Document text
33B
TITLE:
sovru CAROUNAWRITERS' PROJECT
HISTM
THE COUNTY TTRALTH ICTSE
Date of First writing January 31, 1939
Name of Person Interviewed Miss Mattie Ingram
Piotitious Name Mies Brunson
Street Address Port Reptile
Plate Beaufort, S. C.
Occupation County nealth Nurse
Name of Writer Chlotilde R. rtin
'Vent to ooze with no for a trip into the country? :laking the
rounds of my colored pre-natals this afternoca." Miss ron t..o 1)111-4
little blue -uniformed county health nurse smiled and held open ti A door of
her oar invitingly, while she transferred her familiar black bag to the back
seat beside a stack of newspapers.
"What's in that?" she repeated my question as she stepped on the starter.
"Nothing more exciting than a stethoscope, a fluid for testing urine and sone
first aid ortioles. And the newspapers are for those nearing confinement.
We have so little to work with among the Necroses you know. They seldom have
enough sheets and those they havo are usually so dirty iguivt there's danger
of infection. We have found that newspapers solve the problem satisfactorily.
"How did I oome to be a nurser She laughed and pushed beg* a curl ehich
the brisk spring breeze had whipped across her NM* "Well, I really mated
to go to college, but I heppened to haveboamborn one or a family of twelve
ohildroa on a, farm in South Georgia. farmer with a demon children to feed and
clothe doesn't save mph toward oollege educations for them, so I had to be con-
tent with high school. When I graduated, I decided to be a nurse and entered
training in !boon. I finished rse oouree in 1920, did private and institutional
work fornilxo years, had one year or peblie heath work and came hero about nine
years ago."
„lea Brunson slowed down and turned off the highw..;7 onto a country road.
"You want to know something about roretwie 7140.4 I oonduot three venereal and
Uwe° pro...natal and well -baby alnico *soh math, ineruct a weakly clans of
mid-crivea, examine and laminate school children sal, in between timce, do home
lisiting. I can tell you, it keeps no pretty busy."
3he gave her attention to the road for a fey minutes, slowing di again
and turning off the oountry road into a narrow, rutty one little more than a
feot-path, at the end of whieh was a diArpidated cabin.
ilu) nurse gestured lathe direction of the cabin. '211,0 an who lives
there —Sara Roberts...mon t have hor baby for sometime yet, but she hoongt been
ooming in to the *Union lately and she needs to take the shots for syphilis.
In spite of the fact that twice as maa/ Negroes in this °aunty took treatment
for venereal diseases this year as loot, it is still hard to persuade them to
eep up the troataents. 1omatter how earoftlly we explain, that,' b000me alarmed
%Con they becin to feel the effects of the shots."
3.
The °able began to erupt a horde of children of all ages. Dashing
poll-nal out of the door, they acme to meet us *woes the cluttered, un-
sightly yard. Yellowing then leisurely uas young Negro moven.
"aood emeninl?" she seemed to be asking a question by the rising in. -b
flootion of har voice.
":1ello Julia," Bias Bra an f;reeted her, "here is your sister
%are to work."
"741 hasn't she omme book to the alai* for her shots?"
lia looked sullenly at the groans". aim' know ifon Is oughter take
den shot..-'esaydey We dem Chill. '31des, le sin' knosiest bin le trubble
nohow."
blood'a bad," the nurse pltTw.
"cal, yee:h?" Julia observed understandingly, than spoke to the largest of
the ohildren, a boy of about six, mho had olitibed up on the meaning board of
tho car. it down from dere, Bor-dest you 14"
Thobo: 50t down, grinning sheepishly.
"Toll 'Zara that if she its her baby to be healthy and stwong, &lomat
oame to the Jolla° regularly," the nurse meat on. "It's very important
you'll be stwo to toll her, won't you, J-lia?"
Julia nodded. "Yeev4 Ah'll tell she-m.:loy, u dons year me tell
you for git down off en dAt wear!"
"Yoelni," said the bey, who had been inching his head inside the oar
mindoe, throning am a shosarfaced grin. :Alt a =Dent later he had forgotten
and mos back an the running board ono more. Julia stooped swiftly, picked
up a stIck and brenished it nonuel, jurgmd dome Fuld run giggling
aroarie tho oornor of tho house.
jvlia frowned darkly. "bat oyl" she sighed.
4.
Just than, tam babies, who looked as though they 1214 -,ht be ixtins, ap-
peared at the door of the or.b.n and stood there clinging preoarioualy.
"140k out —dale yrnialot drfri chill= Pain" Julia yellod and several of
the oldor ohildren raoed to thoir rescue.
"11011 Vetoh do baby," Julia said and led the =KT to the twat -roam cabin
with its lean-to poroh. w3ettor wateh ye' step, dis yo wiasza *bout bruek
down," she oantionod as we picked our Vaki oaror-illy across the faa rnnainL
floor boards or the perch.
The front roan, its Iiak.11a pa red with nelsperiers„ was olu..,-.erod
dirk,-; a pot sizawed over steno coals in the fireplaoe. MrouGh the open
door WU could soi. the dark, close-unolling bedroma.
izc Drtsvion lool:ed at the children, wide..egrad and curious and airrt-71
as the houso, Itic had SUrr 01.1.2140C; ilas "1107.'13 crotesquely bulky tn rnn:r
1a: -es cr coth1ir,n‘,1-ied. on for 44 and all of their noses necded
-:11rso chuckled and °counted slowly: "-no„ tan, three, four, five,
six, uvun, Ci;:$ It••,.. -1d the baby rakes .7'4 she addod ra J--lia enercod frcsm
the other roma with the youncost of than all. "'Jo all those children bel-mc to
you and art Julia?"
.T,,,11.1ats lips parted ii. it was 7.4.or fIrst au,, -oatIon of a silo.
is amoder 'arum OW/14.0., Ith Liind del all while hcr and 'asra to work."
runson felt the firm .71 the fatbrawn baby„ pur ad tr his
dress t* L. insIvotod his zavel, aro-urvi Wh..O4 a 'Jazz' waa drozzatijtl. ":„Ots
all ri it, but I'd take off this be:.. -11. And you 34 ould kocrp h.ttt out in 4410
sunedno a tigi- thia.
"Yew tn," Julia nod id.
"7:yu wontt far:et to toll Lars. vtae.t I said?"
Julia &a4.
Lase Drunson shook- ht r head dizooure.;:e]ly as she drove beck dam the
bumpy little road. "It's lard to help them *MI they are like that. Julia
is prejudiced and suspicious and if awe doesn't 0030 back for her shots, her
baby is likely to be still...born." he sighed. "Not that that probably wouldn't
be a blessing to both Sara and her baby, for she can scarcely feed the on she
has already."
The maree's eyes ware thoug! "It's a vicious oir3le. When they don't
take treatment for venereal disease, the babies die and that makes the mortality
rate for south Garolina wailingly high. And when they do take the tree:Went,
the birth-rate shoots up just as appallingly. Although that makes the vital
statistics reeords look pretty, it clutters up this part of the earth with
thousands or ragged, half...fed ohildren."
She twisted the steering wheel impatiently. "The ;'Teatest need of theee
blok people is birth -control. And I believe it is only a Latter of tine before
vo will have it. Alrciakr, it has been approved by the State Isedioal Society and
although birth -control nethods are not allowed to be diseazinated by the public
health units ,Jet, it will ooze— it has to =oar
wo ware ap3roaching ancrtho- house, built high off the ground, and muah
larger and better kept than Julia's. "This is a pathetic ease," lass 3runson
explained. ":=usie is in a serious condi on --kidney infection and high blood
proseures, in addition to syphilis. j1.l) already has had three still...horn ehil-
dren and *n afraid tat she survive this pregnancy."
3he stopped the car. 1.414) house was +closed up ti;htly and looked deserted.
lass :runscni sounded her horn and a thin, ashem..faeed amen eerie alowlly wound
tho corner of the house. There vas a patient look on her not vorT intelligent
faoe and she was panting a little as she CIA134) up to the oar.
"::Oar do you reel. Susie?" the nurse inquired, regarding her arar4ously•
*Not too good, Ule Breeson," Susie rerliod.
"My haven't you been ooming'to the °Unice
*Do road bin so rough, I didn't felt like :Akan' de trip.*
Nies Brunson got the black be from the beak seat. "I IOW* to test
your urine and take your blood pressure," she told Susie in m lowered voice,
for a man had eons from the house across the road and posted himeelf within
listening distance. As though awniting his nue, he unlocked the doer of the
house and disappeared ie the back.
Susie led us into ft long hall, e7aloh ran the length of the five or six
room house, and then into the parlor. The roanvas very clean and neat. The
bare floor was alemertubite froze frequent serUbbing and tho veils were coiled.
A oat was'lade up to remodel° a da:r bed, there vas a sowing machine in one
eoreer, a center table holding a kerosene lamp and a betel of pecans. 72rlarged
photographs hung on the malls and a handsome olook ticked away on the etel.
The house, Susie explained, belonged to her aunt, -teeth wham the lived.
Sligie set without speeving while lass Breeson made the tests. The urine
test showed a high albumin content and the nurse looked at it with a ooncernod
expression on her face.
"Susie, you will emee to the olinio next veiie, won't your" she urged.
usis promised, thee asked us to vett a tarout. She veat out of the roam
and returned with a paper bag in her hand. This she filled with nuts free
the bowl on the table and shyly offered to the nurse.
sack upoa the high -ay once nom Miss nminson stopped the ear in front
of a hrand new, unpainted little house beside the road. "Alma. Alton lives
here," she epletned, "you'll like bar because she's differerrb-54ure intelli—
gent and almorior. time and her huihand, Dave, got jobs as raids and chauffeur
with some northern peopleseveralyeara ago. They vent north with them. leaving
7.
their two babies with Alma's parents* and when they had saved enough awsloy*
they owe teik and built this homes."
Alwa °ewe out of the house to greet us. Shoves small and neatly
dressed* with bright woe and a *cherry* ithits-toothed smile. The two °hill..
dress** folloeed her.abey of about five aniagirl of three* were also
nest and oleic and greeted us with ashy friendliness.
AlmOs little house matehed herself and her children in mitoses. The
window** unlike most of the houses opoupiedby' 'Negroes* had glass panes and
were hg with or ohimts. An organ stood agaLeetswwk well and upon items
photograph of Aiwa and her hueband, obviously** bride and tiritlegroces. In
the photograph. Almnemas very impressive with speoteoles each she explained*
at weer sometimes:
There were several ocatortabis °hairs and shelves =lad with rem of
trUht °alloyed glows and china. Zup wale mem celled and a many winder
heldabox of begonias and ferns. The rOOMIIIS4 heated byastove* =top
of Walsh a potion siwearing* giving outasavoley odor.
The nurse sniffed. "Smells good —pies, isaft it?"
klmagrinned. "Meese our supper.*
Through an open door* we oouid see the bed spread with tiny clothes.
Miss Brunson exeloluid. "Shy* Alawm» you have yourimiby's clothes all
ready&"
Alm proudly invited us into the moat* see the layette* idaldh owe
misted of little sacks and kimonos* bound in pink and'blvetribbons and
beautthally featther-stitahad, dainty dressers and slips and blankets. The
nurse's Irani err were sparkling. 'Your:side thaw. Aimee the asked inaredu-
*ugly.
her heeds "no lady for obit& I do cleaniug in totra rade
S.
'am for me."
"Ass Brunson's glance roved over the bed and around the room. 'But I
don't see any diapersr
Alma's fees sobered. 'I ain't go no diapers yet, Aim' Brunson."
The nurse was dismayed. 'But, Alma, your baby is expected any day --and
you haven't any diapers?'
Alma shook her head again. "What I going to buy diapers with?"
"nut doesn't Dave still have his WPA job?"
"es' m, Dave still workie, but seem like us has to pay out rbout every-
thing he make. no have to have a car to get to his work —and it lel* like
that car net eat up money.'
The 'bedroon was oomfortably, 07011 attractively furnished with its two
clean bedc, dresser and hero -,made kiddy-koop all ready for the expected
'Woy. There MUA a second bedroom and a kitchen back of the living room.
The children brought out a box of toys from the back: bedroom. 'Santa
Clime" em-lained the little boy, holding up a toy train for inspection.
"Santa Claw," echoed the little girl, proudly displaying a china doll.
"Therw nicer the nurse 1:eamed, "Santa Claus brought you lots of things,
didn't he?"
Alma amerced laughing fram the back bedroom. "Santa Claus was the lady
I cleans for."
Vise Brunson opened the black bag and took out the stethoscope and the
children, their black eyes bulging, forgot their tors in concern for their
theirmother* The boy retreated into a corner, but the little girl flew to
her mother's side. Squatting comically on her heels, she cluthhed her
mother's dress, her frightened woe never leaving the nurse's face, until,
catching 71iss Brunson's reassuring smile, she suddenly relaxed and drew a
9.
relieved sigh•
°The idea of Al's rot /*vim arr diapers for heir babyr Mille Brown
eamplained shin she Ina in the oar ocean. Oho las eo esoncerned over AireOs
look of diapers that she missed the rood to ha' next patient ad had to plga
sp before a tiny, whitsmwashed cabin to irquire.
A thin. orled old woman NOW fret behind the lest obtainer and peered
into the oar. "la you de relief Isityr ate wavered 1st her hit h old voice*
*Thu I'm the ottartv health ntersesielin looking for RemWdib. Can you
tellne idlers she livelier
The old wecan's fame 'brightened "You is !est de one Alt wer:tte to see.
liaises. Mt old aint is had off —would you plow. Was cane Into de house and
look after I In?'
'Dot's le.Peog with your hothead,* l'Aiss Bronson inquired as he followed
the old WTI= into the cabin.
"rE ail mon up and te cot de misery' ecriethint arifuls De Re* of iezet"t
eye is. no old age pension *owes de: stays ,Itete got a job on de .tr,A4, hut likkes
ain't bin able for ink in de tee seent, voah...you alet for know ne. *sty? Wall
is* ram Rebecca Asses.* Rho led the uay into the trent roan of the eabin.
The ram lab* dirty are the rammer* on the walver? necked end raced. A
pot was boiling en the meals in the fireplaoe and. *side Prim the cluttered
kitehot table and a ohair or two there was an in the room.
Reheat)* led us into the tiny piturpolOaok beetroot Ana pushed opal the
shutter of tho ins window. 4is',P,,r de ratio ye* feet., Jake," she etreeted and
the sink nen 'Vernet out a ladkP swollen foot.
The nurse to* one look "z lam haw you been like this, Aker"
nem tine, off end on." Jellot repliel in a weak, tired voiee* *but Ah
try to to* long as ih could.'r, hit don't seen lak Alt libber gonna rit outin
dis bad no
"lime you seen a dootorot"
"Met go no aonoy for pgy doctor," Rebeooa put in.
"Whet are you giving hin to est, Robots:0"
"Jest west Ah kin scrape up."
Back at the oar, ass Bruns= opened aboxon the floor of the back
seat and took out immoral eons or elk. "llakelita sone soup out of this,
or you eon just wiz it with water and heat it, if he likes hot milk."
*Yea's, tfankyou kindly, Mean." She put hor he =Lase Brunsonts
arm. "Iran," she began hesitantly, "Ah go bask to do Relief agAnk, nebbe
dey'll /Wpm item yaws will gills me a r000mmend."
The nurse noddmd. "I'll do what I can, naibeocaribut it msy not hap
nuot4 You see, I have nothing to do with the Re/16f work."
?Ass :Jmnsonmas thoughtful as she drove in the diraction Rehopea hod
indicated. "That can you do shout a. case like that?" she philosophised "I
could get some nedioine to relieve &Lots pain. perhaps, but he can lamer
got has s serious kidnoy infection. .1.Ivaa with the bast of treat-
ment, he could only drog out amieerable existonce. It cakes you. yonder.
"Oho the milloi-do I buy it to givo may?" She smiled. "If I started
that, I'd, be spending every cent I make and it wouldn't be a drop in the
bucket. nb, several manufacturers of canned milk send us samples to advar-
tise their milk fbroulas for babies. It oonos in vory handy, I osa tell
:rOtl•
Silo stopped the oar in front of Roos d' 'a house. "This is one more
case %Coro hirth-oontrol would be a blessing. ose isn't married,..very
few or these young mothers are. It's a funny thing, but arunts will for-
bid their daughters to nan7 if they oonsidor them too young, but thay take
U.
motherhood as a natural event no matter hoe young they arc. Roea's mother
has a house full of ohIldrema herself and tho burden of Rosa's ohild will fall
aa
Ws) found Rosa baro..footod in tho front room. This roam, in ooiztraat
to tho usual nesepapered weals, vas papered mith regular -min paps*, but it
was furnished onlylaithatablo and a tow *hairs.
1111LIALLiss Druneonwae tftl,t.ng Rosa's blood pressuro, a Cloak of six
small boys, rangimg in ages from about Unto three, gathered in the door
which led into the Atohemo. They arranged themselves oanvoniently in steps
so that the larger onee Gould Iodic over the heads of the smaller ones and
they stood staring mIth eyes like round bleak marbles.
Who= Rasa lett the room to getaspeoimen of her urine, Miss Drunson
tried to engage the boys in oonversation. "Iker is your mother's baby?"
she inquire&
Inma%) vas no reply nal she ropeatod the question, smiling. Still, there
was no reply. Thy, met any o, you talk?" tho mime asked.
daid," said one of the 'boys solemnly.
Rosa owe bank into the roam and 1 -ass Drunson turned to her. "Is your
mother's baby really dead?"
Rasa nodded.
*That's too bad," Luau rums= sympathised. "Java you made ay clothes
far your baby?"
Rosa shook :lor h "d luo
to riâ clothes for ohillen of° dey
beam.
Miss :Irtmson frowned.
that." 3he smiled at Rom.
,g
it isn't at all-- you just think
1, anyway, you'll have your little brother's
clothes —they'll do -iioely far your baby, won't the?? It
nom looked startled. "lis done bulndem4"
/Jim i3runson gasped. "illty„ Rosa, you ,:ldn't reallyburntimia's biotite**
"IL bin sioh a putvr amis. evIkinald.
*Dub that wouldn't Nave matteredmmyou oould have boiled them, you know. ah,
Rosa, I'm so disappointed*"
7-ot ItOMIL only shook her Load. "Dad luck to dress live baby esa puny dud
baby clothes."
lass Brume= sighed. "Como out to the ear with me, nom, I VIRELt to give
you something." She took *me of the newspapers from the book seat and laid
them in nosa's arms. "They are to use on your bad whim the baby comes-- now,
Rosa, domOtbura them or paper your house with them. Tour baby le ooming
next moth and you'll need them...will you remeabarl"
Zee's:
The neat atop Me in front of a two-story boxes in fair oondition. The
own lots owslosed with poles nailed to mabbly looking posts, was at one side
and the "critter° home, a shelter for the horse and ocer, was thatohed with
palmettoes. Several hogs were busily rooting up the front yard and the familiar
hound hog, thin almost to emoistion, oame bounding to meet us.
A WOOKO.WiV1 her head wrapped in a towel opened the door and invited us
into the living roma whidh was dark awl mud with amok*. "Din yore ole
ohithy amdke so bad," she apologized, pushing open one of the shutters.
3rijit„ bluemflowered chintz ourtains hid the windOwe and a large, ancient
grand piano stood against one well. This, tocether with an overmetuffed livm
ing room suite, oompletely filled tito small room.
"Where is 3adiel" Miss nrunson inquired, and a you: girl detached here
self trona dark corner and cams forward timidly, a small child holding fast
to her skirts. adie admitted herself to the sommination, not opening her
riatft.11 unlass spoken to, but Jane, her mother, kopt up a constant chatter.
"Wien de Relief gonna put Jin book to muk. Druneon? IE bin laid
off in do two nou4;9 now and us sho is need wuk. Us ain't own dim yere foe%
you know— us hab for pay rentomoand us mid +sleben haid ob °Unsay countinet
Sadie awn."
Miss Drunommiewl been listening without occraltm vac= she had Mashed
with Sadie, she turned to Jane. "I onn't tell you art/thing about the Relief,
Jane.- 77 -mirk has nothing to do with that, you know. What's wrong with your
head?"
Jane brightened. "Oh, yeah...Ali bin want to see you 'bout lath haid. Ali
!loan Ah she ie :7:ot a haid on no, Nis' 3runsoni"
"Aaybe you neoi nedioino—a laxative," the nurse suggested.
"Ail done tuok medloine--ain't dat kind ob a haid."
"7.1aw old, are you, Jane-..?" the nurse began tentatively.
Jana looked blenle for a =lout, then she zrinned. "Ah she wishes hit
was dat..-but, Laud, child, All still trabbling. Uuh baby jest esn do Isar and
teo mitt and de name ammo do twa 'oor odd tiro moot' to mato& Sadio own.
aho' omit bo diatowtn* Ah hops de mod raid ain't see fit for wend no no noro
ohilion, 'muse Ah vont all dose yore lest Ah cou"
"Men you'd bettor see a doctor about your heed." i.as Drumm nodded
in the direction of the piano. lets that?"
it'Uh ole play *mottle." Jo raoliod, lookinc offended at the
sudden turn in the oonversationm
folowed is to the door. s"lis/ :runsom4 mnh:ii11er 7,ot awerry
sick hue:mill. TA send mord ror ax you for please :ia'an stop and look after
It rho your ryther?"
AW10 '244bwooa Jones."
14.
"I've already seen Jake," lass iiremson told her.
Jiia Jaaels husband, vas waiting beside the oar. "Kin you please tell
me wien de Relief people gonna put me back to wuk--?" he began.
"Jim, I don't know one -Lanz about tne sile broke off. '3'hat's
the :ratter with your eye?"
Jim put his hand up to his inflamed eye. "at bin lak dat eon de five
monto now and sometime hit do worry no, for true. Hit must be a cold, (slaty?"
The nurse shook her head. "The next time you are in town, stop in and
let a doctor look at it, Jim.
"Yeslat--. but if on you nears azying 'Lout de Fleliof—"
"All right, Jim." :iss _runson slar 11T ged as we drove away. can't
mn2.oe them un,erstst4 that I ha -o nothing to do with the 1-lelief. This visit,"
she e_nlaihod as she stopped before a little now two -roam house, "is a post-
natal one. ::-losalie's baby is t onth old, but I always check up on them.-
altho ,gh -71.salie is very discouraz."
In spite of its lar,L10.38. -osaliess hoase was filthy. 1,:sa floor was
streaked wit.: ,;rase an: dirt and 'Ler:, was AO _u:-niture in the front room
exce-ot a table and two rickety
:Ass -..runzon looked :Lo7olossly about the roam and her eyes fell upon
the dirty, bow-legzed Child Who tag:ed at aosalie's skirts. "Aro you still
the ood liver oil, as t:1d :jou, IZosalie?"
ILoaaLte dropped :ler eyes to
baby in L I lap. "I;o1m4 SAO ranlied
sullenly, "somebody tell no AL bingi'e he too much already."
"You can't give hin too much, losalie. You uant his les to be straight,
't you-- and he .:las aaoth.r bad cold —you do -want your child to be strong
and oc,lthy, don't you?
:c.osulio nodded, still
aell„ than, you twat c10 iu; I toll --17tzt ma.; ix) help you,
you
"'res In."
"Lot no am the baby."
noealie held up tho fat baby, r,:u1 :Sastsaon bait ono. :Jza. "Ile looks
healthy eno41, but he :2as a eold, too4lasar how heilhoecos? ir.00p him out in
the steashisie as mush as you can."
Miss Drulle0a plswned tte oar door i.r2atio:itly aswo sterted away.
110 Is ho?elesa," she declared, "dirty, 1z:1count and stupiii—uhildren in the
hares of a won= like her hawio ohanoe at Jai*"
jho t2rnorl into a side road. ME13112 VG aro Colic to see now— Lula
Prip:r.- is a diffec-ccit 't,rpo. Lula alr)ady las had several still-bcon ohildren
ani she's really azzeicna for this one, Attio% she oc,ivots in a fuv mcd.z. She
llves with aunt and their hone lo bet':or than the averaco. They ane clam,
too— it's a joy to b coinc to limo :Azle. artor :1303.11os"
Lola Imo la the yard and eano to neat us, a thin, sober loohi- ;mull&
'.40111no '1;411, Lula," said :c.Iso rrit1, "it will soon be over and you'll
have your baby. 71ave you :la le av elothea :t:"
:40 smiled. "I'll show you," she said o..;.al led Into the hcasie•
:noung nun and a all by WM'siii en the baol., porch. :le child's was
were ?,:,ce-ribly inns:led and 74Lios atomed to look at Lin. ,Thoee ehild
lo
"Dosalie am, lialen, replied.
"You noun Posalie Jon;. -/,;31)—t„:,
t'24a't de one, Wan."
ited?"
7.'hv 7rarse shook har Sric,C21
lie's. Listen, "Lula, ye-, toll rlosalie that. if she doecilt zet that boy to
IC.
a doctor soon he's liable to go blind. I don't ;suppose she'll pay a particle
of attention to the message... but you be sure to give it to her, will your
"I sho will9 las" Brunoon.11 She went ahead of us into a clean little
sitting roam with the usual newspapered malls. A table* several comfortable
chairs and an antique chest of drawers completed the furnishBAgs. She left
us unE returned after a minute with a box filled with small garments* and
stood by looking pleased aa lass Brunson took them out* one by one, exclaiming
dellhtedly: "Why* Lula* how smart of you —you Tio.de them out of some of your
old dreeses, didn't you?" ,Tos held up a little dress. "Now* this was a good
idea. I'ou ran out of the first material and had to make the sleeves out of
somethiag. elsee-it looks fine." She lifted a pile of white cloths from the
bottom oi the box. "And these are the diapers* so soft and white, and you've
hemmed them by hand. ,hat did you make the of* Lula?"
"Ilour sacks*" Lula beamed.
"Lula* I'm so proud of youl how, oame out to the oar and got the news
papa I brought for you to use on the bed when the baby is born —you put them
=your -zattress to protect it. Le sure you savo them* hear* Lula?"
Turning homeward again* :zez Brunson ran her fingers wearily through her
hair and relaxed Et;ainst the back or the seat. "Do I find it depressing? Well*
yes, in a way. but I try not to lot myself think about it when I an off the job.
I do athr thins in order not to think about iteerea(Iing and 'gardening, for in-
stance. 3 ha -'re a gar:,:ya now for the first tine sines I loft the fur-, and I love
it. Men I have the cou:etnio-ip TII.OW.;0, sister* V/11.0 ps hoe.12; for
1314, and of my young niece, who is just out of collage and has har ;trot ()Moo
job. I don't know an7thin that I'd rather do than this Ilrork on the Negroes.
71y:eh t 4o done and pro:ress is so slow —but we arc progressin.
r,
Tre have to keep reguaberii4 not to be incatient about it, and to hold ea to
sem* of hemor• Thereto a let to appeal to the some or humir t123et
work* if you den't gob too swims to $ee it,
Ike** Aftiftsgt**, *sag***