Document text
June 7, 1939
Clara Edwards (Postal Clerk)
Tryon, North Carolina
Adyleen G. Merrick, Writer
Dudley W. Crawford, Reviser
Original Names Changed Names
Chimney Rock Bluff Rock
Ellie Tanner Emma Taylor
Fox Mountains Coon Mountains
Clara Edwards Cara Harris
Tryon, N. C. Tippin, N. C.
Mills' Springs Gays' Springs
Grandfather Hampton Grandfather Page
Dr. Laurence Throwbridge Dr. Leo Martin
Ada Edwards Alma Dixon
Charlotte Riverton
Luther Wilson Lucian Waters
Mr. Stearnes Mr. Sykes
Mrs. Goforth Mts. Gable
Brevard Institute Bailey College
Cara Harris, clerk in the postoffice at Tippin,
North Carolina, was busy, dividing her time between
dispatching mail, selling stamps and money orders, and
serving at the general delivery window. She moved with
the surehess that comes from knowing one's job perfectly,
feeling at peace with the world and the consciousness of
presenting an attractive appearance.
"I can't talk to you now, but I have two hours off
for lunch, just think of it! Two whole hours. I always
have plenty of time to eat, go to the beauty parlor and
to rest up for the afternoon."
An hour later I was seated across from her at a
table in the little cafe where they served a home
cooked plate lunch for twenty five cents, and Cara began:
"I usually go to the beauty parlor during lunch
hour, but I guess I can skip it today. I generally get
a finger wave or a manicure. I like to keep neat and
look well-groomed. I think working women owe it to
themselves as well as their public to always look smart
and well eared for; manyts the day I've had my hair set
and gone without lunch. I got hungry before night, I'd
be as empty as an old tin can, but it paid to think of
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my appearance. Yes,my hair is pretty, everybody has a
pet hobby, I guess that's Mine; I take lots of pride in
the way my hair looks, I never neglect it either.
"It seems strange to hear a country girl talk that
way, I've always paid attention to my grooming, even when
there was eleven of us in the family and there was very
little to spend on fixing up. I alway tried to go properly
dressed. Its not what you spend for clothes, but how
you wear them, mother used to tell us. She would say,
'Look at Cara Harris fixing up, wonder who in the world
is going to notice her', but people do notice you if you
are carefully dressed. I dressed then and I do now, for
the satisfaction it gives Cara Harris, not for any one
particular person.
"Certainly, I like to have people notice me, don't
you? If you've done your best to look nice.
"But let's get serious.
"I do wish, if I am to tell you about my life,
that I had time to take you out to our old home. It's
been sold since my father's death but I'd like you to
see where we used to live.
"Father owned seven hundred acres of land near
Gays' Springs. We've had to sell it all but one hundred
acres. The house belonged to grandfather Page, it's over
a hundred years old, you know the type, long hall through
the center; big room on either side, fire places in every
room. In those days wood was cheap, labor too, but Lord,
'Bye spent many a sleepless night wondering how I could
provide for the family, buy wood, pay taxes and every-
thing. I just had to get rid of the house. I loved the
old place, we were all so happy there. I wish so often
I could have kept the home but it had to go. I feel I
did the right thing to sell, all the family are scattered;
a big house is so lonesome without a big family. It had
to go, so I try not to think about it.
"My mother died when I was eleven years old, that
was the beginning of our family breaking U. Mother left
a little three months old baby boy, besides five other
children. I was the oldest daughter. I can remember now,
how strange I felt when father came, to tell me my mother
was gone. He patted my shoulder and said, tWell, Cara
you have to take motherts place nowt. I tried to say
something, I knew how father must feel too, but the words
just wouldntt come; I turned and ran out into the yard
and hid under the bridal wreath bush and Sust cried until
I thought I would die too. How could I live without my
beautiful mother, I jst couldn't believe she was gone;
yet father had said so.
"After I grew calmer I realized what he had said
was true, I would surely have to take mother's place,
could I do it? Would the children mind me? I loved the
baby; taking care of him would be a joy, but I was
frightened to contemplate so much responsibility. I
thought about it a long time. Imade up my mind that
after the funeral I'd ask father to go get old Mrs. Gable
to come live with us. He went for her in a few days.
Dear old soul, she lived with us for many years.
"The baby only lived eleven months, he had menengitis
and was gone before we realized it. I used to sit and
rock him to sleep at night and wonder what I would do
if he got sick, when the time came it was all over before
we could do anything or realize how sick he was.
"After the children were older and could understand
about a step mother, my father married again. Allie is
a good kind woman. She has always done her best for us.
I was free now to go away to school. When fall came I
entered Bailey College.
"All summer we had been listening to Dr. Leo Martin
talk on education and its benefits; a lot of girls my
age became interested. We all wanted an education so we
could make something out of our lives. That is when I
began to think seriously of my future. My cousin, Alma
Dixon, and I later decided to got to Riverton and finish
at the Southern Industrial Institute. We went that year
and got along fine. It was near enough for me to be able
to go home often, which helped a lot. After I graduated
I was fortunate in securing a position av teacher of the
third grade in a little rurul schooi not far from where
we lived. It was on Coon Mountains, in fact just at the
edge of father's land, so I could live at home.
"I taught there for two years. It was while I was
teaching I found out about taking the Federal examination.
Old uncle Lucian Waters came by one day and told me about
it. He was the rural route man, and when he came to the
school house he stopped and called MB out to the road. He
told me they would hold the examination for Postal Clerk
that week in Tippin and suggested I go over and try to
get the job. Did I go? Well, I'll say I did, took the
test and fortunately for me I passed.
"That was in the fall of 1925. I was called to
work the following May. My! was I excited? I just
couldn't believe my eyes when the notice came to report
for duty at the Post Office at Tippin, North Carolina
as a substitute clerk. We were paid sixty five cents an
hour for the time we worked. I guess I averaged about
six howls a day. The work wasn't so hard, and the people
were awfully nice. I've made lots of friends since I've
had the work. Why, at Christmas time I just get a car load
of gifts and always some nice checks. I've made it a
rule neVer to be rude or inattentive when the Christmas
rush comes. I buckle right down and work like all forty.
Some days I'd feel as if I'd drop in my tracks, got so
tired. You know how the Christmas rush always is, but I
try to enter into the spirit of things, help the people
tie up packages, suggest the best way to get them off
and all that. Sometimes as I worked someone would tell
me what the package contained, to whom it was going and
often a little sentiment crept in too. I felt as if I
were entering into the sending of the gift, you just can't
imagine how many touching things happen. I really get a
kick out of the holiday work even if I do get tired.
"I had to come nine miles to my work; often in
bad weather I could hardly get over the road in my
little old car. Some nights if it were too bad to be
safe traveling I'd spend the night, but I always tried
to get home if I could, because I had things I felt I
ought to do there to help out. I started my day at five
thirty and usually it was after six at night when I got
home. It didn't give much time for play, but I played
some just the same.
"The Postal Department keeps a record of the
number of hours substitute clerks work, after the required
number have been completed we are then eligible for a
regular job.
"Mr. Sykes, the postmaster at Tippin asked for a
full time clerk and I was given the job at twenty one
hundred dollars a year. After thirty years of active work
I can retire on full pay. Maybe, I won't work that long,
you never can tell.
"We have ten days sick leave a year with pay; fifteen
for vacation, also with pay. So,on the whole, it's a swell
job.
"This time next month, I'll be on my vacation. Emma
Taylor and I are going west, we are taking a special tour
to the exposition. I can hardly wait to get started. Last
year we went to Canada. I try to get as much as I can out
of these vacations, it's my only opportunity to see things.
Traveling is educational too. For a long time after father
died I had neither time nor money for a trip. For that
reason I enjoy them all the more now. Father was killed
twelve years ago in a boiler explosion at the saw mill on
our place. The day of the accident stands out in my memory,
never to be forgotten. I was at work. I had a sort of
vision of the accident, honest I did. I can remember, I
was looking at a dress I had gotten to wear to a picnic
at Bluff Rock that night, when I had a queer feeling
something had happened at home, and when they sent for
me to come home I had really sensed trouble. Father had
been terribly injured, my youngest brother was hurt too.
"Father talked to us right up to the last, although
it must have cost him something to make the effort. He
asked me to try to carry on the best I could for his sake
and to take care of our step -mother, and I have. We
children set aside a tract of land for her and built a
nice five room cottage on it when we sold the old home.
She and my three step -brothers live there now. My step-
mother is thrifty, she has a cow, some chickens, a fine
garden and makes out all right with what I give her in
cash each month.
"As each of my brothers and sisters were ready for
school I set aside enough to educate them. I've helped
five of them and will send the rest as they grow older.
"Our family is pretty well scattered now, some are
married, others have jobs away. We all try to get home,
or rather to my step -mother's for Christmas. No, I can't
make any plans for my future just yet. Sure I know I'm
getting to be an old maid, but it can't be helped.
I've been engaged three times but each time I've given
up marrying. I wouldn't feel right to marry when the
family still needs my help. I'll just have to try to stay
young and keep my looks. Maybei it won't be too late to
marry Max, he's sweet about waiting. I think he understands
just how I feel about my promise to my father.
"My land, look waht time it is- I've got to get
back to work or I'll get fired. I could get married then,
couldn't I?"