Document text
July 23,1939
Lizzie Linberger, Housewife
Newton, N.C.
Ethel Deal,',riter.
Dudley *.Crawford, Reviser.
Original Names
NewtonO.C.
Lizzie Linberger
?red Linberger
Changed Names
Bakertontr.C.
Mrs. Lula Leonard
Frank Leonard
"Come in," said Mrs. Leonard, as I knocked on
the door. She was barefooted, hair combed straight
back and done up in a tight knot. Her dress open
half way down the front and pinned with a big safety
pin. "Take off your things and se t down if you can
find a place." Every chair was full of unfinished
sewing. I moved some of it and sat down. he radio
was going full blast, and I had to guess at much of
her talk. She resumed her seat at the sewing mac hine
and continued.
"I declare I can't keep this house fitten to
look at since the younguns is out of school. They
don't do a thing but make a mess. I try to sew to
make a little spending money, if I don't, I ain't
got none." A long table near the window was covered
with patterns, tape measure and cloth. "Have you
always sewed, Era. Leonard?" "No, I haven't always
sewed-- you see, sewing don't pay. I went to work
when I was fourteen, made seven -fifty a week. Now,
here I set and sew all day, and if I make two dol-
lars a week I am doing zood. Ihe trouble is, the
people can go to the store and buy a dress cheaper
than they can buy the cloth, thread and trimmin'
and hire it made. The reason I am swamped with
work is I jist got back from a two weeks vacation.
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Ey parents are cotton mill people.
"It takes all Frank makes to live on," said
Mrs Leonard, still running the machine and talking
at the same time. *He makes twenty eight dollars
a week. I tell him he carries too much insurance.
Two policies on hisself; one on all of us and then
that burial insurance on the whole family. It jist
keeps us hardup. ,e pay ten dollars a month fez'
this house, and a lizht bill. No water bill up here
as we it our water from a well. He still owes some
on the frigidaire and he puts twoilfty in the build-
ing and loan. I tell him I'd rutheria little now, as
so much after he's dead. What makes me so mad is,he
is sich a poor manager. I could take the money and
make it go further and have more. We do have a
plenty to eat, as he would always live good; but
I'd like to have something else.
"I told Frank this morning I git so sick and
tired of staying here working, I don't know what to
do; but little sympathy you git out of a man though.
Before you marry them, they make all kinds of promises
and after they git you, that's another thing. That's
one hard headed man.
"I can't turn that radio off till I bear that
program. I listen to it every day." While she listened
at the story, I made a note of what was in the room.
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Besides the living room suite and table, there was
a whatnot in one corner. The shelves containing
pictures of the family made at different ages. Above
the mantel hung a picture of the Lord's Supper. A
picture in a large gilt grans of a young man inuni-
form hung over beside the organ. "That's my brother
who use ta be in the standing army," she said "He's d
dead now."
As the radio program cane to a close she said,
"I can't hardly wait every day to hear that story.
I live out here two miles from town, and it's jist
like beiLg in jail. Nobody comes, and I can't git
nowhere. Frank never wants to go any place, and if
he does, its to preaching, or town to work.
"I ,o to the show two or three times a week,
and we go to ride on Sundays, we don't go to church
often. That's another thing Frank don't like. I tell
him I'm jist as good as them that goes, and better
than some. I wouldn't mind going to church if there
wasn't so many hypocrites in it; so I stay at horns
and read my Bible. I ain't/at no edication. I never
went no further than the first graded"- I can read
though; I picked that up myself. I like stories, that's
about all I read but the Bible. It embarrasses me to
go out aLong people, 'cause I got no edication and that's
one reason I don't go to church.
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"Yes, I have three children living and I got
eight dead. That's enough to kill anybody without
anything else." Do you ever get to see your mother?"
I asked. "Yes I get to go to see my Mammy about
once a year. Mammy was always sickly, and she sewed
a lot too. I had to stay at home and help her when I
was young.
ti
4nume people think a woman has a easy time. House
work is the hardest thing on a woman I know of. I git,
up here every morning at four -thirty, as Frank has
to be at the mill at six. He works eight hours, and
I try to tive dinner ready when he gita home. After
the kitcen is cleaned up I sew, and sewing is a
hard job. it gits on my nerves. VI doctor says sewing
is the worse thing a woman can do.
"Another thing bothers me is visitors. I like
company good as anybody, but I like comers anu joers;
not cers and stayers. Every summer Frank wants me
to can stuff to feed an army. Eight these in the
closet is a couple hundred jars left over. We can't
use all of it, so I give away lots of it this spring.
Still its can, can something every day. He's never
satisfied.
"About time I start canning in the summer, all
the relations on both sides decide to come on a visit.
One of my nieces has been here all sumi,,er; one of his
was here two weeks; a nephew on his side stayed four
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weeks, and now my uncle is coming in August to stay
until Christmas. He gits the old age pension and jist
visits. The company always site out in the cool and
enjoys theipsolf, while I am in the kitchen. I am
going to make it a rule fer then to help do the work.
"Come let's go to the kitchen. I got to make a
fire in the stove and start dinner. I am hungry, as
I eat bre:Wait so early." The kitchen was clean and
comfortable. Two screened windows let in a cool breeze.
Clean white curtains fluttered from the rods. The kitchen
furniture consisted of a long eating table with a
blue oil cloth, a blue and white range, a kitchen
cabinet, a china cupboard. Oita one of the shelves
of the cupboard was a big white frosted cake. Going
to the cupboard, she said, "I want you to have a piece
of my cake. I made IA this morning after Frank went
to work. It's pineapple, I don't know if you'll like
it or not." She took two small hand painted plates;
from the cabinet and served two large slices.
"You have got to stay and have dialler with us.
Frank and the children will be glad. Lon't tell him_
though you are writing my story, he might not like it,
he is so peculiar. I've been married to him for twenty
six years, and I don't know him yit.
"I have two boys, nine and twelve. One is in
the eighth grade and one in the fourth grade. I wake
my younguns go to school and study hard, as I want them
to have a bettor chance than I've had.
w I used to keep boarders when we lived in town.
I kept six .iien and they paid me five dollars a week.
Every saturday, I took in thirty dollars. Them men
said they had never been fed bettor. Course, I bought
in large quantities. I'd buy a ei6ht pound roast for
dinner on konday, and with the roadt, I'd serve cold
slaw, potatoes and pie. What was left of the roast,
I served on Wednesday, sliced cold with vegetables.
They liked fried pies too, dried fruit was so cheap.
I fried pies and always kept them warm. These was fine
with fresh butter.
"Vegetable soup was another good stand by. When
its made right, it answers the purpose of a whole
meal. I'd it about three pounds of boneless stew,
cutting it up fine, and put it in a big cooker. When
is was tender, I would at la about a half of gallon
of sliced irish potatoes and some carrots, and when
they was done, I added three cans of tomatoes, a can
of okra, and two of corn. The men raved over this soup
served with hot buscuits, cafe and egg custard.
"Now, I really want you to stay for dinner. I
wouldn't have asked, if I didn't want you to stay.
I won't have no soup, but I'll have something better
or jut as good. I've got fresh butter beans right out
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of the garden. gy squash is so good and tender, it'll
o good with the tomatoes and beans. I am not having
meat today, but I got froth butter and cake.
"I made eight quarts of apple butter and have a
dish of it left over for dinner. I made thirty two
jars of cucumber pickles, Paid I am going to can sweet
pickle peaches this week. I've already canned my
beets, beans and berries, I made four gallons of Jam.
Nobody here cares much for it. I'll have it on hand
if they do want it.
"They say a rolling stone gathers no moss. I
guess that's why we got nothing.We do keep a good
car. Frank won't do without one I'd like to have a
home, but I'd rather have a car if I am going to live
in the country. There now, my dinner's ready. I'll
set down and coil a minute. I wen't take out the
ice for the tea till they git here. Frank likes his
meals hot. He has to eat cold lunch 40 much." Mrs.
Leonard mopped her face with her clean white apron.
"No, I don't believe in women voting. I voted a
couple of times to please my husband, but I think
it's wrong. The Bible says it's a sin fer a woman
to speak in public, so I say its worse fer them to
vote." The door opened and Frand and the children
came in. Each washed his face and combed his hair;
the children scrambling and arguing over the wash
basin. At the table we bowed our heads while r.
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Leonard offered thanks. The meal consisted of hot
biscuits, corn muffins, fresh butter and butter
milk, ice tea, butter beans cooked with bacon, squash
fried brown,sliced tomatoes wit dressing, blackberry
jam, apple butter,* dish of cold boiled ham, and pine-
apple cake.
Mr. Leonard talked of his work in the mill. "I'm
a loom fixer, been working in the mill ever since I
was fourteen. I got married at sixteen. Don't know
any other work. I'm working now in the silk mill.
I used to aiake thirty dollars a week, but they cut
wages a few yeara ago. I now make tienty eight. The
Super is a fins man to work for; that is, if you do
the thing that's right. He won't hire j,..st any type
of person; they pick their help. We have college men
in the will weaving. ,On* man studied for a doctor got
him a job weaving. Once a year the mill sends the fixers
some place for a day to a textile meeting. The will
boars the expenses. This keeps us in ship shape for
our work. It also gives us a day of recreation we
wouldn't otherwise. People working today and making
good,has to be careful not to get in the rut. Your mind
needs a rest from the daily jrind as well as your body.
Money spent on recreation and improvement is not wasted.
I work through the whole year. I get one day off once
5 year and it makes me feel like a different person.
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"The company works over two hundred hands. Each
one of them has life insurance, carried by the company.
That makes us feel good. If we get hurt accidently
our expenses is paid and we drew a cortaLn amount each
week. I have worked in several mills. I started as
a defter. I made six dollars a week. I have been here
ten years. If work stays good, I'll make this my home.".
"I hope I won't have to stay in the country" said
urs. Leonard, pouring tea.
I like it out here" Frank continued, "One thing
it's cheaper, and I like to have good gardens. I
used to keep a cow and chickens, but I found it didn't
pay. We had so much butter and milk, we couldn't use
it, and nobody would eat or drink it. Now,I buy it
and everybody can't get enough."
"No, I never went to school; what little I know
I learned it myself. If I had a little education when
I started out I might have done better."
The youngest boy, who had been silent during the
meal, asked,"Daddy, if you'd got more education, could
you make more money?""Certainly." the father replied.
"I'd be telling other people what to do, in the place
of them telling me." The boy batted his eyes and
grinned, "Golly, I am going to learn my books."
Everybody laughed as we arose from the table.
"Well, we'll see if you enjoyed your dinner or
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not. if you come back soon to eat with us, I'll
know you enjoyed it. if you don't, I'll think
you didn't.