2

Alabama Life in a Shrimping and Oyster Shucking Camp 2

bayou, live an old man, seventy-seven years of age, and his wife,
who is sixty-seven. This man is Joe Vaughn, whose father came
directly from England to Canada, where he was married to a
Canadian Frenchwoman. Joe's mother. Joe left Canada when a very
small boy, and came to New Iberia, Louisiana, where he lived for
sixty-three years.

Joe, who is of medium height and weighs a hundred and sixty
pounds, is very erect for his years. His hair is gray, and he has
soft brown eyes. Joe said he farmed while living in New Iberia,
but has also fished all his life, living as he has lived on the sea-
coast. His wife, Ezora, is a French native of Louisiana who
cannot speak English. Ezora is a tall, thin, dark-skinned woman,
whose hair is still black, even though she is sixty-seven years
old. She looks like one who has had a hard life.

Joe was preparing the ground just back of the camp to plant
English peas. When he was asked [begin strike through] to give some information [end strike through] about
planting lore and superstitions, he smiled broadly and said:

"Just a minute, I'll come in the house where we can talk,"

Joe climbed over the slab fence and came around the back of
the camp to his apartment.

He asked [begin strike through] the writer [end strike through] me to come in, and have a chair. When
we were seated, in walked three women and several children, to
find out what was happening. Joe never introduced them, but
sat complacently and began to talk. In a few moments one of the
women said something about her mother sitting in the door way,
between the bedroom and kitchen.

Ezora smiled and spoke in French. It was then that Joe
said:

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