Document text
Sept. 1, 1939
C. M. Deal, Zr. (Textile- worker)
Kannapolis, N. C.
Ethel Deal, Writer
Dudley W. Crawford, 7eviser
Oriainal Names Changed Names,
Kannapolie Cannonville
C. M. Deal X. C. link
Catawba County Canton County
Peggy Ann Betty Tean
Shirley Belinda Sara Dee
Beaulah Blanch
Carl Tim
Young l, known to his friends as "I. C.", looked
fondly at his daughter Sara Dee, as she leaned over the
pink -lined bassinet where her little sister, Betty Teen,
was pleading with both hands to be taken up.
"I am twenty one years old, was born and reared on
a farm in Canton County, went through high school, left
home at sixteen and wa.2 married before I was eighteen. I
had an elder brother who also left home young and when my
sister married mother sold the farm and moved near town.
"During vacation and after school hours I worked on
the farm of one of the neighbors. He wawa truck farmer.
Fe raised cabbage, tomatoes, celery and peppers. All day
long, from six to six, I'd set plants. I tell you I
dreamed of them dad -blamed plants every night. Ten cents
an hour was what he paid me. I walked two miles every day
to his place and carried my own lunch. He said I was the
best hand he ever had to work. I done a
day. My sister lived in Cannonville and
down here nnd 'et me a job in the mill.
school I come,i4fter stnying six vveks,
scrubbing gang. Nearly all new hands with no experience
has to take their first job on the scrubbing gang; I was
man's work every
wanted me to come
'Then I finished
I got on the
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no exception. I didn't mind it. I was willing to take a
job at anything to get started. It's pretty hard to get a
job in a big mill like that without experience. I'd never
seen inside of any kind of a mill. I made a dollar and
eighty cents a day. That's not much when you pay five for
board* I joined the Y.M.C.A., that took a dollar a month.
Then there's hair cuts and pressing bills. I done my own
shaving." Sara Dee climbed into his arms and run her small
fingers lovingly over his face. X. C. laid his cigarette
on a tray, reached over and nut the soft pink blanket over
Betty's feet.
"I tell you," he sPid, "I've had the dickens of a
time since these babies came. It takes everything I make
to pay bills.
"A good worker don't stay on the scrubbini: gang long.
It's a kind of a try -out to see waht you can do. I stayed
on there three months and was transferred to number six.
The mill at that time had forty acres of floor, now it's
much larFer, each part is numbered. You step out of number
one and go to number two and so on. Numbr six nnd number
seven is where they weave. I cleaned looms in nillber six
and swept the floor. It took such a short tie to sweep,
I had plenty spare time to learn how to weave. I took
advantage of this and could -.,00n handle a set of looms as
good as anybody. My boss man was fine, treated me well and
encouraged me all he could. The first opening he had two
months later, I got it. The funniest thing- I weaved next
to a baptist preacher. He told me in confidence one night,
his salary was so smell at the country church where he
preached, he was forced to come to the mill aric get a lob.
That man made a good weaver too, he'd gotten his education
at one of the loading universities of the south.
Blanch, .T.C's wife, was busy in the kitchen. Coming
to the door she said, ".T.C., how do you want that chicken
fixed?
"Fried, of course."
"I mean, do you want gravy?"
sure do, the longest you've ever made. Sara Dee
and me is about starved." Blanch laughed, "You always say
you are starved and then never eat mush."
"My first pay check on the weaving job was forty six
dollars. I felt like a millionaire. I'd stayed with my
sister for a while. Her health got bad; she'd gone to a
hospital and I'd moved to a boarding house. There's quite
a difference in boarding houses and private homes. At my
sister's I waF one of the family. The food was splendid
and served well. At the boarding house you knew exactly
what you were going to have each meal. I eat eggs and
bacon for for breakfast 'till I got so I quit going to the
dining room. Sundy, it was chicken and dressing. We
like surprises like chicken and gravy, don't we Sara Dee?"
Sara grinned anel cuddled closer. "This baby sticks to me
like a burr."
"It's because you take her with you everywhere you
go," said Blanch from the kitchen.
"I intend to be a companion to my daughters. I went
them to feel they can have a i:-ood time with their daddy.
"After I went to weaving T changed boarding places
again. It was higher, of course, this time I went to the
best place in town. About thirty boys boarded there. The
service was fine and the meals good. But I got tired of
it in a couple of weeks. The fact is, I missed my home and
mother. I worked hard at home, mother did too, she was the
backbone of our family; but she was never too tired or
busy to sit down and talk thinrs over with me. I could
tell her anything and she always understood. A boarding
house is all right for a place to eat and sleep, but there's
times when you don't want to do either.
"I worked in number six a while; it was closed down
and I was transferred to number seven; I been there ever
since. I weave towels, sheeting, but that's not all they
make. Window shades, draperies, wash cloths, beaoh robes,
table linen and kotex; that's not all, I can't remember
everything.
"Cannonville is the fastest growing town in the
world. It started with one little old mill and now it's
about the bigeest textile center in the country. It has a
population of ebout tw nty five thousand people. The Canton
family has a controllinl interest in the mills hers and
they own riille at various other places. For the last year
they been tearing down old buildings and replacing them with
new ones. The old Y.M.C.A. where I spent so many hours in
my young days is being replaced by a half million dollar
building." Z.C. smiled at his young wife. "That Y.M.C.A.
saved me from destrection." He said teasingly.
hours there with the boys to get away from the
house. It was well-equipped and up-to-date but
will be :lore modern and nicer. At hcale I was a
"I spent
boarding
the new one
regular book
worm, but here I jst couldn't read much; too many people
going and coming. I'd ec) the Yteelect me a good book, light
a cigarette and prepare for a good evening. About the time
I'd aet stnrted, someone would tap le on the shoulder and
wnnt me to play a game of pool. I don't shoot pool, never
did like it, and only play to please or be sociable.
"The old y had a swimming pool, barber shop, library,
reading rooms, pool table; no betting. A place to box and
play basket ball. We have a fine baseball park and a good
team. I can't resist -,oin7 to the ball games. Blanch don't
o much sinc.e Betty lean came. But she'll soon be old
enough to take. One thing I like about my wife, we both have
the same tastes. We cah go to a good show and hove the best
time. We get a woman to keep Betty Jean on account of germs."
"X.C, you say thisn7s so funny."
"Isn't that the reason we don't take her to the show?"
"Yes, of course."
"As I said before, all of the old buildings are being
replaced by new modern up-to-date buildings. We have a new
jail and the Colonial theatre is one of the finest in the
south. There's io many people here and only four theaters,
it's hard soetimes to see a show ;jou want to. A couple
months ago my brother-in-law and me went on Saturday night.
We went to the first show. "eking the rounds of all four
theaters .Aa couldn't get n seat, nnd cane back home to wait
for the second show. The last tIe we went back we got
standing room inside the door. My brother-in-law is kinder
hotheaded -the usher came around and wanted to close the door;
he couldn't we were against it and couldn't move. Have you
gentleAan bought your tickets?' He asked.
"'You're darn right we have," Tim replied. The second
time he came around he said, 'Excuse me, but I must close
the door.'"
"You can't close it," Tim replied, "we can't move an
inch."
"The third time he said, 'I'm very sorry, but I'll
give you your money back as the door ha.f. to be closed.? It
tickled me, I knew he had orders to close the door.
"Tim .cit so mad he said, 'Get our money and damn quick
too.'
"They're building two new theaters now. When the town
was built the sidewnlks were narrow. These are being torn
up and new ones laid.
"There's seventeen churches here for the white. The
negroes have three or maybe more. I belong to the Lutheran,
my wife is a Baptist. We don't argue over it and we haven't
decided if either one will change. My mother was a Methodist,
she joined the Lutheran alter marriage so we'd all be in
one church. my wife is a christian, that is more important
to me than what church she belongs to." T.0 slid Watallalt-
to the floor, got up to look for a pack of cigarettes. limy
salary at the present is forty nine dollars every two weeks.
I pay fifteen dollars house rent, besides lights und water
bill. This house don't bel n3 to th,i mill. Everything is
so filled up I can't :et a house in town. I own my own ear;
my house is furnished throughout. I owe the furniture man
fifty dollars, the hospital a hundred. We're living with..
in our income and paying our debts. Groceries are high, (slothse
and other things about the sane as other places. I'm worried
about the three lots next to me. I want to buy them and
build me a home. can't do it 'till I get out of debt. I've
got all T can carry now, A.th only a few extra dollars for
medicine and recreation- I feel that is a necessity. After
working eight hours a day you have to have an outlet. If
we have no money to span for 9 show or ball game, we take
a long drive in the country.
"I carry insurance on -elf, enough to take care of
my little family, ho 1d anything happen. We go to church
and pay our dues. I also pay to the Salvation Army, they
done lots for our men in the war. I take the daily papers,
read them toAmyself informed of what's oing on. We haves
one pocket book, my wife is allowed the same priveleges
I take myself. was too young to get married. I did it to
get a home. I knew we could work together to that end. Our
home is to be built on christenity ond love. My mother
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taught me that and it is my principle. I believe in helping
the fellow who is down and out. If you give him a shove,
you're not doing much good.
"BLa,noh and I both wanted a boy. The doctor had said
no more children for years to come, perhaps never. When
Betty Teen came she was such a sweet little mite, neither
one of us was disappointed. We Just lovo her the same. I
want you to look at my house. I've tried to buy the best
thins and furnish it so they won't have to be changed in
our new home. We're planning a six room brick house with
bath. This is only five and no bath. We have plenty room
as it is.
"I like chickens. I've got some nice ones in the lot.
Once you live on the farm, it never gets out of you."
"The chicken is going to be spoiled for dinner,
Blanch said, trailing around after us with Betty 'Than in
her arms.
"We'll eat wehn the story is finished. I want to be
good and hungry.
"It takes longer to pay for good furniture and rugs.
Once you get them they last and look good. I don't want my
rooms too crowded and I don't want them to look bare. The
babies must have a nice soft pale° to sit and play. That's
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why I peid lots more for this rug than I should. This extra
chair with the foot rest is just the thing rot Blanch to
lounFe in. I prefer a good substantial one like this.
"My new home is Eoing to have a ripck garden, a pool,
and a flower (garden. There's going to be a chicken lot
with plenty of fryers. Itve not forgotten the vegetable
garden. We got to have plenty of fresh vegetables. I don't
like stale things bought at the store. My babies and our-
selves too have to have the right kind of vitareins. Blanch
took home econinics in school. She likes to wan end have
the pantry shelves full. I'm lucky to have such a wife,
but no other kind wouldn't have satisfied me. We're going
fifty—fifty on this merriage. There's to be no nagging and
fussing about every little thing that comes up. We want
our children to brine- their friends home. We'll make it
pleasant so they can have good times." As we surveyed the
bedroom with the rose colored hangings, Blanch called from
the kitchen, "I won't wait another instant, dinner is
served."
"Thatts orders. When Blanch talks like thet I move."
Seated around the white table, Sera in her high bob,
with a bib on, touched her llps lightly with her napkin.
X.0 bowed his head and gave thinks." I'm ashamed of myself,
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I fret and fume inside 'cause I can't do things in R hurry.
I'm not twenty—two yet, there's plenty of time to get it
done. What you sry we all go to the show and have a good
time?"
"e"re showing a picture -At Dawn 7 Die. Sounds
horrible," said Blanch.
"Oh no, it's not, T saw n few sketches of it last
week." Betty Teen was left with her grandmother Ail°
Sara, proud rs punch, set on her daddy's lap nnd tried to
drive the oar. Blanch, a pretty dark -headed quiet girl
looked fondly et her youn husband. "X. C. when we get
our house, let's have apink running rore over thl car
shed door with a yellow heart."
will, and I want lilacs at the living room
window for the birds to build in."