Document text
August 12, 1939
Lillie Craig (Mbther)
Catawba, N. C.
Xtbel Deal,Writer
Dudley W. Crawford, Reviser
Original Manes
Lillie Craig
Robert 3. Lee
Abraham Linooln
William
Madison County
Gastonia
Andy Craig
Mr. Rudisill
L4ary Lou
Herbert Hoover
Changed Names
Lula Cobb
Stonewall Jackson
Howard Taft
Zane.
Maiden County
Golden
Amos Cobb
Mr. Rankin
Minnie Sue
Theodore Roosevelt
"I don't see how I'll be able to toll anything. It's
all I can do to carry this year old baby much less look
after these four other children." Lila Cobb was waiting
in the lower hall of the court house for someone to carry
her home. "Yes, they are all mine. One of them is out of
my sight now. I declare, Howard Taft tries my patience every
time I leave home with him. 0o, hunt him, Stonewall jacksonli
Lula's mouth was so full of snuff it was hard to
understand her conversation; tiny streams of it ran from
the corners of her mouth. Stonewall Xackson, the oldest
child, had rounded up Howard Taft and brought him back.
"Now," said the mother, "you set down on them steps
and stay there.
"itte been a widow a little over a year now. I have
a time. I live on a farm. I get to hoe some for other people.
They pay me fifty cents a day and give me my meals when
I get to work. The welfare gives us about all we have.
Stonewall Jackson looks after the chaps and keeps house
while I work. He's thirteen and a lot of help to me."
Stonewall had perched himself on a radiator a few
feet from me. He didn't look to be over nine. "Has he
been sick?" I asked.
"Oh no, he's a healthy boy." Lila replied. "He just
don't grow much. My Lord, Minnie Suo is gone now. Stonewall,
get down from that contraption and go after her." It was
only a few minutes 'till we heard a cry from the sheriff's
office. Stonewall had found her and was dragging her out,
kicking and screaming.
"This beats the dickens,"Lfila declared, "a body can't
have a minute's peace when they have a passel of younguns
to watch. Stonewall, you take these two least ones and walk
them up and down the hall."
my sympathy went out to the little frail lad. Be was
so pathetic and appeared so under -nourished.
"Stonewall is a good boy. He always minds me."Lillie
pulled up her dress and wiped her mouth. Two boys happened
to be passing at the time. They looked once and burst out
laughing.
"I'm poor and shabby; this dress I got on is my best."
The dress was yellow and brown checked gingham and would
have looked all right if it had been clean. She wore cotton
stockings and tennis shoes. Lula's hair, drawn back tight
and twisted in a knot at the back, seemed to make her eyes
protrude. She grinned constantly. "I'm trying to live for
the Lord, so it's me and the Lord for it.
-3..
"I was born in Maiden County. I usta live in Golden
and work in the mill. I married Amos Cobb when I was
twenty. He worked in the mill too. Soon as I got big Amos
wanted to quit the mill and Fo to he farm. We been living
on the farm ever since. Lula shifted her baby from one arm
to another and spat. I can't do 'thout my snuff, it keeps
me from getting hungry. I wish Mk. Rankin would hurry. I'm
.afraid Stonewall Zackson will take one of his spells. He
almost faints when he gets hungry." A cry had set up at
the lower end of the hall and Lula rushed to the scene of
action, her flat heeled shoes makinF a funny noise on the
tiled floor. It was Minnie Sue who had insisted on climbing
the stairs and had fallen. The children were all brought
back to the stairway and seated in a row. "Now, the first
youngun who gits up from there will hear from me." Mts.
Craig said.
my husband was a pretty good farmer. We managed to
live decently until he dropped dead. He didn't have no more
education than I got. I went through the second grade. I
can read and write a little, but not well enough to brag
about. We never have had a car in our life. Maybe, I
could get married again and get a man who is able to give
me one. I don't think be so foolish; I've got too
many younguns. Guess I better let well enough alone." The
children had been very quiet and good for sometime. Now
they set up a howl for something to eat.
"It's four o'clock; time for that man to come by for
us. We better get ready. Stonewall Jackson, you put water
in that quart jar we brought. here Theodore Roosevelt, it's
your turn to carry this paper bag; William took oar. of it
coming -That's got the baby's diapers in it." She told me.
"We'll save trouble and time by standing in the door, so
we can hop in quick as soon as Mr. Rankin comes.'