2

Alabama 2

the site of a store now gone, and the site of an old grist mill also gone.
"The first work I ever done was fer yore granpa out there. I was 18 when I
started workin' on my own--away from my family, I mean.

"I useta haul stuff to Iuka fer Mr. Wash, yore granpa; I'd sell cotton,
and brang back th' money to Mr. Wash. I hauled, he'ped gin cotton there at
the water mill, and grind corn meal, fer about ten years, and then I moved away
and stayed thirty years 'fore I come back into this part of the country. The
people are better, 'cause they ain't so many niggers and they ain't so many
white mens too. They ain't so mean' round here. I likes it better than I
like Corinth where I farmed."

"What other work have you done?"

"In the winter time, 'way back yonder, I used to sawmill in the winter.
I done purty near everything. I even sold a quart of whiskey once..." He
stopped and seemed to aftraid to go on, as if his tongue had stuck to the roof
of his mouth.

"Go on Luke."

"No, I ain't gonna tell you my life. I just won't do hit...
"Yes, I guess it's because I was mean part of th' time. You want me to tell
you the good things I've done? I'm afeared they'd be purty few and fer between.

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