Document text
Project #-1653
Cassels H. Tiedeman
Charleston, S. C.
390361
(Verbatim Conversation)
Approx. 182 words
Folklore
"Ophelia will you tell me why spirits come back to worry
people ?it
"Bad sperrits come from hell to torment wicked people
what dey Isociate wid when dey been on dis ert (earth).
Sometime dey kill em by scare. Hell one turrible place.
What de wicked do on dis ert, it jes lak dat in hell. Cuss-
ing, shooting, fighting one anodder, but dey being sperrits
caint do any hurt. De fire down here is a big pit ob brim-
stone, a roaring an' a roaring. It bigger dan Charleston
seem lak. When I was seeking de Lord befot I conberted (con-
verted) le place me in hell to conbince (conil-ince) me. I
stay down dere mos' a hour, den I knowed dere a hell.
"I see de souls biling in de pit ob brimstone. Ohl God
hab mercy on me soul. Ifse a had (hard) believer, nebber
did I ttink dere could be a hell, but I knowed now ef you
doan pray hell go be you home. It. no flower bed ob ease
down dere. What you sow in wicked doings you sure reap down
dere.
Source: Ophelia Jemison, Addison Ct, Charleston, S. C.