|
|
(Greenwood, Macon County. Rhussus L. Perry, November 5, 1938)
My daddy was one of those Negroes what made plenty fo' his chillun ter eat. He was one of dem farmers what never need a store only in a great while. He had fine dogs who helped out on the fresh meat line. Da would ketch rabbits, tree squirrels, 'possums and 'coons like ebberthing.
In dem days we had a great big tall curry dog. His name was Bruno. Bruno had mo' sense dan mos' folks. Specially did he hav' sense 'bout lookin' out fer his victuals an den he had mean sense 'bout bitin' if he didn't like you.
One day my pa missed a ham, he worried 'bout dat ham, wonderin' what lazy person stole dat ham when de could hav' had hams of de own. Way late on he misses 'nother ham. How he worries whole heap 'bout dis. Dese was big hams, big as de was good. Well, he had not stop worryin' 'bout dis ham when bless de Lawd he misses anudder ham when all of us gits tebble worried so we all 'sides we gwineter watch this thing out, so we does. Long as we watch de smoke house nut'in happen. One day de boys plowing in de field, de see ol' Bruno diggin' way at sumpin' in de groun' but when de go near ol' Bruno he stops and look lak he ain' never been diggin' and go runnin' barkin' 'way off somewhere else. Well a mind tell de boys to watch ol' Bruno. So de boys de hide and watch ol' Bruno and what did they see? Ol' Bruno pull out a ham out de groun' which he had hid. On 'vestigatin' de foun' the three hams and a bucket of lard which Bruno had hid dare for his self. He figgerin' to keep from being hungry.
Den dis dog he didn't take no scoldin' offer outsiders. If one did holler at him, he tuck his tail and go off and watch fer yo' leavin'. Soon as you done get out sight ev de house he takes off atter you to bite you fer hollerin' atter him. He would sho figger how ter git you.
This dog lived to get so old his bones cracked as he walked.
