Document text
November 28, 1938
Early and Lillie Holbrook, (white)
Jonesville, N.C.
Tenant Farmers, Mill Workers, Laborers
Mrs. Clalee Dunnagan, Yadkinville, N.C.
Claude V. Dunnagan, reviser
EARLY AND LILLIE HOLBROOK
TM girl end her mother were silent as they sat by the
door of the squalid cabin. Below them, in the mdddle of a flat
stretch of bottom land, the waters of the sluggish Yadkin flowed,
winding its sprawling course down the valley bed till it was lost
in the hose of a typical river bottom fog. The sun had man* behind
the hills and the host of the August day was slowly giving way to
a chilling coolness that drifted up from the misty bottoms. The
older woman squirmed in her chair and fulbled for a can of snuff.
She took the lid off and fillod her lower lip. Than she sighed
andielazod again. The younger girl was motionlesAas she listened
to the noisee that came up fare the rims.., the incessant croak&
of frogs and the far-off bay of dogs in the hills beyond the river.
Through the open door of this cabin came the sound of a nasal snore.
not comes early in the hills. The woman spit out a stream of juice
end dragged her slimy* across her mouth. Presently she teAned to the
girl.
"It ain't that I'd be a-triin' to butt in your affairs, Lillie,"
Ohs said apologotioalAr, *but bun' your mother I reckon gives ma a
right taloy somothin' when it don't look like you're doin' just what
you ort to.' She paused a moalant as if to sea what effect her words
had. The girl continued to stare across the river bottom. The
woman continutod.
"It ain't every day that a poor girl like you gets a shame
to marry a rich man like Mr. Carlton. Just because he's olderon
you don't make a lot 0 difloronce. Be loves morela you think
and he'll treat you good, too. You'll never have to *utter like as
and your pa did...for lack of money. That's why four 0 my Isast
Bolbrook
"unt diod.., no mow to pay a doctor. You been through part of
it...you know *hat it is not to have enough to sat or enough clothes
to wear. 'Course I ain't blamini Caleb for it. Be done his best.
We just didn't have nothin' to start with...and never had nothin'
sines. It don't wed to be that vs. with you. You got a.chanee to
be happy...have anything you want. Carlton'll give it to you if you
marry him••••
"Nets been awful good to me,* the girl said without moving..
*But I don't love hin...can't ever. Not a old man like him...*
"You're young and pretty, Liflie, and I ain't aimini to se*
you do somethint that'll asks you miserable the root 0 your life.
It ain't that I'm thinkin ot mot and Caleb and the root 0 the young
'ans. Carlton can help us if he wants to...said he would if you'd
marry him...but that ain't none o' Ay business. It's you I'm think10
of...you an' your happiness.. And this is your chance. You got to
take it, Lillie, you get to take it.0
The girl sat ellehtly for a minuto, then turned half way around
in her chair.
*You just said I was youndond pretty, Na. I reckon that's
why I can't marry no old man...evon if he's got all the money in the
world. It ain't natural. I got to marry somebody like me,somebody
young...somebo47 Icon lows. Dealt you sec Na. I woundn't never be
happy with his...bis money ain't everything....It's got to be morOn
that...*
The woman sighed.
"I hat* to hear you talk like that, child. I just reckon you
ain't old enough to know. Your palll be awful mad when be boars you
talk like that. Be was hatpin. you'd done told Carlton you'd marry him.
/tell hurt 'in bad..."
"There ain't no other way, I guess." The girl said, and
turned again toward the mist,' hills. The older woman pulled a ragged
shawl around her shoulders and stared toward the river bottom.
The mist's rising," she said slowly. "I reckon we better be
join' in 'fore we catch a cold...seems like it's geottin' colder, too...
ommin' in nor, Lillie'?"
"Yes, Ma. I'm eosin:"
"Shut upt" Caleb Luffman banged his fiat on the dinner table.
"You been howl& your way for eighteen year, but I ain't vino
to stand by anise no young'un o' mine throw away a chance to marry
somebody that's worth something on account 0 some fool notion about him
bean' too old. Old or not, he's good onough for you, and he's got enough
money to keep you from suffering like as an' your an did." BA gave
out of breath and sank into a chair. *This is one time you can't have
your soy, child. You got to listen to ess...I lorm what's best for you...
You got to marry Calltem..." He paused a moment and caught his breath.
Re's asked you, ain't her
"Yes, iiillierepliod quietly.
"Then, next time you see him, tell him yes. If you don't, I
ain't got no more use for you...you'll have to get out..." He picked
up his hat and wont out. As he slammod thee door, Lillie turned to her
mother.
"Me didn't mean it, did he Mar
"It's hard to sey, child," she sighed. "He's awful stubbotn
sometimes, you know." She sat down beside Lillie. *Don't worry too
mucb...you ain't lookin so part nowadays, Lillie. Simms like you don't
laugh sib each as You used to. I want you to he happy.* Ms paused
#4
a moment, then stood up. "I'm goinl over to Nellie's now. We got a
lot of washing to do this week. I'll be back 'fore dark." She gathered
up a bundle of clothes and went out the door. When she had disappeared
over the hill, Lillie turned quickly and moved toward a. chest of drawers
ift the corner of the room. Pulling out one of the drawers, she threw a
pile of clothes on the bed and began sorting them. Then she pulled a
worn suitcase from under the bed and threw mmes the clothes into it.
There were some vanity effects on the shelf near the washstand. She.
picked these up and dropped them into the bag. Snapping the grip shut,
she harriedly combed her hair and put on her hat, pausing a moment
before a cracked mirror to make sure it was straight. As she looked into
the mirror, she heard a noise behind her. She whirled around. It was
Canton,tanding in the doorway.
"Lillie!" he said, coming in. "You ain't goin'
She turned to him slowly.
nes...I got to....
u mean...we ain't goini to got married....?*
away.
"It's the only way...you got to see it. You been awful good to
me...too good. I just reckon i ain't worth it. We couldn't never be
happy." She picked up her bag. "I'm leavin' noW7i7c? Winston. I heard
they're wantin' hands ildt at the factory..."She started for the door...
stopped...she kissed Carlton quickly, then ran out the door. As she
reached the top of the knoll, she heard the far off wail of a train
whistle. She would have to hurry. The station was a mile away.
w********W**W*4
Lillie was unhappy. Many people who come from the hills to
Winston to work in the mills are unhapa at first. Some are unhappy
always. Lillie wouldn't be unahppy long. She had been to a mill that
#6
day, and the foreman said there would be work next Week.* Six dollars
a month for an upstairs rooMI .With cockroecheS. There were cockroaches
at home, but not that big. Lillie moved to the window and look down.
People, more people getting rained on by cold, gray rain. Where are
they going? Maybe hunting jobs. Maybe they had jobs...all of them.
She would have a job next week. The foreman said so. She sat dawn
on the bed. She was tired and hungry. The dinner bell would be ringing
soon for another boarding house meal. The bed squeaked worse than, the
one at home. Who would be sleeping on her bed now? Maybe Ma and one
of the kids. They would bet her card today telling them not to worry.
The dinner bell rang.
COn, potatoes, coffee, men and women. Bard loo4ing women and
grimy men. They all worked in the hosiery mill. They ate silently.
When Lillie got up, she saw the man staring at her. One of them mOid
something and laughed softly. Lillie couldn't tell what he said. Maybe
they were getting fresh. She was good looking. The boys back home
said so.
There was a good show up town, Flaming Youth, and there was
nothing to do till next week. There were seven dollar& left, and the
landlady would wait for her next payment...
The mill was running full time and Lillie was in the knitting
department at twelve dollars a week. The foreman came around every
hour. Be said: "You've got to work faster if you keep your job."
Lillitwound nor spindles till her arms were numb, but she was getting
faster. If she could wind more she might ctet fourteen dollars a meek.
The other workers were silent...like the machines. The foreman said,
"Don't talk...just wind." Sometimes she felt like fainting, but she
414
mustn't. She had to reach the quota...and feartoet dollars a week.
Tonight there was anew face at the table. A man'. He was
young and didn't look bad. Lillie spoke to him about the mill. las,
he woliked there too, in the carding room. He was very nice. Nicer
than the other men at the table. He didn't stare at her legs.
"I'm from the atountains. I ran *Way fromihome.*
"Why? The mountains are pretty...this time of year."
"my folks wanted me to marry a rich old man. I couldn't. They
got mad and I left."
"Rich men are scarce. You'd age* ought to married him."
"I'm young. I'm going to marry a young man."
It was true. They Ira married in less than a week. His name
was Early Holbrook. They moved to another Warding house where they
could be private. It was nice, coming home from the mill together,
eating together, going to the show together, sleeping.... There was a
little stream behind the house with rocks and moss, like in a fairy
tale. /t was such a good place to rest and love when your arms are
sore from winding spindles and carding. There was a funny little bird
always singing after dark...maybe a whippoorwill, or thrush. They
always sang after dark in the reeds by the river at home. It had been
two months now. Larly was worried that night.
"They're layin' off hands this weak, Lillie, We might lose our
jobs. Maybe not, but I'm aftitaid."
The night was too fine to worry. The water sounded like soft
wind blowing.
Early was right. The last envelope said so. No work till further
notice. It was all so quick.
"Visoll have to get a cheaper place, Lillie, till I got another
I used to be a carpenter once. Maybe I can get some work in town."
Mut t4ere was no work in town and the last check was going fain.
The roomwasn't e nice as the other one...there wasn't a stream behind
the house and there were no birds singing...except sparrows, but it
was better than nothing, with no job.
One day when iurly came hawe flea hunting work, Lillie was
lying on the bed. She is weak and pale.
"You're sick, Lillie."
"sot much...Ws only a headache...."
"Z better get a doctor..."
"Mo. Aait...not yet. Kaybe its because I'm gain' to have a
baby. It must be a sign of i
Early was excited. "This eaA.y? Lillie*
*IOU be a long time yet. They're *just pains. I remember Ma
used to have the before the little tuns' was bain' born."
b worried look came over Early's face.
got to iet a ;i'ob, quick, I el;ot to get a
Tlitre *ex* many small farms in Virgiaia that reed tending.
The newskapers said so. The landlords nelded tenants.
*We ettn fr awLile and maybe ;:ot mcnei to boy our own
land, Lillie. It don't take lo if you work hard." -early said one
night.
"I'o like td," Lillie siak.i. "It'll be a nice place to bring up
the babies."
"We'll go when I get paid fAxt week."
In Virginia the air was fine and clear, especialki in the
hills, but for the farm renter, the ground was hard; also the landlords‘
The tools which the landlord give Early had been used before. They See
OS
rusty and worn* BO would do the bliet ho 'could for half the crops.
The house was small, with three rooms and no porch. It was a log house.
The barn needed some repairing. Early would do it as soon as he plowed
the land. It seemed there was more work than one man could do, but
Li111. was willing to help...she could "pork right up till her baby same,
and again after it $141born. Why, Me never took out over four days from
work whenever she had a baby.
tinter came swiftly. The baby was born...a girl. She looked
like Lillis. It is several days before they could tell whet color
her hair will be. It was gold, what little there was...liko the strands
of sunset that filter from the brushy hills on a clear evening* She
would be a pretty 4irl liks Lillis. Early was proud of her. Be would
work harder still so tleAcould own their land soon. The child was
mimed Lillian, artier its mother.
Thou the blot:mirk; of Mountain ..sure l and ikhododendron. The
mountains were pretty like in a story book. It was time to plant...
corn, tobacco, vegetables. There would be money in the fall and plenty
to eat. Early was in the fields at daybreak, with Lillie often by his
olds and the baby nearby. Lillie watmied it every minute while she was
hoeing, it couldn't yet walk...it was still too young. She would be
walking in a fear mouths or UAre would be plenty of food...good food,
and money to pay a dootor, if Le was needed. Oh, little Lillian would
be healthy and beautiful, like Lillie.
With fall, came the busy Larvost season. Early and Lillie
gathered in the tobacco, strung it, and put it in the barn. In three
days it was curd into a beautiful ;old, and then put in the cellar of
the house until the market opened. The corn was cut and stacked into
moat shocks in the field. It weuld make good fecli for the hogs when
#9
winter ca. ..what was not traded for flour at the roller mill. The
day before tobacco market opened 'Early Said to Lillies
"I'll have to hire a wagon, Lillie. It's the only way to get
the tobacco to market."
Me old an down the road has two wagons. Maybe he will."
"I'll go see him tonight, so we'll be on the floor early
tomorrow. I hope thepriees are good."
But they were not. There was too =eh tobacco...the buyers had
found out...and the prices were very low, even on the best grades.
Early got a little over two hundred dollars. When he got home, the
landlord was there, waiting for his money...half of it. As Early
counted out one hundred and five dollars, the lAnAlord said, "it's
bad it didn't bring no more it done better last year..." Early was
silent as he handed him the money. When the landlord had themoney in
his hand, he says: "Looks like you could& raised a little more with
the tools you had...and the ric4and..." MA paused a moment as be
put the moAty in his wallet. "I reckon (iou'll be here another sesAon.0
Early turned toward the house where Lillie was waiting on the porch
with the baby.
"I don't know.*
At the supper table next night, Early had made up his mind.
"I paid the store bill, today, Lillie. It was moreln I expected
I got rid o' the other debts, too. There ain't but twenty dollars left
"We can't live till nest crop on that...."
"I know we can't. That's %dilly we're vino back to North Carolina."
Lillie stopt4eeding the baby. "When?"
"As soon as I can sell the furniture.... we'll get what we can
out of it."
"Where we going? not back to the mill?"
#10
"I got folks in High Point....We'll go there. Maybe there's
work in the furniture factory there....I used to be a carpenter, I
reckon ii get a job pretty easy, even if it don't pay much."
Early's folks were glad to see him, though they would be
crowded. But he could stay there until he got a job and could find
another place. The Holbrook& were mill workers and laborers, too, so
Early and Lillie felt at home the first few weeks. The air was not so
clear as it was in the Virginia hills, or quiet. One saw and smelled
smoke all the time....in the sections where the workers lived....where
Early and Lillie and their little baby lived. It was from the huge and
many smoke stacks of the factories. There was noise, too, because many
railroad tracks lead to the factories, and the cars seemed to run right
through your backyard, making all the noise they want to. Sometimes
Lillie couldn't keep from dumping when she heard a shrill whistle blow
from over near the tracks, but she was soon uSed 100 it, just like She
became used to the silence of the Virginia hills. You hardly noticed
the change but the noise doesn't seem to bother you may longer.
Early got a job in the factory...running a saw. It was not
easy, but he was sUre of eleven dolurs a week. That mould feed and amil
clothe little Lillian (who had been walking quite awhile now) and help
pay some of the bills at the house. They had decided not to move since
they could pay some of the expenses. And they bought another bed, for
Lillie was going to have another baby. Sometimes she could feel it
moving in her stomach...it was growing...and she was happy. It didn't
hurt yet, but it woulelatter when it did. She would have another baby,
and that is what she vanted.
Early was without work when the second baby was born. It was
#1.1
another girl. A few days after it was born, it seemed as if it was
going to be as pretty as little Lillian, Sat its hair would not be
quite so golden. One night when Lillie was nursing the youngest, Merl,
came in mod sat down on the bed.
*We can't slay here much Aonger....* he said, staring at the
te,
floer. 'I hear they won't,hirein' ny hands for a long time...they're
laying. ea off. I guess we better be lookin' for another place to stay.*
Lillie put the baby to bed and buttoned her dresa.
*I reckon maybe we could go back to Jonesville...if we have to.
It'll be hard fee in' them again, though.*
*Maybe there'll be work there. If I could gust get a job.....
lust make enough to live on and not have to live on somebody else....
I guess we bettor tell the folks we'll be leavie this weak.*
*X reckon it's best.* Lillie was staring out the window across
the empty railroad yards. The many, large windows of the factory wore
not shining with blue light. They were dark Disabuse they wore not
running at night anymore. They seemed like huge delid monsters. The
soon was gone and it began to rain.
"I reckon it's best*, Lillie repeated.
Yes, the landlord would let aar4 live in the house until the
first of the month, but then he will have to pay the rent proLLptly
seven dollars, and every month after that. But he could do it, because
be had a job now, doing carpenter work, and he would make more than enough
to pay tie4andlerd his seven dollars a ILonth. Some rich pebple over in
Mlkin were building several small houses to rent to the mill, people wile
worked in the blanket feetery across the river, and Sarly had a lob
helping build than. It would last several weeks and maybe give than a
(thanes to get on their feet. They had already bought some furniture
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on the installment plan with the little money they brought from
High Point. It wouldn't cost much to furnish the house, though, because
they were not using this two upstairs rooms.
"Pm getting older.* Lillie said to herself one day when she
looked in the mirror. It was true. There were lines there which were
not there when she was in Virginia. Her face looked tired. And some-
times she seemed to feel tired quicker than before, as if the work she
was doing was too much for her. But it did not seam so, because all the
people she knew worked hard and had lines on their faces. It didn't
seem right to have wrinkles on your fact when you were not yet thirty.
She had seen women who wear fur coats and jewels who didn't look over
twenty-five but she knew they were almost forty. And they worked
hard, too. Why didn't they even leave their children at home and work
bard all day delivering baskets of food and clothes to poor people?
They drove cars but it wasn't easy work, visiting helping all the poor
folks in town. Especially during Christmas. Why those women across the
river worked awfuk hard then. But they didn't get wrinkled and old so
quick as people like her. Lillie didn't know what to think about it.
It just seemed like you can't figure out things like that.
While Lillie was sitting looking in the mirror, Early came
in from work. He was tired and his hands were calloused from working
all day, but there were no groceries in the house. He would have to
to the store before supper.
*We got to have some flour and potatoes." Lillie said. "How
much money have you got?"
"All I made since I boon workin'. Eighteen dollars. I got
paid today." Early was staring across the darkening hills. There
was something on his face that Was not happiness.
Lillie put the mirror down and turned toward him.
go
4.13
glow come they paid you today?"
"They're done with the houses..secopt the paintint, and I heard
they ain't gain' to paint 'em any time soon. A13 the carpenters was
laid off."
be
"I didn't reckon they'd/done so soon." Lillie said.
"I don't reckon none of us did. We 'lowed it'd be another week
or two, but the foreman give us our checks this mornint and said thattd
be all. It don't 444n 1146 the. bourn Are half p,but some folks 're
movint in."
"Then they all through?" Lillie said meohanicalXy.
".....all through." he echoed.
"Ile got to have some flour and potatoes, and maybe a little
fatback. I reckon you better build a fire wbile I go over at Annie's
and get the youneuns. We'll have supper when you get back."
She pulled a shawl over bar shoulders and went out.
E. turned from the window and, *ramming the stove with paper
and bark chips lit the firs and went out.
Lillie was back quickly with the children. She was going in the
door before Ear4 had disappeared over the top of the hill on his way to
the store, The fire he started was burning too rapidly. Lillie rushed
over and shut off the droll". Little Lillian sat down at the table and
began to beat her plate with a spoon. The baby was crawling around on
the floor. As Lillie put a kettle of water on the stove, she esesgAe
feel an unusual heat in the room. The stove was MA burning too much
now...the draft was off. Then, from upstairs, there came a peculiar
noise that sounded like wind blowing through a dry forest. There was no
one up there...the rooms were empty. Lillie turned from the stove and
ran up the steps. She flung the door open. Oh God! The flames seemed
#I4
to leap out at her and fill her throat with scorching boat. The hot
smoke rolled out in black waves. The whole side of the wall Se/covered
With the licking flames. With a scream, Lillie slammad the door and ran
down the steps. The android The childrent She grabbed the little
one in one arm and grabbed the other's hand as she rushed out into the
yard. It was dark and the flames had been seen by the neighbors. They
were rushing toward the house from everywhere. Lillie sank to the ground
crying, with the two thildrin clinging limo to her, too fascinated by the
bright red glare of the cracking fire to cry. The shouts of the men were
hoard over the roar of the fire.
"Comm on! WO can save somothie on the first floort*....Den't
git too close to that chinnsyl She's "bout to fall*
A dresser came out quickly and then some chairs. The men
started in again, but it was too late... the heat was glaring on their
sweating faces. They couldn't go in again. "gasp away, fellerst It's
akin' to cave into The crackling rose to a deafening roar. The line of
spectators droppod back hurriedly an the corner of the house began to
sink. There was a shattering crash as the whole aids of the house
smashed to the ground in a spray of sparks and lapping flame, and in a
=leant, the whole structure, enveloped in the fire, buckled and sank to
the earth in an inferno. It was completely leveled now, and there was
notOing left that coUid be recognised as furniture. As the flames died,
the crowd dwindled. It was vary exciting, and it had been a good while
since a house burned in Jonesville.
Lillie felt someone touch her shoulder. It is her father.
*Bring the youneuns and come on over to the house. I reckon we
can make room (b..* She raised herself from the ground and picked up the
baby. The flames are dead. They aro prying now. Nor father carried
Oli
Lillian and they mewed aeroce the hill toward ho.s...by the river.
.....44.4
"It don't seea right, Ma, that aoded send this on us...andlimpi
it hurts most...it just don't seem right.*
"The Lord knows best, child. It ain't tor us to complain....
Ma does thing* that humans don't unoeretend, but it'll work out somehow.
There was eilense in the little cabin. Tbe childra were asleep.
Idalle's father was sitting by the open fireplace opposite Sar4
who was staring at the floor with his chin resting on his haled. MI
turned to Lillie.
*X hear they're buildinl a new fastory near (iireenshorei and they'll
be amain' carpenters. One of the truck drivers over at the mill heard
about it when he vs down there last week. I reckon it'll be a good
plase to get so ae work meybes..."
"It don't seem like there's any more work hereftillie said.
.We might as well go, I reckon.... Wu saw her father lean forward and
spit Into the fire.
.If you don't go,' he said slowly, 'you can stay hers till you
get another place. fteurse we ain't got any too much roos..,,or victuals,
but I reckon we can share what we got.' There was a pause...." And
it ain't right to let the littleuns suffer too much...'
Sarly straightened up in his chair.
"It's a steady job I wants..just a Job that'll last...then the
littlesuns won't suffer nonemnot as long as I ean work."
Lillian reached forward and throw, a stick of wood on the
dying fire....just like she had years ago. It seemed so natural to
reach forward and throw stick of wood in the same olf fireplace, see
the shadows flicker on the same wall......
#16
10$o I guess well go to Greenebore tomorrow.* Yearly said
without moving his eyes from the fire. stems about the only
thing to do.°
*****4444****
It was a few moments before something pleasant happened to
Lillie. She did not yet know it. Sitting before the fire in her
Greensboro cottage, oho was thinking of the strange, happy, and
unhappy things that have happened to her and Early during four hard,
yet somehow pleasing, years in the Terra Cotta mill section of
Gr. *ashore., Four years, and now there were five children. Little
Lillian had grawn up to where she must be scolded for s..1 too
many boys, and Anne, the second, was taking after Lillian. But
there were more than four years on Lillies face. hunger, cold, sicknoeS,
and strange mill women who attracted Early too much had put lines in her
fees. May nights of lonely waiting with the children while Early
mop out somewhere...afraid to think too much about what he might be
doing. It had started...his nights away from howei...someitimelkafter
the last child had been born. That was why it seemed strange to Lillie,
Vat Early, who had always loved la the children so much, should find
an intihrest elsewhere was unfathomable to Lillie. She had worked hard
for hins..not that he hadn't done the same for her...but she didn't
want appreciation for that...she merely wanted Ahi usual affection
from her husband for her and the little ones. ..tough it may have
cooled some...and naturally so...since those pleasant days they had
been together so much of the time in the Virginia hills. And even new,
he was making only enough money to barely feed and clothe the children,
much less vela any of it on strange women, as she was sure ne had been
doing frequently. Gossip travels quickly even in a mechanised mill
#17
village. It had merely increased earlyis indifference and antagonism
toward those who criticised him.
As Lillie pondered over those things, there was a knock at the
door. She answered it. It was a peeteiffini"Metienger with a registered
letter. She signed for it and shut the door. Tearing the flap off,
she opened it and began to read alowly. Carlton was dead. In his will
he had made Lillie A -beneficiary to a share of the land he owned. The
plot of lend, hardly more than five acres, was situated hear Jonesville
on the bank of the river...not far from home. A. pang of sorrow passed
through her as she thought of Carlton...he had never meant much to her...
thought of his lonely life andAll his wealth and *one to share it with.
Then she quickly forget lhat-CarltOn'Wes dead.
She realised with feeling of joy that the thing she and early
had wished so much for...even before they left the mill in Winston to
go to Virginia...that they could own their own land, without paying rent,
was now a reality. When the children came in, she told them about the
letter. They were sager to leave the sMoity1l1 settlement.and go to
the hills.
early was home or supper and the effect of the lttter on him
was Illat Lillie had hoped for and expected.
'It says we'll have to be in town next week to file a claim
with the lawyers. They're others sharie in the land, too.'
'Then, we'll leave day after tomorrows" early said. 'There'll
be time to sell the furniture and pack. It ain't no use tryin' to haul
everything up there, when we can btiY just as well."
At the lawyers' 'Office in Jonesville Lillie' SOLOS mere people
than she expected. They were relatives who were contesting the faXidit
of the will. They said that the old man had no right to will land to a
#I8
stranger when it was rightly the property of his noartst relatives.
Lillie had to hire a lawyer and by the time the num will was settled,
the lawyer's fee was big enou6h to automatically confiscate more
than half the land ohs won. What was left was enough to liWe on, she
thought.
arly immediately purdhased enough lumber to build a small Ulm
room house...it would:de suffieient until he could get out some amps
and make an addition. in the meantime Lillis was sarrylag another
child. The doctor told her not to do any hard work until altar it RS
born. This was hara to do. Wle had always boon used to working right
on up till the last minute.
When the child cam, the crops were in for the year. TObaces
prices were low, anti there was a surplus of corn at the rolltemills.
*midis, Lis corn was river bottom corn and worth less. Hi kept
most of it an red 1% to the pigs.
L( 19
Thus time absorbed five more barren years, barren except
fcr the suppressed joy Lillie nursed in her bosom for the
growing ohildretia There were eight. One had died. This too
had paid tribute to time's passage, had etched itgmemorial on
Lillie's face, on her whole body. Early too was growing older.
He ,;as be:;inning to carry the features of age that Lillie remem-
bered narked her father when she was grawin into womanhood back
home. ae was dead now, buried beside her mother in the little
plot behind the church overlooking the river. Their passing
had not been a reality to Lillie, merely the sadder part of a
strange dream that Time, the subtle sedative, had quickly ob-
scured in the pages of ti-ie past. Now it was she and xiarly who
had taken their places, and their places in turn were being slowly
filled by the children. It seemed natural to Lillie that it
should be that way, though for what human reason, or due to
what unknown force, she had never found any occasion to consider.
Then one day Early decided it was impossible to live longer
under the conditions that, year after year, bound him to the
soil of the river bottom, to a narrow piece of land that never
produced enough to assure them of any security from one season
to the next.
I hear they're goin' to do a lot of buildint ttn Greensboro
this year. It seems like I can make more by goin' there than
tryin' to dig a livin' out of a piece of land that ain't big
enough to graze a cow on. It's been five years now, and
we don't seem to be dol.& no betterin
e dons before we come here."
Lilac* pled with him that maybe next year crops would be better
and bring higher prices, that another year might enable them to buy
another small strip of land to add to what they had..
"It won't be no better," he said, "they'll be worse, if anything
There ain't no livin' in termini when you ain't got enough land to
raise a decent crop on. And you can't anything share croppin'.
We couldn't do it in Virginia and we can't do it here. No, I reckon
I'll go and see what can do. send you come money for the
young'uns as I get it. It won't be no worse than new."
And he had =one, before Lillie realized what had happened.
She was left alone with the children and the bare hope that Early
might make enough to live on and send a little hams. What he sent
home would be all there would be. And if he didn't, there would be
none, nothing at all.
When Lillie was at home with her parents years before, her
little brother, Joe, had been almost a child to her, not rother.
He ha400ked to her when his mother could not attend to him. He
had gradually slipped from Lille's mind in the passing years, except
once, when he married, and when a few subsequent cards cams telling
of the children as they were born. Now his wife was dead, he was
without work, and the *mall one roam house wa4mortgaged to pay for
the funural expenses. It was Lillie to wham he turned, Ulster Lillie,
whose husband had a 4-210 and income, small though it was.
mrly had been 'one less than a week when Joe brogeht his three
children and moved in with Lillie and the children. He could help
acout the farm ti max14 G. lt, IX be did. If not, he would
put out a crop next year. Two acte4s later, Lillie resolved a letter
from a:ay. It contained three dollars and a note telling about the
work he was doing, woeking on a new house in Greensboro at twelve
dollars a week. He would send more next week.
Thus it was that the weeks went by, Lillie receiving each week
three or four dollars from Early, and writing in turn a brief
note thanking him and telling hill about the children. Lillian was
in high school now and little Anne would be next year. The other
children were growing fast, too, though it seemed stragge since
they hardly had enough food for all of them, including Joe's family.
Zoe earned a little, only a few dollars occasionally, which heugtalaw
spent for food and clothes for the children, but often for liquor.
Sometimes Early's notes would be critical of Joe bringing his children
to live with his awn
would always appease
besides, he won't be
The camtinter,
the whole household.
inereasing the burden on his wife, but Lillie
him with, "After all, he's my own brother, and
here long, He'll be gettin' regular work soca."
and an epidemic of colds that spread throughout
First it was Joe's youngest, then Lillie's
youngest. Lillie kept then in bed together with many blankets
in an attempt to sweat it out. It was not until they called a doctor
that Lillie found out joe's child had a serious ease of measles.
"You'd better move his children out of the house till they're
wall." the doctor
Joe took his
when his youngest
said, "measles are dangerous in a child like thatV
children to a little shanty near the river, and
one died, moved to a little town up in the moun-
tains. He never came back to Lillie's
In the meantime, Lillie's youngest child was getting worse.
The doctor o -e -,,d-weat zany times. It took all she cot from Aay
,v1/
to pay him. Then one night the doctor looked at the child and
turned to her. "I've done all I can do, all anyone can do." He
went away. 'the baby died early the next morning, or maybe before, but
it didn't begin to get stiff till dawn. It was so pretty to Lillie
as it lay there on the straw tick, still and white, xo pretty that
would
Lillie did not want to send it away the next morning. They/put it
beside the other little one, the one that wes born dead, in the
7,raveyard where Ma and Pa were sleeping.
early came home for the burying. It didn't seem just right to
put it in the ground without letting him see it once more. They put
it in a small wooden box and some of the neighbors helped carry it
to the cemetery. Long after they had finished praying and singing,
and after the neighbors had gone, Early and Lillie stood alone beside
the grave and gazed across the flat river bottom, to the dim hills.
The hillsteemed so real, so friendly, yet so utterly unmoved that they
were almost like gods that sat silently while their will was worked,
inscrutably, yet with visible certainly.
"The mist's tilling." Lilhic said suddenly. We'd better be gettint
home. It's gettint colder."
"Yes, it's gettin' colder." Early replied as they turned up the
path toward hems.
Early went back to Greensboro. Before he left, he said to Lillie
"It ain't that I'd be wantin' to hold a grudge against anybody. I
don't guess it's right, Lillie," he paused a moment before finishing,
"but it wouldn't have happened if Joe hadn't came with his young tuns.
It's hard to believe it was God's will. Now I got to go back. It'll
be hart, knowing that the little 'um I used to rids on sar W. west
be here whenever I come back, won't ever be here. It don't seem real."
He went away, for there were more houses to be built in Greensboro,
and Early was a good carpenter. As long as people built houses and
needed good carpenters, Early would have a job, even though they
didn't pay him what he thought he ought to have. He would take what
he could get, he had always done that.
During this time, Lillian had grown into one of the prettiest
girls on the hills. Same said she was even prettier that a lot of
the rich girls that lived in town across the river. Lillie was
proud of her. She would soon be finishing high sohook. Lillie al-
lowed her to get a permanent wave once. It was a great sacrifice
for her, but it was worth it. Lillian seemed to appreciate it. She
kept her hair tied at night, and every day it seemed to flaw in
natural, golden surls. She kept her dresses clean and neatly pressed,
though they were inexpensive. She wore her clothes well and ac-
quired a poise that was the envy of the neighborhood girls. Her
figure was that of a more mature woman, though not over plump, and
had an eloquence that was disturbing to her masculine schoolmates.
Lillie did not always know who Lillian went out with. Her
admirers were many and their calls were frequent. She could not
expect her daughter to bring her friends into the squalor of her
home. Consequently she was not too inquisitive as to her destin4-
tion when she left at night with a boy -friend. Lillie knew one of
her daughter's frequent visitors was Xud Nelson, a shy youth of
twenty who had an old roadster whioh he would always make backfire
every time he came to see Lillian. She seen t to look forward to
his +laming more than that of any of the other boys. Lillian and
Jud would go for a ride up the mountain and then to a show or maybe
to a little roadside inn to dance to the music of an old electric
organ.
The night Lillie saw that Lillian was pregnant, she took her
daughter's hand in her own and looked into her eyes.
"How come you didn't tell me?" Lillian could not answers
She was sobbing. "Who was it child, just tell me who..."
"Jud," she blurted out and fell to crying again.
"How long.../"
"It was..., back in the summertime...."
"3top cryin'", Lillie said, "you ain't 7c)t nothin' to worry
about."
When Lillie saw Iud on the street the next day, she called him
aside.
"Lillian's goin' to have a baby. You knew it, didn't you?"
Iud dropped his eyes.
"She told me about it," Lillie continued, "I reckon you're
aimin' to marry her?"
"Yeah, I was aimin' to all along. I wanted to get a regular
job first."
"That don't make no difference now. She's goin' to have a
baby soon, and it's got to have a fatheri"
Lillian and Aid were married the next day at the magistrate's
house. Iud said they could live at his father's house in the country
till he got a job and could find another place. The baby was born
two months later, a girl.
The next month Lillie failed to ig-6.t a letter from Early as
usual. Perhaps he was waiting till next week, but another week
passed, still ao letter *ems* Lillie was getting worried and
desperate. here was no money to buy food for the children and
Martin, up at the cyJrner store, was beginning to out off creditors.
Lillie found that she could make a little money each week helping
Old Annie wash clothes. Every Monday and Tuesday she went aoross
the bill to Annie's house. Ma Whaler to help Annie wash. They washed
outdoors where "nnie kept three big pots boiling. Some days it was
so cold that Lillie thought her hands would freeze and fall off.
J;ven as the days got colder, she continued to work, for it meant
enough money to buy the childredisome milk and meat, and occasionally
an new sweater or a pair of shoes. then one day ie said that
she wouldn't be needing Lillie any longer. The folks in town were
beginning to send their clothes to the new laundry, and there was
not enough work for two people. annie was sorry, but she couldn't
afford to pay for help when she wasn't making anything herself.
Paul, Lillie's oldest boy, was in the sixth grade. Lillie took
him out of school and made him help her around the house. They coull
plant someptatoes and tomatoes in the garden, and maybe raise a
little tobacco. But raising tobetcco was a man's job and by the middle
of summer, Lillie found herslf completely worn out and unable to wk
in the field. tend did the best he could with the crops, but there
was precious little when they were through.
Lillie had still not heard form Early. She had almost given
him up for dead. Or perhaps he had again tliken up with some mill
woman in Greensbero and decided to forget all about his family.
Lillie was too busy with her children to try to locate him, but she
still worried and hoped.
The one day a welfare worker came to see Lillie. She had heat
of tLeir plight through some of the townspeopls
"The local office isn't allowed to give you any aid as long as
your husband is able to work, Mrs. Holbrook."
"I ain't heard from him in almost a year," Lillie said, "it don't
seem like he's doins his young 'uns much good wherever he is...."
"You'd like to have him come home from Greensboro, wouldn't ye?"
"Yes," Lillie replied slowly, "but it don't seem like it'll
do any good and him without a JO."
"The employment agancy has some vacancies for carpenters. I
believe we can get him a job if he comes home."
"It's been so long, it might be hard to find him, if he ain't
already dead." Lillie said.
":141'11 write the Greensboro office." the welfare lady said as
she got up, "If he's in Greensboro, I think we can find him."
early was home a weed later. He had been working at odd jobs],
on houses on Greensboro, but had been making hardly enough to live
on, much less enough to send any to Ltllie and the children. He well
thinner than when Lillie had seen him last.
'I was asbamed to write you, Lillie, all the time knowie that
I'd have to sometime. It was after the little 'un died that I got
so I didn't care about life, about anything. Then everything got
so bad I couldn't get work, except barely enough to live on. And..?
here he drop ed his head. His voice seemd to quiver the slight4st
"I couldn't come back and face you without tellin' you what I done
down there when I wasn't writin' you. Nothin' meant anyhting after
that, except her, till I got tkat letter Sayin' you needed me and
there was a job waitin' Then I saw what I'd been all the time.
She wasn't there when I left, thank God. You can't be too hard on
me Lillie. I been half crazy ever since j. lext uerw. You aLast
mad, now I told you, are you, Nellie?"
Lillie put her hand on his.
"I ain't mad, Early. You told me. That's enough, ain't it?
Besides, we need you, the young tuns do. Now you got a job beginnkng
tomorrow that'll give us a chance to start all over. We got to
korget everything that's happened. It seems like a bad dream, ard
dreams don't mean nothini. We're goint to be happy, with all the
little tuns growl& up. We're going to live a little now."
"Yes," he said, "we're going to live now."
The next morning Early put on his working clothes and picked up
his tool box. He kissed Lillie as he went out the door.
"I'll be back 'fore dark." he said, "I'm ridin' over with Nichols,
goin' to meet him at the corner. We're workin' on the same job."
Lillie handed him his lunch. "Be careful, you know you ain't
as strong as you was
"Don't worry." he said. .14othinell happen. I been pretty lucky
this way all along." He waved back as he wont over the hill.
Nichols was just driving up as Early got to the corner.
"Right on time," Nichols said as Early put his tools on the
back seat and got in front. "Got your lunch?"
"Yeah, everything. I reckon this's goin'to be a pretty good
job. Eighteen a week's not bad pay, eh?"
"Mighty glad to get it, "Nio4pls answered as the oar moved down
the river hill toward the bridge. At the Jonesville end of the bridge
is a sharp curve and at the other end a crops street. 1.3 nichols
approached the curve he said,
"This old buggy'].]. coast. I can always get across the bridge
without atartin' the motor. Amotimes I have to ;1st the brukea ua
NR)
at the other end. She'll go, this baby...."
"That's a pretty sharp curve on this end..." Early said quiet4'
"We'll make it okay." Nichols threw the car out of gear. It
gained momentum as it coasted down the hill. As it reached the
bottom and neared the bridge, early said quickly to Nichols.
"You'd better brake it."
Shen the curve was on them. Nichols cut sharply. The "fares
squealed on the curve but the car finally staightened out on the
bridge.
"I reckon you had me scared there for a minute." titx•I.u/ told
Nichols as he grinned.
"Haw haw", Nichols guffawed as he slapped 14irly on the knee.
looking at Early he said, "This buggy ain't topheavy. She oan hold
the road!"
A car pulled out from the intersection at the end of the bride.
"Look out I" Early shouted
Nichols spun the steering wheel to the right, but the driver
of the other car jammed on his brakes and stopped right in their
path. Early saw it coming. Nichols twisted the wheel in vain.
It was too late. There was a sickening crash as they plowed into
the other car. The driver of the other oar screamed, but his
scream was dvowned by the noise of shattering glass and the scredvh
of twisting steel. Early had the impression of being suddenly
lifted away into peaceful biaokness where there Imre no noises,
not even the sound of men and women running and shouting. For
a split moment he thowglit he heard Lillie calling, but it was frail
a bimpkness that -qackly became silent. -4arly Holbrook was dead,
and Oiiohels 1:4 beside him, crushed and bleeding.
lOt
AA
Lillie is sitting alone before the open door of the cabin,
staring across the distant hills beyond the river bottom. Yes, it is
the sem* sabin...whers Ma was sitting and gazing twenty years ago.
It is hove, and the rent is aot so high as on the old place since they
foreclosed on the nortgage. Lilliglad to raise the children where
she was raised. Anyway, she had given Lowly a fitting burial, though
it had cost her the farm. Be would have had it that way...no he
wougien'te.he was too generous and kind...he would have wanted her to
keep it for the children...
There was a sound beside the cabin. It couldn't be the children.
They were inside asleep. Liii. turned again toward the dim hills...
the strange strong Oda that never moved, never laughed or wept....
Then Lillian was standing beside her...with her to children.
...You here, child?...why...40
Lillian is sobbing.
"I couldn't sand it any longer...he's been drinking again.*
Lillie reached forward.
*4ive Le the baby...I want to hold him. Br4ng but another
chair and sit down.*
*No, I'm ae4 tired. 1 want todisep,* Lillian says. *There'll
be room for 44, and the babies...?*
*Yes, child,* her &other answers. *Always."
Lillian moves inside the cabin with the other child. She does not
wake the other children. LiAie continues to sit Ln her chair by the
door, holding the baby in her arms. Fresentl., it is asleep.
She goes iaside ietly and puts it on the pallet beside its
mother who is already asleep. Than again ta her chair by the door.
The dogs are baying again. The4 are hunting 1.11 the mountains tonight.
The river sends up a soft murser that is deepened by the incessant
30
croakiAg of frogs. Fog is gathering in the bottom. It looks
like Vie same fog that rose twenty years ago that night when
Ma celled her.
"It's getting damp, Ma." Lillian is standing in the door.
Lillie jumps the slightest, half startled.
'Tes child, it's gettin' chilly."
"You'll catch your death of cold." Lillian speaks softly.
Far below the mist is rising toward the hills. Lillis,
rises from her chair. The mountains seem higher tonight, as if
their tops are touching the sky. Perhaps jiarly thinks the
mouhtains are higher tonight, too. .The moon goes behind a cloud
and leaves the landscape in darkness.
"You coriling in Ma?"
"Yes child, I'm coming."