Document text
Aivroximately 4,280
SOUTH CAROLINA WRITERS' PROJECT
LIFE HISTORY
TITLE: MARTHA JOINT, OCCASic AL SERVANT.
Date of First Writinc
rams of Person Interviewed
FictitiouS Name
Place
Occupation
Name of Writer
Name of Reviser
March 3, 1939
Maulsoy Stoney (Negro)
Martha Joint
Edisto Island, S. C.
Occasional Servant.
Chalmers S. Murray
stets Office
Project -16&')
Chalmers S. Murray
Edisto Island,
March 3* 1939
Life History
Approximately 4,250 ords.
MARTHA JOINT OCCASIONAL SERVANT.
Martha Joint first opened her oyes on an Etiwan beach.
That was 75 years ago. There is little left of the beach now.
The ocean has been biting off big chunks of it since 1885, In
a few years, perhaps, the last sand dune and the last palmetto
may be gone. When Wirth& arrived, 50 dwelling houses, a church
and a achool buiidimL stood on the barrier island; cows and
horses nibbled the long gross grass, and live oaks cast shadows
over pleasant walkways. The beach was a full blown summer re..
sort for the Etiwan planters in those days.
Martha's mother, Molly was cooking for the Mortons who
awned a large frame house near the back landing. She took a
month off to attend to Martha's birth, then went back to her
cook pots. The baby, a puny little thing with sharp brown eyes
and lit mahogany colored skin, was minded by relatives and a
older sister named Susan.
It was easy to mind babies and children on the beach.
You merely sat a child down intthe sand and let it amuse itself.
There were shells to play with and sand crabs to watch, and the
roar of the surf drowned out yells. The babies would soon :Ai.
come tired of matchinc; their voices against the sound of the
surf and fall asleep. White and black mothers liked their
children to play in the sand. If they tmabled over no bones
Project W -165C3
Chalmers S. Murray
disto Islan0 3. C.
March 60 1939
MARTHA JOINT
2
were broken and the sand never soiled their clothing.
Martha had many playmates of both races, and her beach
days must have been happy ones. The scent of roasting oysters
was always in her nostrils. If the little blacks and whites
got hungry it was a simple matter to gather oysters from the
creek banks and to roast them over a drift wood fire. The boys
played Indians, shooting cane arrows into the clear blue sky.
The little 6irls ran screaming to the sand dunes, pretending
they were very much frightened. It was glorious to race down
the beach with the southwest wind behind your back, to chase
the sand crabs to their holes, to hunt bird eggs, to fish for
whiting in the inlet. When work was to be done at hone it was
easy to Let out of ear shot. The wind called much louder than
mothers.
Martha remembers the hurricanes that pushed the breakers
into front yards and ripped rooves from houses. Wind and rain
came toLether, making awful sounds. The sky was full of dirty,
flying clouds. The ocean wan dark green off shore, capped with
white combers; near the shore purplish -black. The sound of the
wlnd and tne surf and the rain terrified Martha. She would shut
the bed roem door and squat down in the corner, but still she
would hear the sound. She would get into bed and bury her head
in a pil ow. The sound came through the pillow.
Project #-16&:',
Chalmers 3. Murray
Ldisto Island,
March 3, 1939
lAkiTliA JOINT
e 3
The 'berm of 1885 made the worse sound and did the most
damage. When the surf Has breakinc, under the Morton's house
it was time to A0Vele Martha, then a young woman of 22 helped
move the furniture out of the house to the waiting wagons.
The Mortons, their cook and their cook's daughters fled to
safety, takirk, refuge in the Bailey cottage that stood on a
hii:h sand dune.
She has never eared for the beach and the ocean since.
One* in a while she has been carried to the barrier island by
her white employer to help mind the children, but always she
has kept her eyes turned away from the sea.
A few years after the hurricane Martha married burly Henry
Joint. lenry was at least seven years younom than Martha and
had a boy's mind. He was black as a chimney pot, strong as an
ox and walked with a rollinLe swaaAring gait. Possessed of a
disposition as 1.10.7 as his bullish face, he was quick to vent
his displeasure on anyone who dared cross his path. His temper
poured over Airtha like hot lead. It frightened her but she
said nothixv about her wounds. Nobody was ever allowed to say an
ill word about enry in hoz. presence. To hear her tell it, her
husband was a saint, an oracle, a giant anionE men.
Llit she did not always obey him even in her early married
life. ;.Jartha had a stubborn streak in her that even Henry could
Project #-1655
Chalmers Se liturray
Edisto island, 3. C.
March 3, 1939
MARTHA JOINT.
PaLift 4
not erase. She listened carefully when he spoke and held her
tongue, obeying his orders if it suited her.
Babies came fast the first twelve years, but none of them
survived for more than a few days. Some were still born. One
tiny little girl was smothered in the bed clothing, due to the
over solicitude of Martha's mother. Martha says she thinks she
has had eleven babies in all, but she is not quite certain. Her
Child bearing days are so far in the past now.
Henry did not trouble himself to provide a home for Martha.
Molly was still cooking for the Morton and had been given the
use of a plantation dwelling and a few acres of ground. Henry
simply moved from his father's house to his mother.in..law's,
bringing nothing with him but his "knapsack" containing a change
of clothing, a pistol, u razor and a pair of brass knucks.
The house only had two small rooms and the family were forced
to live jammed closely together. Henry and Martha took the choice
place by the hearth and Molly had to .it up with the little black
cubby hole adjoinixv the "hall." There was ;,enerally a big racket
going on in the cabin after sundown 4. Molly berating Henry, Martha
screaming out at her mother and Henry growling out heavy obscene
oaths. It was not a jolly household.
Molly said that enry was "a good for nothing, trifling nigger
Project #.46&-:
Chalmers S. Murray
b. -41st° Island& C.
March 3, 1939
MARTHA JOINT.
5
that hardly worth shoot." Martha always jumped to his defense,
excusing her husband's inactivity on the ground of illness. As
a matter of fact, Henry was seldom over ill. He was just natural-
ly lazy.
Molly portioned out the work. Henry was to plant a cotton
crop and Martha would help him. Molly would contribute her wages
she received as 000k. Together they should be able to earn a
living. This was what Molly had planned but Henry refused to do
his share, and the burden of supporting the family was thrown upon
the two women. Molly was then almost sixty. She drew four dollars
a month and was fed from the whits people's kitchen. Martha tried
to raise chickens and fout:,ht with the cotton crop.
Chopping cloddy earth with a hoe is a poor substitute for plow
in. Lenry vv,s not fond of plowing, and he would not take up a hoe.
That was laarthal job. he plants struggled through the soil, rais-
ing themselves to six inches, produced a few pods of cotton and died.
The harvest mijit brinL in ten dollars. Most of the money Henry
spent on whiskey and women.
One morning a c,entleman from the North visited Molly and told
her she was entitled to a .,ederal pension. her husband, John Forest
had taken part in a Civil War engagement on the Northern side.
Molly often told tA.s story*
"The captain push Jahn up. Tell him he got for fit, must get
Project #...10&,
Chalmers 34 Murra-
Edisto island,
March 3, 1939
MARTHA JGINT
PaL2e 6
mix up in the battle. Then the biL, Gun shoot, and Great God, how
John run!"
She didn't tell the investicator this story. It would not
have made any Oifference anyhow. John had not been reported as a
deserter and his widow should have a pension.
When the first payment was put into Molly's hands she walked
over to Mr, Morton's house and told him she wanted to buy some land.
Lx. Lorton agreed to sell her four acres on reasonable terms and
the contract was drawn.
Next year ol1y started buildin. Henry puffed himself up and
boasted mi6htily to his black nei,ihcy,s about the house that he had
Martha would soon occupy. It was to have two bftd rooms and a com-
bination sittimr room and kitchen. 'ilenry hung around while the
carpenters were workinL, ivir sate advice. This was his sole con-
tribution.
After the cramped plantation cabin, their awn holAse seemed like
a mansion. Molly bouLht two bedsteads, an iron stove, chairs and
tables. The prixe possession was a Lolden oak organ with a mirror.
Every niht Molly carefully covered the organ with one of her
voluminous petticoats. Yenry and Martha could do what they wanted
with the rest of the furniture, but no injury must come to the organ.
Almost a year after t1A3 organ was purchased, Molly got the idea
into her head that Martha must learn to play the instrument. Martha
said:
Project #-1655
Chajmers 3. Yurray
Edisto Island, n. C.
March 3$ 1939
MARTHA JOINT.
ace 7
"Great Cod woman. You crazy ain't you? Val.at I kuow 'bout
them thing?"
Molly insisted and finally Vartha acquiesced. A woman who
lived across the way had put her on her mettle. Martha flared ups
"I going to learn um, you watch and see. Sissy promise for
give ne lesson. I ain't simple like you. If I set m mind on um,
can lam n all right, all richts she told the woman.
Ilartha was in her fiftieth year then. Her fincers were
gnarled ane stiff. She hardly knew one letter of he alphabet
from the other, havint. attended school only a few months. But
take orcan lessons she must. Twice a week she would walk the six
miles to "Sissyls"house, her instruction book under her arm.
Her weazened monkey face vas screwed 14p in a knot as she bent
over the keyboard, preasln. the keys with her forefingers, peering
at the little black circles ClthLin to the lines. This was when
she was practicing.
Molly stood over or lendirL her encouraement. Aarthals
vols.: floated through the open window. Her white friends passing
blr the house heard her say: "That's right. Hold B and beat on C.
Great od I miss um.....Pres3 on G and hold C. I cot um, I cot um,
Jeslis Christ I cot um."
A few months later she announced proudly: "I can play two
hymn now Jesus the lover of my souls and Johnnie Let your hair
pist like mine."
Project -1655
Chalmers .3. Murray
Eristo Island, C.
March 5, 1939
JOINT.
Pac:e 8
Death came to Molly durin the first influenza epidemic.
She was about eighty years old and look a hundred. Martha had
a 1 -lard time readjustin her life to meet the new situation. She
had always leaned heavily upon "Ma". Molly had provided most of
the food and paid the taxes, bouOit her dauthter's clothinL and
directed every day's activity.
It was worts than useless to ask Henry to assume any re-
spons ibility. He was away from home most of the time. He would
pick ups. light job on .:>eacloud plantation, work until he had
earned five dollars and then spend all of his accumulation at a
dance. had gone down to Jacksonville the year before Molly's
death and. had returned home lust ira. time for the funeral adorned
in purple suit. Fifty cents jangled in his pocket.
Sister Susan had )een under the ijround ten years. She had
married and Lono north, out had never become accustomed to the
climate. Pneumonia had sniffed. ,Alt er life in her early forties.
Martha's nearest livint_ relative was her first cousin, Elijah
arron. Now he was some one you could lean upon, Lartha said.
Elijah had. sense.
Mr. iorton read Molly's will the day after the funeral to
Martha, Henry and Elijah. The house and the land had been left
to 1Zartha durin6 her life time, and after hew death would pass to
Project #-1655
Chalmers 34.14U ray
Edisto Island, 3. C.
March 3, 1939
MAETHA POINT.
Elijah's two daughters. All of Molly's money about one hundred
dollars in postal savilvs the horse and cow, was bequeathed to
Martha. Henry was left nothing.
Elijah, then a man of seventy, moved in with Martha and Henry
the following month. He said that he wanted to keep an eye on the
property that his daughters would eventually inherit. Martha re-
sented the inference that the property might deteriorate in her
charge and she and Elijah soon fell out. Martha lost her high
opinion of him, 3he said: "Cousin Elijah too biggity. Take too
much on heyelf." And Elijah openly expressed his scorn of Martha.
He told his neighbors that "Cousin Martha awful cranky. I ain't
understand how Aunt Molly come to raise such a fool child woman
and Auntie been a sensible woman."
Henry and Martha tried raising another cotton crop. They
also planted two acres of corn and some peas, so that the cow and
horse would Lave something to eat in the winter. The crop came to
a failure as the others before it had done and Martha decidcd to
quit farming as a regular business. Henry would milk no more money
from her for fertilisers and seed. She suspected anyway that her
husband spent part of the crop money on his outside women.
About this time she announced to the nflghborhood in generals
"I go atop spend money and live on the interest,"
Project #-1656
Chalmers S. Murray
Edisto Island, C.
March 3, 1939
MAhTHA JOINT.
"But how can you live on the interests Martha?" a white friend
asked. "You won't get but about four dollars a year."
"No matter", replied Martha.with an air of supreme assurance.
"I live on um all rights all right. I pick up job with Miss Jane
and Miss Aery and save what I
Martha proceeded to carry out her plan. Servants were scarce
an Etiwan and Martha was often called in by white neighbots to scrub
and 000ko She did nothing well except fry fish and cook rice. If
one wanted meals properly prepared it was wise to stand over Martha
until the last dish was ready for the table. Every step of the
operation must be directed. She was an indifferent scrubbers often
leavinL the floor dirtier than it was before. It took her two solid
hours to wash up dinner dishes for a family of five. Yet she con..
sidered herself an accomplished cook and would never admit that any
domestics task was beyond her.
Her standard wail was twenty-five cents a day. he work con..
sisted of "helpin" her employer with breakfasts washinc breakfast
dishes, puttint on the rice and meats preparin the veLetables and
washin up after dinner. All of this workscould have been done in
three hours. It took Martha at least five.
She ool'ad not stand up under a regular job. A few times she
has cooked steadily for about a months but this never suited her.
"I cot my awn work for do," she world say. "Cot for tie out ho z and
Project i7-166
Chalmers 3. Murray
Edisto Island, S. C.
March 3, 1939
MABTRA JOINT.
cow and cook for Henry."
Pa
io man, I don't want no steady job.
I just help you for favor."
She let her money lie in the post office and would not draw
out a cent more than the interest. Although she never earned
over seventy cents a week, she managed somehow to clothe herself
and pay her church dues and insurance premiums. Every year she
pulled her purse strings tighter and tighter. Occasionally she
would give Henry a few nickles and if he complained of being
especially hungry she wo'Ald divide her groceries with him. This
was the extent of her generosity.
With herself Martha was equally stingy. While in the white
man's kitchen she always ate enoui)1 to satisfy her modest appetite,
but when she wac not working for wages, she often would skip a
meal rather than dig down into her savinLs. Coffee grounds odd
pieces of bread, and a slice of butts meat, would carry her for
days, She bou#ht the cheapest grade of cloth and made her own
garments, or refashioned the dresses that Molly had left behind.
She dyed her under things deep purple or black so as to save
washing.
Cousin Elijah lived only five years after his move to the
Joint home. lie went casting for mullets one night in early
January and contracted a cold that soon turned into pneumonia.
Martha and henry attended the funeral together. It was the first
Project 1655
Chalmers .Murray
EdisLo island, O.
March 1939
MARTHA JOINT.
PaL,13 lOW.
time they had been seen in company with each other since Molly's
burial.
The next day Henry Joint and his wife moved into separate
quarters. Martha took the bed room that Elijah had occupied and
Henry set up his cot in the wing room which gave onto the kitchen.
The separation was very complete. They even divided the pots and
pans. There was no argument about it. Both of them felt that
this was the best plan.
Since then their lives have seldom touched. Martha knew
that henry has formed alliances with three or four young women,
but she never berates him for his unfaithfulness, or quarrels with
him because he often absents himself from home at nights. #hen
Henry becomes tired of carousing, he will race into the house, fall
on the bed fully clothed and sleep the clock around. Martha must
care for him on these occasions. Fe does not thank her. He never
opens his mouth except to growl about the food she places before
him.
Henry becomes involved in many fights. There is always fight.-
ing at the dances he attends. Re is never without his razor or
his brass knucks and uses these weapons on the slightest pretext.
He runs with a crowd of boys around sixteen and eighteen. Henry
shuns men of his awn age for they might show him up for the bully
he is. He can generally beat up the youngsters, but sometimes they
get the better of "Bit Hen."
Project #-16&,
Chalmers S. Murray
'Edisto Island, 3. C.
March 3, 1939
MARTHA POINT.
Pace 13
Henry owne home recently with an ugly slash an his right
arm. He tried to knock down a fifteen year old boy and the boy
had slashed him with a razor.
Martha was furious. "That bad boy out Henry for plain nothing*"
she deolared. "God, this island have some bad raising boy dhillun.
Henry try for make peace and that what he get for um. Magistrator
aughter handle that boy."
During the last year Henry has been receiving gifts from his
sister in New York who has evidently come into a little money. He
visits the post office almost every day, looking for packages from
the North. The sister sends clothing and sometimes money. Martha
knows better than to inquire about these gifts. It would only make
Henry angry. He would tell he plainly that it was his money and
that she had no share in it.
Martha is devoted to her church where the Rev. Jahn Mott*, a
little black man with a college de6ree, preaches every Sunday morn.-
ing. It is four miles from narthals house to the church but she
makes the journey on foot two Sundays out of the months at least.
She says: "The reverend sure preach fine sermon. Oh, is lick the
sinner all right. Mister Mott smart man, bubber. All Prispiterian
smart people." Martha is a 2resbyterian.
She is very particular about the observance of the Sabbath day.
Project #-1655
Chalmes S. Murray
Edisto Island, S. C.
March 3, 1939
MARTHA JOINT.
Page 14
"The day make for worship God and visit the sick," she says.
"The devil go get you if you pleasure 'round. Mt? Nobody Satoh
me even straighten up a cotton stalk on Sunday.
But somebody did catch her working on the Sabbath once.
The rural policeman hapcened to pass the Joint place early one
Sunday and was astonished to find Martha hoeing in Henry's cotton
patch,
"Fey, Martha, what are you diing there?" He yelled. "Don't
you know this is Sunday?"
Martha dropped her hoe and gelds "Gone 'bout your business,
Mister Clark. This Saturday."
"But it in Sunday," Mr. Clark insisted. "Look at these people
coming down the road all dressed up for Church."
Martha peered down the road. What she saw astonished her.
She soreameds "Jesus Christ, it Sunday sure 'slough." Her hands
flew up. She went out of the field mutterings "Devil sure put
something in my head this morning. Please God forgive me. You kn-w
full well I never take a lick with the hoe an Sunday long as I live.
The devil the man Ser blame, not me. He tricky Bekker (the same as)
snake*"
Martha is very fond of visitig the sick. "1 yeddy (hear),
Cousin Mike very low. Don't 'peat he to rtscover," some one informs
Martha.
Project d-1655
Ohalmers S. .Murray
Ldisto Island, C. C.
March 3, 1939
MARTHA JOINT.
Page 15
Martha answers* "Do Jesuit Uh, uh. I been waitinf for
hear that, I see right now I got for go Champion Garden tomorrow,
tomorrow."
And when tomorrow comes she is on her way to Champion Garden,
dressed in her boat black frock, wearing her gold rimmed spectacles.
She will return home bubbling over with news about Cousin Mike's
condition.
Polly Mack must hear all about it at once. She meets Polly
at the cross roads.
"I just come from Cousin Mike house," she tells her friend,
Polly opens her earn and Martha's words pour in.
"He mighty low, begin to swell now. Doctor medicine ain't
agree with he complaint. Cousin Betsy 'most crazy. The poor mark
very near he grave awful near. I got to Co and gate on 114 Sacs
once more 'fore he pass over."
Polly grunts: Too bad, too bad. But we all cot for go some
time."
Martha answers hers "Yes, Lord, we all got for go sometime.
You speak the truth Cousin Polly."
The two old women stand in the road, nodding their heads
solemnly, repeating the words, ......."all got for go sometime."
Martha is always on hand when a neighbor dies. She and her
friends, pressin6 closely around the death bed, wait with baited
Project #-165.5
Chalmers S. Mu. ray
Isdfsto Island, C.
March 30 1939.
MARTHA POINT.
Pa 16
breath to hear the last words spoken. Mudh depends upon those
words. If the dying, one prays or reports a heavenly vision, tLe
souldwill be lifted up to heaven, they say. But if the vision does
not cone and tire is no prayer offered, the person has "died bad"
and his soul will descend to hell.
Martha is frightened when somebody she knows dies bad, for
she says that the person's ghost will return to earth to haunt the
living.
"I Ifraid to walk the road now," she will proclaim." Joshe
Smith die yesterday and he spirit zoinc to roam 'round. I sure,
God ain't wont for meet um."
"A ghost won't really hurt you, will it Martha?"
"No, but he scare you. I sure scared of getting scared."
Martha knows a great deal about ghosts and their habits.
"They walk ten foot from the ,round and pop same as firecrackers"
she will tell you. Her voice has an oracular ring to it. "I
never see none but I hear um and feel us. One live in that locus'
tree close my house and plenty live on Rees ftoad. The road fair
take up with spirit on half moon night. One time I hear um talk
together 'bout me. They been roost up in gum tree sifter buzzard
and od, they spit out the word. I make track for home quick and
throw the cuss on um. Lest for cuss ghost; they ain't know no prayer.
Project #-1655
Chalmers S. Murray
Edisto Island, 3. C.
March 6, 1039
MARTHA JOINT.
pae 17
"Some night they slip in my house and blow my lamp out. I
feel the hot breath on my neck. You ain't safe from ghost even
in your awn house."
Martha does not mind airing her views on any subject. She
is very outspoken on politics, for instanoe. Martha is a con-
sistent *Anti". All laws, all forms of tovernment who sonsiders
unjust because governments are formed by white men and lawn are
enacted by nbuckre„" without the consent of the Negro, according
to her way of reasoninc. She is especially bitter about the tax
laws.
"Every year I yot to pay one or two dollar on my land," she
says, resentment creeping into'her voice. "The buckra take the
money and build white school house and cement road. I don't
'tend school and I ain't 5fot no dhillun for 'tend school, and I
ain't run no automobile neither. Oh, buckra can fix up up to
suit themself, all
There is no Ilse tellinL Narthe that the cement roads are
built with taxes paid by automobile owners. She has the idea that
miles of hardsurfaced highways have been laid with her tax money.
She does not like the way that Federal relief is handled.
When the destitute of Etiwan were civenlqwe andepiataft. by the
FERA several years ago, Martha put out her hand for the bounty.
Project #-16&
Chalmers OUrray
Edisto Island. C.
zaro::1
MARTHA JOINT.
i'aLe 18
Her application was turned down because she had a husband who was
able to work, and also because she owned several cows and a nook
of chickens.
3he was furious when she beard that the government would give
her nothing. "I 'title to um, yes." she said in high strident
tones. "1 pay tax for 'most thirty year and now when i needy the
government turn me down cold. That dead wrong. They oughter give
thing to every colored lady on the island."
At seventy-six. Martha walks like a woman of fifty. She leas
never been seriously ill in her life and cannot remember the time
she visited a doctor, he believes firmly in self medication. It
cost less than calling a doctor in. Martha will willingly spend
fifty cents on a bottle of patent medicine that she thinks may
"reach" her complaint. She will take any sort of medicine, especial-
ly if it is given to her,
:artha flares up if anyone calls her an old woman. "Who old
woman?" she demands. "You the old one, not me. I aintt old and I
never go be old."
When one sees Martha hopping alone, sprightly on her way to
church, it is not hard to believe that she will never grow old.
All ambition to rise in the world has left her now. She and
Henry live in the battered little house in Seaside evidently content
Project 1-1655
Chalmers 3. Murray
Ldinto Island,
March 1939
MARTHA JO TT.
PaLe 19
with thins as they are. The house is gradually rotting away.
Only a remnant of a porch remains, the roof leaks and the floor
altos sadly in the middle. Outside, beneath a window is a rusty
iron stove that now sees service as a hen nest. The stove was
once the pride of Martha's life. A few broken chairs, is all
that is left of the furniture that Molly bought. The organ is
mute, but it still occupies an honored place in the hall room.
The walls of the main room are plastered with newspapers
and brightly colored calendars of ancient vintage. When the
paper Lets discolored, Martha merely pastes other sheets from
The l'ews and Courier over them. There are probably five or six
layers of paper on the walls of the Joint home.
Martha has made few attempts to keep the house in repair.
"Coat money for fix house," she comments. "I ain't cot no money
for waste."
Two ohinaberry trees, now covered with myriads of shriveled
globules, stand in the front yard. The stable, situated a few
yards from the dwellin,j is a queer looking structure, built of odd
pieces of boards nalled acainst ooJes. It is always on the verge
of collapse, and has been propped up every now and then with new
poles. The chioken house, a small replica of the stable, equate
near the path that leads to Martha's front door. The sanitary
privy, built by WPA labor, is the neatest building on the premises.
Project l657,
OhalNers Murray
Edisto island,
//larch 3, 193ii
MARTHA POINT.
P. e 20
With a house at the cross roads and a talkative neighbor
next door, Martha is always supplied with material for gossipy
tales. She would probably be unhappy anywhere else. Pram her
viewpoint the place is ideally situated. Gossips black friends
and two white employers are all within a radius of a few hundred
yards.
Her chief delight is to snatch a bit of omisip out of the
air and from it build a sensational story that will alarm and
shock her neiz,hbors. She is insulted if her tales are not be..
lieveds an0 will not stand for any contradiction. Faced with
facts that prove her story untrue, she will says "That what
they say that how them boy carry um. I ain't see um myself.
You ain't catch me in no lie* I don't lies bubber."
Henry raoves in. and out of the house like a black shadow.
He hardly matters. Martha seldom talks about him teso days.
He seems to have z.l.ven up any pretense of workinL. Once in a
great while he hitches the ox "Messenger Boy" to the plow and
puts in an hour breakint land for corn. Most of the time he
sends lolling around or walkin the road in search of amusement.
Henry claims Messengc.r Hoy as his personal property but
Martha has the entire care of the huge beast. The animal often
gets out of control. Martha tn7s at the ropes trying to lead the
Project -1045Z
Chalmers S. Murray
Edisto ILand, O.
March 3, 1939
Page 21
ox to ,Jasture. ;le lower hia ead and jerks the rope cut of the
old wollan's hand. he falls sprawlik, to the 6.-i'aund, the impact
almost knockini; the breath out of her body. iciary will not lift
his finLer to ..111/4 cows Is L, woman's Dlisiness, he says.
;°artha is not lo rkin forward totthe time when she will re.
tire. She does not know the meanin4.; of the word. "I fspect to
woxi!c till I drop. Let old woman sit down an(f. suck pipe by the
fire. Irink; as i Lot my health and stren6th I goinL to strive."
There is a detormined rin to her voice as she utters these words.