[Henrietta Pendleton]

Crawford, Dudley W., Deal, Ethel, Pendleton, Henrietta

North Carolina, Newton, United States

1939-09-14

5

wpalh001781

department storesmarriagenarratives

Document text

Sept. 14th,1939.
Henrietta Pendleton, Saleswoman
liewton, N.C.
Ltbel Deal, writer.
Dudley w.Crawford, Reviser
Original Names
Henrietta Pendleton
Smithy's Depektment Store
Catawba County
Newton
Hewitt Motor Co.,
John Pendleton
Changed Muse*
Carol Phillips
Sloangs Dept. Store
Cook County
Bakerton
Howe Motor Co.,
George Phillip'

I work at Sloan's, in the dry goods department.
Sloan's store has two floors, dry goods above and
groceries in the basement, and he treats his employes
fine. The store opens at eight in the morning and
closes at six, that is except Saturday when we work
ttii nine.
"Thifis a lunch room in the basement. I usually
go down at twelve and help the girls serve lunch if
we are not to busy upstairs, By doing this I get my
own lunch free.
"I'm twenty three years old and have been married
eight years. I was born in Cook County, and have always
lived in Bakerton. gy mother died when I was three
years old. 4 father works for the Howe otor Co.,
sells cars. Vother died from childbirth leaving six
children. Father married about two years later.
"My stepmother was young and good looking. In
a way she treated us well. I don't suppose any woman
can have the same feeling for another's children as
shy would for her own* I've always been thankful no
children was born of this second marriage.
"I don't have to work. What Ay husband earns in
the laundry business is sufficient to keep us up.
t,4, ten dollars et week at the store I use for what
I want. My father-in-law has a lot of propc.rty.Goorge
is his only child, but the property don't belong to
us, we work for our living. We are paying for our

hclass through the building and loan. My tau dollars
helps to buy a lot of little things I might have
to do without. For instance 1 have a girl six years
and one four, and I can get them a new dress or
pair of shoes whenever I like.
"When I married I was not through the eighth
grade. I got married, went on to school and finished
my grade, George wanted me to do this. I'm sure I
married to young, but I don't regret it, we are very
happy and getting along fine. George drinks occasionally
not enough to worry about. The funniest thing hap-
eened a short time ago, it was on saturday night.
4eorge went to North Bakerton with some of the boys
and got drunk. The police locked him up. It was the
first time he had ever been in jail. He swore the
rata run over his feet so much he had to stand up all
night.
"I wish I had more education, )ut we were so
crazy to get married that education didn't countae
own our car and hope to own our home. I'd rather do
without a cur than a home. Cur home is very modern
and up-to-date. Cf course, we have lights, bath and
heat.
"George's salary has to be right good to keep up
our home. We go to the show once or twice a week. We
are baseball fans and take in the ball games.

"LI folks re Lutherans. George
is a
„ethodist.
The Phillips wouln't want George to change. You
know now strong minded the Lutnerans
can be. Some
them think its impossible to change and be right.
not like that I feel like I can be as good in one
of
I'm
church as another, for that reason 've never joined
any. I'm going to let the matter rest for awhile, and
see how it turns out. Before I'll let it ruin our
lives I'll stay out of the church altogether. I've
only got two children I don't want any more.
*I want to be able to educate the ones I have.
I think it is very wrong to bring children in the
world and not provide for them properly. going
to teach my children to work and give them a good
education. Then if they marry e wan who won't pro-
vide for them, they cam leave him and make their
own way. I don't believe in divorce, I think it is
cheap anyway you put it; but if George wouldn't
treat me right and go running around with another
woman I expect get one.
o',4-eore is ocrat. I've nevt:r voted. I
don't object to woman voting if they want too; the
trouble is they don't half a them know what they are
voting for. I think they shoula Lpe better informed
before they do it, men too for that matter. To my
way of thinking its too much ignorance goes to the
polls on election day.

*4
*I'm trying to improve my education by reading
good literature. There is no excuse these days for
people to be ignorant, or with a limited education.
The libraries furnish you with most anything you
want for entertainment, magazines of every description
and books that 1464(th you what you want to know. Help-
lessness is another name for laziness. 6ome of the
great men in history didn't have the chance that so
many people are throwing aside.
"Its twelve o'clock I must go down stairs and
help the girls serve lunch. I like that better than
anything else, the work up here is hard but its a
lot of fun seeing people eat.
"You can say that I don't nag my husband and we
don't fuss and fight and that we are atill in love."