Document text
August 1, 1939
Estelle
Highland, N. C.
Sthel Deal, Writer
Dudley W. Crawford. Reviser
Original Names Changed Names
Highland Hedgeland
Hickory Madden
Burke County Banks County
Miter Phil
Extolls Berry Esther Perry
Shuford Shines Mill
Old Man Shuford Old Man Sholos
Bill Hedrick Bob Hamrick
'Lisa Lents Miss Lane
Rose
Robe
Pearl Opal
*I live up at Boldgeland, near Biddea. t been marridd
but I don't go by my husband's name. Be was so lazy I
didn't stay with him but six months. Be never worked before
we was married, and he wouldn't work after. Well, I just
left him and went back home.
"I was born up in Banks County, my folks owns a big
fern up there. After Dad died there was nobody to work it,
and Mamma wanted to come to the cotton mill.
"I ain't got no education; had to quit when I was in
the second grade. Had to look after Phil on account him
having epileptic fits. It was dangerous to leave him alone.
Guess I shocild be ashamed not to have more schooling, but
I'm just as good off as than that has it. Mb says them
that's pot a education jist makes a foal of themselves."
Sather Perry frowned and looked thoughtful. She was
a dried up dwarf -like creature wenring a blue print dress,
with red polka dots, and a green belt. A red clasp was
fastened to one side of her stubby black hair.
"We moved to the Sholes mill at Bedgeland. My sister
was seventeen then, she got her a job in the mill and Ma
did too. Ma learner how to spool, she drawod twelve doluars
-2-
a week. That give us plenty to live on.
*We lived in a cotton mill house on the factory hill.
The rent wasn't mush, because the people can't afford to
pay much rent out of what the:r maks. This house had a bath
and electric lights, 'Aid it cost us four dollars a month.
"I guess twenty dollars ain't much to some people,
but it looked big to us. Ma, she'd come home after she had
drawad her Money; put on a clean frock, then we'd all go
to the store. The mein things like flour, fat back, lard
and beans had to come first. num the house rant had to be
paid; sometimes we had a little something extra.
"Phil was about nine and lots of trouble, then there
was the baby five years old. I dons all the cooking and
kept the house clean most of the time. We could go to the
movies about once or twice a weak. !bung folks on a cotton
mill hill ain't got much chance to enjoy themselves. Them
that's trot oars can go to ride; we ain't never had a oar
and can't afford one. People as poor as us does well to
make a living.
"For three years now, nobody at our house has had
any work. One of my sisters got married and moved away.
Ma got laid off in dull tines and can't get back on. Phil
got gradually worse with them fits and had to be sent up
-3
to Dix Hill at Raleigh. He's been there for the last twelve
years now.
"I would work myself if I could get a job. That old
man Sholes is so hateful, he 31st gives work to who be
pleases. Ws manage to live very well though. V* draws some
kind of pension, it comes from Riverton, I don't know what
it is; but it's six dollars a month. We keep a oow and
chickens, the welfare helps us some and we live.
"I go to sunday school and churoh. I belong to the
',I.ethodist. Sometimes on saturday night a crowd of us
gathers at some girl's home and we have a little party. I
am twenty seven years old.
"I ain't going to stay with that lazy Bob Hamrick
I'm married to. What want to do is get me a job in the
mill. I could make twelve dollars a week. Then I could get
some clothes and get T.% some. T could pay board or buy the
groceries. Maybe, if I tried herd enough, I could make
more than thnt. After I got everything like clothes paid
for; I could sate a little money. Me in getting older every
day now, and needs somebody to look after her."
Zsther's eyes fillecl with tears.
"There's poor old Phil down at Dix Hill, We can't
go to see him or send hir- a thing. I 31st come down today
to see Miss Lane, the welfare woman, and ask her if she
wpuld help us a little more.
"Can I read ths story when it comes out? Oh, I
thought you was writing it to put in the paper. don't
like library books; about the only thing I ever read is
love stories.
"I -ot to co, I can't wait no longer. I got to
catch a ride home anyway I can. We worked it slick to got
a rid c: down here. I sttod at the road and held my thumb
up. I made the other two girls stand back a piece. After
so long a time a man come along and stopped. He saidlothop
in". Then I told him I wanted to take Reba and Opel along.
He let us all come, but we might not get back so easy."