty one I joined the Regular
Army and was there six years. I was a field musician
and liked it fine. I'd have been better off if I'd
stayed there. At least I wouldn't have had to work
myself to death trying to keep up a family that don't
appreciate it.
**After I got married I worked in a curtain pole
factory ter years. seventy cents a day is all I made.
We lived good on it and I saved soae money. Things
was cheap then and the women didn't have to have every
thing that came along. If a man made twenty five dollars
a day his wife and younguns would have it all spent
before the end of the week. A woman will buy anything
from a pack of needles to a washing machine from a agent.
I cot five children, two of them is married. I have to
keep them all up."
The old man shook his head.
"I tell you I'm getting fed up on it, I ean't
keep up such a crowd on what I'm making. We live in the
cheapest houwl t can find, it's up at the railroad tracks
and belongs to Dr. Reese. Hess a dentist and char,,es
a dollar to open your mouth. His old house leeks qnd it
ain't no good, I pay five dollars a month rent."
The old man took another chew of tobacco, aimed
at the tin can and hit the floor.
*c-io many people won't pay me. If I won't eredit
them they :u some where else, if I do some won't pay.
I've never been atle to ,let ehow-h iloney tocether to buy
mc a ear, and as for a home I couldn't make the first
payment. A car wou1,1 be mor.:1 pleasure to no, I don't
stay at home much no how. About all I'm interested in
at the present is getting something to eat. I buy fat
back for breakfast, once in a while we have steak or
liver. I h vo to keep a woman to do the house work. I've
got two grown girls; about all they do is walk the streets.
One of them hnd a case in court about q month ago. I
onn't watch them enL: work too. Bare son here's your
shoos, the charge is fifty oents."
The colored boy rolled his eyes, only the whites
showing.
"ITAMA said tell you she'd pay you Saturday."
"O. you tell your mama I'll keep the shoes till
Saturday."
"Yes sir" said the boy a3 he backed out.
"Now that's the -say it goes. I don't believe a darn
thing a negro says. They'll bring the money or not get
the shoes."
"I don't belong to church. They ain't in my line.
Preachers these days got up and preach for the money.
Cllurchse ain't a thUg but an made organizations. Ebro
we're tryine to stay out of war, and the fool preachers
c -„It up and prosch for it. Besides I don't believe in
rternal tor7.nt. Go d just, mnd the 5ible nays he is
love. :ow then do you expect me to believe that f7Aed will
let anybody c;(5 to torment and suffer"? don't believe
tny slob a thing. If you iert my belief 911Z. be'lure and
put it down, z don't believe anybody has a soul. When
theydie that is the last of them.
"I tin't got no ambitions, just to peg along suits
me. I don't take no Tart in bell gnmes or shows. 'hen
T. ?cant a little roorestion end ploasure t get on a drunk,
that's m b147 pleasure, I can forget evarybndy I on and
everybody that ',wee me. T usually land in jail 7.,nd have
to pa i a fine. Its worth it thou(Th nnd I feel like the
world t,nd int is even. No don't thank me T'm glet to get
that ofr my °heat. Its not ofton you have e opportunity
to tell folks what you think, I enjoy it."