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LIZZIE'S 'SPONSIBILITY
The first scene of "Lizzie's 'Sponsibility" is that of the small, one room dwelling place of Lizzie Davis, aged colored woman of Marion, S.C. A disorderly, ill-lighted, orudely furnished room, saturated with the odor of food. Behind the front door stands a gayly colored iron bed, over which is thrown a piece of oilcloth to keep the rain from leaking on it. In the center of the room are several little quaint homemade stools and two broken rockers, while in one corner sits a roughly finished kitchen table, the dumping place of all small articles. Still in another corner, almost hidden from sight in the darkness, is the dim outline of an old trunk gaping open with worn out clothing, possibly the gift of some white person. A big fireplace in one side of the wall not only furnishes heat for the little room, but also serves as a cooking place for Lizzie to prepare her meals. On it's hearth sits a large iron kettle, spider, and griddle, relics of an earlier day. The room is dimly lighted by the fire and from two small doors, together with a few tiny streaks that peep through at various oracks in the walls and top of house.
It is about 9 o'clock on a cold, drizzly morning in January, 1938. The little two room house, in which Lizzie rents one room for herself, displays an appearance of extreme coldness and dilapidation, as a visitor approaches the doorway on this particular morning. It is with somewhat of an effort that the visitor finally reaches the barred door of Lizzie's room, after making a skip here and there to keep from falling through the broken places in the little porch and at the same time trying to dodge the continual dripping of the rain through numerous crevices in the porch roof. Within is the sound of little feet scuffling about on the floor, the chatter of tiny children mixed with mumblings from Lizzie, and the noise of chairs and stools being roughly shoved about on the floor.
A rap on the door brings Lizzie, crippled up since she was twelve years of age, hobbling to the door. Taking her walking stick, she lifts the latch gently and the door opens slightly. A gray head appears through the crack of the door and Lizzie, peeping out from above her tiny rim spectacles, immediately recognizes her visitor. She offers her usual cheerful greeting and begins to hastily push the large wooden tubs from the door to make room for her visitor to enter, though it is with unusual hesitancy that she invites her guest to come in on this occasion.
Lizzie--Come in, Miss Davis. I feelin right smart dis mornin. How you been keepin yourself? Miss Davis, I regrets you have to find things so nasty up in here dis mornin, but all dis rainy weather got me obliged to keep dese old tubs settin all bout de floor here to try en catch up de water what drips through dem holes up dere. See, you twist your head up dat way en you can tell daylight through all dem cracks. Dat how I know when it bright enough to start to stir myself on a mornin.
Yes'um, I tell Miss Heddie here de other day dat I had promise you I was gwine study up some of dem old time songs to give you de next time you come back. Miss Heddie, she lookin to a right sharp age, I say. Yes'um, she been here a time, honey. I tell her to be gettin her dogs together cause I was sho gwine point her out to you de next time I see you.
I tell you, Miss Davis, I got a 'sponsibility put on me here to look after all dese chillun. Yes'um, it sho a 'sponsibility cause I think dere five of dem dere, en it de truth in de Lord sight, dey has me settin up so straight to keep a eye on dem dat I can' never settle my mind on nothin. Dey won' let me keep nothin clean. Ain' no use to scrub none, I say. You see, cripple up like I is, I ain' able to get no work off nowhe' en I keeps dem while dey parents work out. Dey mammas have a job to cook out en dey brings dem here bout 6 o'clock in de mornin for me to see after till dey get home in de afternoon. Cose dey helps me along, but it takes what little dey give me to keep dem chillun warm cause I has to try en keep a fire gwine, dey be so little. Dere Bertha Lee en Joseph, dey start gwine to school dis year en I has to see dey gets fix decent en march dem off to school every mornin. Dem other three dere, dey name: Possum en June en Alfred. Ain' but just one girl en dat-
(Lizzie's attention turns to June, who comes in crying from the back yard, where all the children went to play during Lizzie's conversation with her visitor).
Lizzie-- What de matter wid you, June?
June-- Aun' Izzie, Possum knock me wid de ax.
Lizzie-- Great King! What a peculiar thing to hit you wid. How-come he to do dat?
June--- He was bustin up dem stick out dere side de wood pile.
Lizzie--- Oh, well, you just go en butt up on de ax. Dat ain' no fault of he own den. Clean up dat face en gwine on way from here.
(June, crying to himself, remains seated on the little stool).
Lizzie--- Let me see now, Miss Davis, I tryin to get some of dem old time songs together to turn for you what you been axin me bout de other time you come here. Yes'um, I tryin to blow my dogs--
(Possum enters the room).
Possum--- Aun' Izzie, I was bustin up dem splinters dat my daddy brung for you to cook wid en June come en set right under de ax.
Lizzie--- Um-huh, ain' I tell you so? Whe' de ax, Possum? Fetch it here en put it in de corner. Ain' none of you had no business wid dat ax nohow. Ain' I tell you to mind your way round dat ax?
(Possum runs back out in the yard).
Lizzie--- Like I tellin you, Miss Davis, if de people had a song in de old days, dey would put it down on a long strip called a ballad, but honey, I been through de hackles en I can' think of nothin like I used to could. Is anybody sing dis one for you, Miss Davis? It a old one, too, cause I used to hear--
(Alfred comes in to tell his tale).
Alfred--- Aun' Izzie, June set on Possum's pile of splinters dat he was makin en Possum let de ax fall right on June's head.
Lizzie--- Dey is cases, Miss Davis. I tellin you, dese chillun just gets everything off my mind. Most makes me forget to eat sometimes. Dere Miss Julia Woodberry, poor creature, she been down mighty sick en I ain' been able to go en see bout her no time. Don' know what ailin her cause I don' gets bout nowhe' much. No, mam, dese chillun don' have no manners to go visitin en I can' left dem here widout nobody to mind bout dat dey don' run-----
Joseph--- Aun' Izzie, I ain' gwine wear no coat to school dis mornin.
Lizzie--- Boy, is you orazy? What de matter wid you, ain' you know de ground been white wid Jack Frost dis mornin? En you clean up dat nose fore you get dere to school, too. You ain' say your ma send you here widout no pocket rag to wipe your nose wid? You ma, she know better den to 'spect me to hunt rags for you. Come here en let me fasten up dat coat round de neck. You look like a turkey buzzard wid it gapin open dat way. Whe' Bertha Lee? It time both you been in dat, road gwine to school dere.
(Bertha Lee and Joseph go out the door to leave for school).
Lizzie--- Lord a mercy, Miss Davis, my mind just a windin. How dat song turn what I had for you?
"One for Paul,
En one for Sidas---
Lizzie--- Joseph, how-come you ain' tell dese chillun good-bye?
Joseph--- Good-bye Possum, good-bye June, good-bye Alfred.
Possum, June, Alfred--- Good-bye Joseph.
Lizzie--- Is you got dat one now, Miss Davis? What de next? Great Jeruselum! Dem chillun done carry dat tune way wid dem. I can' turn dat one to save my neck. Just can' come to de turn table as de old man would say. (12 o'clock mill whistle blows, time teller for many colored people of the community). Lord a mercy, what dat whistle say? It done come 12 o'clock en dat pot ain' thought bout to kick up none yet. I tell you, honey, it sho a 'sponsibilty I got put on me here to cook for all dese chillun en see dey ration is cook mighty done, too, so as dey won' be gwine round gruntin wid dey belly hurtin all de evenin.
(Lizzie begins to stir up the fire to make the pot boil and her visitor decides to return later to hear the songs).
It is a damp, chilly mornin about three weeks later, when Lizzie's visitor returns to hear her sing old time songs. June, Bertha Lee, and Alfred are playing in the street before the little house.
Visitor--- Is Aun' Lizzie at home?
June, Alfred, Bertha Lee--- Yes'um, she in dere. She in de house.Visitor--- You children better mind how you run about in all this damp weather, it might make you sick.June--- Possums got de chicken pox.Alfred--- Possums got de chicken pox.June--- Me sick, too.Bertha Lee--- I got a cold.Alfred--- I sick, too.Visitor--- Poor little Possum. Is he sick much?Alfred--- Yes'um, he stay right in dat room dere. (Room next to Lizzie's room with a separate front door).Bertha Lee--- He mamma had de chicken pox first en den Possum, he took down wid it.June--- Dere he now! Dere Possum! (Possum appears from around the corner of the house with both hands full of
cold fish).(Alfred goes to Lizzie's door to tell her that she has a visitor)Alfred--- Aun' Izzie, somebody out dere wanna see you.Lizzie--- Holy Moses! Who dat out dere? Boy, you ain' tellin me no story, is you? Mind you now, you tell me a
story en I'll whip de grease out you.Bertha Lee--- Aun' Izzie, ain' nobody but Miss Davis out dere.(Lizzie hobbles to the door on her stick).Lizzie--- How you is, Miss Davis? I ain' much to speak bout dis mornin. I tell you de truth, Miss Davis, dese chillun
keeps me so worried up dat I don' know whe' half my knowin gone, I say. Great Lord a mercy, dere Possum out
dere in de air now en he been puny, too.
Visitor--- The children tell me Possum has the chicken pox. Lizzie--- No'um, he ain' got no chicken pox, Miss Davis. Dey thought he had it cause he mamma been ailin dat way, but I don' see nothin de matter wid him 'cept what wrong wid he mouth. Possum, stand back dere way from Miss Davis, I say. Yes'um, he been sorta puny like dis here last week. He mamma must been feed him too much en broke he mouth out dat-----
June--- Miss Davis, I know how to spell my name.
Bertha Lee--- I know how to spell my name, too. Me likes to go to school.
Visitor--- Oh, I think it is nice to like to go to school. What do you do at school?
June--- Pull off your hat.
Bertha Lee--- Us writes.
Visitor--- Lizzie, how about those old time songs you promised to study up for me? You ought to have a mind
running over with them by this time.Lizzie--- Lord, Lord, honey, I had study up a heap of dem old tunes here de other day, but I tellin you de truth, Miss
Davis, dese chillun got me so crazy till nothin won stick------ (Willie, age 10, comes over to play with the children
and begins to whistle.).
Lizzie--- Willie, ain' you know it ill manners to whistle in anybody house? Dere now, it impolite to walk by
anybody house whistlin, too. You is too big a boy for dat. Ain' gwine stand for you learnin dese chillun no such
manners for me to beat it out dem. No, boy, mind yourself way from here now, I got to hunt up dat tune for Miss
Davis. Yes'um, I got one of dem old tune poppin now. Let me see------ Great Happy! Dat pot done gwine out all my
sparks. (Lizzie rushes in the house to look after a pot that she hears boilin over on the fire).
June--- Bertha Lee, de lady don' know whe' us sleeps, do she?
Bertha Lee--- Dere us house over dere.
(Bertha Lee gets up to point the house out and June immediately slides into her seat on the bench next to the
visitor).Bertha Lee--- Move way, June.June--- No, dis place whe' I been.Bertha Lee--- June, go further, I say.June--- No, Bertha Lee, dis whe' I been.Bertha Lee--- No, go further. (June holds his place) I go tell Aun' Izzie den.Visitor--- Tell Lizzie I'm waitin to hear that tune she promised to sing.Bertha Lee--- Aun' Izzie, June settin in my place.Lizzie--- Fetch yourself on back out dere now, Bertha Lee, en settle your own scrap. Ain' you shame of yourself en
you bigger den June, too? Go way from here, I say. I ain' got no time to monkey up wid you. I got to get dese
collards boilin hard, else dey ain' gwine get done time you chillun start puffin for your dinner. Go way, I tell you.
Miss Davis, I comin toreckly. (Bertha Lee returns to the porch quietly and takes her place on the opposite side of the
visitor, while June clings to his place).
June--- Miss Davis, does you know Mr. Rembert?
Visitor--- Is he your father?
Bertha Lee and June--- No, he ain' us daddy.
June--- Mr. Rembert, he bought me everything I got. He shoe horses. Don' you know him now?
Bertha Lee--- He bought June's sweater, but dem my overalls he got on.
June--- Dem dere pretty buttons you got on you, Miss Davis.
Bertha Lee--- Sho is, en dem little chain dere.
June--- Me got a sweater just like her coat.
Bertha Lee--- Ain' just like it.
June--- It most like it.
Bertha Lee--- No, it ain' cause dis here wool.
(Lizzie returns to the porch and sits on a little stool near her door).
Lizzie--- Lord, Miss Davis, dat tune done left me. Now, de next time dat I get a tune in my mind. I gwine sho getsomebody to place it for me. It de Lord truth, my mind gwine just so wid so much of chillun worryations till------June--- Me can sing.Possum--- Aun' Izzie, I ain' got nothin to eat.(Lizzie returns to her room again to stir up the fire and get Possum some bread).Bertha Lee--- Sing den, June.June--- Un-uh, I can'. Aun' Izzie might hear me.Bertha Lee--- I gwine sing den.June--- "I sees de lighthouse- amen,I sees de lighthouse- amen,I sees de lighthouse- amen."(Lizzie and Possum return to porch. Possum has three muffins).Lizzie--- Olean up your nose dere, Alfred. Miss Davis, I ready. Sho got a mind to turn dat tune dis---
Alfred--- Possum wouldn' fetch me no bread, Aun' Izzie.Lizzie--- Dere dey go again, Miss Davis. No, you can' have none of Possum's bread. Gwine on in dere en catch youa piece out your own pan. You eat up Possum's bread en den he'll be de one howlin bout he ain' got none.
(Alfred goes in the room and comes back with a biscuit).
Lizzie--- I pretty certain I ready now, Miss Davis. Let dem all get dey belly full en den dey head won' be turnin sosharp. Dat how-come I tries ---Possum--- Aun' Izzie, Alfred eatin June's bread.Lizzie--- Alfred, look here, boy, you know dat ain' none of your bread. You sho gwine get a lickin for dat. (Lizzie
slaps him). Your ma, she ain' never left nothin but corn hoecake in your pan since you been born en you know dat, too. Dem chillun carries me in de clock sometimes, Miss Davis. Dis one en dat one callin me en de Lord help me, I forgets what I doin--- Clean up dat nose dere, boy.
June--- My nose clean.
Lizzie--- Possum know I talkin to him. Get on in dere en tell Miss Mammie to give you a pocket rag, Possum. (MissMammie is Possum's aunt who came to spend the day with them).Bertha Lee--- "Peter Rabbit, Ha! Ha! Ha!Make Your Ears Go, Flop! Flop! Flop!"Lizzie--- I has to ax you to bear wid me, Miss Davis. I sorry you come here on a dead shot en ain' gettin no birds.
Lord knows, I tryin to get my mind---June--- Oo, Aun' Izzie, Joseph been cuttin out Willie's book.(Lizzie's attention is attracted to Willie, who looks worried about his torn book.)Lizzie--- Great mercy, boy, you ought to have a pain in de chest. Look, you settin dere wid your bosom wide open.
Fasten up your neck dere, I say. ------ Possum, come here, is you do like I tell you? Is you ax Miss Mammie for somethin to clean up dat nose wid?
Possum--- Yes'um.
Lizzie--- Look out now, I'll whip you for tellin a story. Whe' de rag? No, you ain' ax her neither. Gwine on en clean up dat nose fore I wear you out.
(Possum goes around corner of house).
Lizzie--- Help me Lord not to forget it dis time. I sho got dat tune-----
June--- Aun' Izzie, Aun' Izzie, Possum fall in de tub of water what settin under de pump.
(Possum appears from around the corner of the house just at that moment drenched and almost frozen).
Lizzie--- Great Lord a mercy! Possum, you looks like a drowned possum sho enough. Why ain' you do like I tell you to do? You know I don' never allow you chillun ramblin round dat pump tub no time. Ain' nobody want to drink out no tub you wash your snotty nose in. Fetch yourself in dere to de fire en dry yourself fore you is catch a death of cold. Gwine on, boy. Don' stand dere en watch me like a frizzle chicken. Dere Mr. John Fortune comin now. I gwine tell him to catch Possum en cook him up.
Possum--- I gwine run.
Lizzie--- You say you gwine run?
Possum--- No'um, I ain' say I gwine run.
Lizzie--- Mind you now, Possum, you know what I tell you bout a story-teller.
Mammie--- Miss Lizzie, I just don' believe he know right from wrong.
Lizzie--- Well, I gwine learn him den. Ain' nothin I despises worser den a story-teller. (Lizzie slaps Possum on the shoulder several times and sends him in the house to dry, shivering from both cold and fear.).
Lizzie--- Miss Davis, Mr. John Fortune helps me out wonderfully wid dese chillun. Say, when dey bad, he gwine cook dem up en eat dem. Yes,mam, I tellin de truth, honey, dese chillun keeps me settin here listenin wid all my ears en lookin wid all my eyes, but dey is right sorta entertainin like. Yes'um, dey got so much of sense till dey done took what little I is had.
(Alfred comes running in and leans up on Lizzie).
Lizzie--- Clean up dat snotty nose, Alfred. You ought to been name Snotty wid your mouth all de time lookin like you ain' hear tell of no pocket rag. Move way from dere, June. Don' blow your nose settin side, Miss Davis.
It is three days later. Lizzie is sitting on her little porch enjoying the warm sunshine of a bright February day. The children have gone just across the street to play on the sidewalk and while Lizzie keeps a watchful eye on them, she is trying once more to call back to her mind some of the old time songs that she used to sing in her early days. Her visitor sits on a bench nearby ready to make notes of these old songs as she sings them. Lizzie's attention is not only distracted by the children at intervals, but also by different ones of her friends constantly passing along the street in front of the small home.
Lizzie--- Lord, Miss Davis, look like everything a hustlin dis mornin. Yes'um, dis here Monday mornin en everybody is a bustlin gwine to see bout dey business. Seems like everything just gwine on, just gwine on. I tell you de truth, Miss Davis, I studied so hard bout dem songs de other night, I beg de Massa to show me de light en he hope me to recollect dis one for you. See, when you gets to de age I is, you is foolish-----------------
(Joseph runs across the street to tell Lizzie something).Joseph--- Aun' Izzie, Possum teachin June to hit Jerry.Lizzie--- Uh-huh, I gwine sho beat him, too. (Lizzie turns to her visitor) Possum, he teachin June to knock dat little
one wid de speckle coat on.Visitor--- Is he another child that you are taking care of?Lizzie--- No'um, he grandma raise him en de poor little creature, he don' have nobody to play wid. Look like
nobody don' care when he come or whe' he go. I say, I tries to collect mine up en take care of dem cause it dis way, if you don' take time en learn chillun, dey old en dey ain' old; dey fool en dey ain' fool. Yes'um, I tryin to drill dem, Miss Davis, but it does take time en a little whip, too. Has to punish dem right smart sometimes. I tellin you, dem chillun sho a 'sponsibility. Dem what put all dem gray hair up dere on my topknot. I tell dis one en dat one to set to a certain place till I say to get up en den I'll get my studyin on somethin else en de child, he'll be out yonder-----------------
(Heddie Davis, age 72, a neighbor of Lizzies, comes over to join in the conversation).
Lizzie--- Here come de hoss (horse). Come in, Miss Heddie. Miss Davis wants us to sing one of dem old back tunes dis mornin. Heddie--- Well, I is studied up one tune what I been hear de old people sing when I wasn' nothin much more den a
puppy--------- Lord a mercy, Miss Lizzie, dere dem people comin from de trial. Look, dere dey fetchin dat girl to Dr. Graham now. En my Lord, got de poor child's head all wrapped up dat way. Dat man, he ought to have he head plucked. He know better den to cut dat child so close de senses. Don' know what de matter wid de people nohow.
Lizzie--- Ain' nothin but de devil, Miss---------------(Boy, about 8 years old, comes across the street and hands Lizzie a bundle).Pickle--- Miss Lizzie, ma say dere your sewin.Lizzie--- Thank you, son, thank you a thousand times again. Tell your mamma de old hen a scratchin bout out dere
in de yard now huntin de nest en ain' gwine be no long time fore I can be catchin her a chicken to put in de pot. Yes, Lord, I got to start savin dem egg dis very day for de settin. (Lizzie turns to her visitor on the porch and continues her conversation). Miss Rosa, she does do all my sewin for me en I generally gives her eggs for her kindness. I sorry dere so much of huntin egg de same day.
(Little boy, Pickle, looks disappointed and continues to hang around).Bertha Lee--- Aun' Izzie, sing somethin.Lizzie--- You want me to sing so bad, sugar, en I ain' know nothin neither. Heddie, turn me one.Heddie--- Gwine on en spill dat one yourself what you been tell me bout de other mornin en quit your pickin on me.Lizzie--- Well, I tryin to get myself together, but dere so much of travelin en so much of chillun, I can'
collect---------Alfred--- Aun' Izzie, can I go to whe' Jerry gone?Lizzie--- No, boy, you know I ain' got no mind to let you go runnin off dat way. (Lizzie calls to Mammie in the
room). Mammie, look dere to de clock. I gettin in a fidget to get some of dese chillun way from here.
(Pickle still hangs around).
Lizzie--- Joseph, come here.Joseph--- Un-uh.Lizzie--- Boy, don' you grunt at me dat way. Come here, I say. Go dere in de chicken house en hunt dat one egg en
give it to Pickle to carry to he mamma--------------- Got to scatter dese chillun way from here---------------Joseph--- Here de egg, Aun' Izzie.Lizzie--- Fetch it dere to Pickle den. Boy, tell your mamma I sorry I ain' had no egg to send her 'cept just dat one
nest egg. Tell her, when she buss dat egg, she better look right sharp en see is de hen ain' got it noways addle like
cause------------.
Bertha Lee--- Aun' Izzie, how my nose is?Lizzie--- Look bad. Gwine on in dere en clean your face up. I know you ain' gwine to school wid all dem crumbsstuck bout on your mouth. Joseph, gwine on in de house dere en put you on some more clothes. Gwine on in dere, Isay. Don' stand dere on de street en strip.
Heddie--- No, boy, don' pull off in no public.
Bertha Lee--- Aun' Izzie, I gwine carry my bread to school wid me.
Lizzie--- Hunt you a paper den. You can' go dere to school wid no handful of bread makin all dem chillun start
mouthin round you. Joseph, get me a paper to put dis here child's bread in.Joseph--- Here, Bertha Lee. Here de paper.Lizzie--- Lord, Miss Davis, it a time. I tell you de truth, honey, dis here 'sponsibility got me tied both hand en foot.
Ain' no rest nowhe'. I hates it you come here en ain' gettin nothin what you been aimin to catch. I gwine be ready
toreckly though. Let me get dese chillun in de road en dem songs gwine start travelin out my head faster den
lightnin-----
Bertha Lee--- Aun' Izzie, make Joseph come on.
Lizzie--- Joseph, get in dat road dere side Bertha Lee. Now, you chillun make your tracks dere to school straight as
you can go en if you stop dere to dat lady house en get a pecan, I gwine whip you hard as I can.
Joseph and Bertha Lee--- Good-bye Possum, good-bye June, good-bye Alfred.
Possum, June, Alfred--- Good-bye Joseph, good-bye Bertha Lee.
Lizzie--- Here dat tune come buzzin now, Miss Davis. Is you got dis one?
Sunday Mornin Band!
"Oh, my sister,
How you walk on de cross?
Sunday mornin band!
Oh, your feet might slip
En your soul get lost.
Sunday mornin band!
Oh, what band,Oh, what band,Do you belong?What band! What band!Sunday mornin band!"Heddie--- Sis, you is done took de one I been how. I been expectin you was comin out wid one of dem old time
reels you used to be a singin en a jiggin bout all de time.
Lizzie--- Oh, I been know a heap of dem reels. Hoped sing dem behind de old folks back many a day cause us
chillun wasn' never allowed to sing reels in dem days. See, old back people was more religious den dey is now.
Yes,mam, dey been know what spell somethin in dat day en time. When dey would speak den, dey meant somethin,
I tell you. People does just go through de motion dese days en don' have no mind to mean what dey talk. No, child,
us didn' dar'sen to let us parents hear us sing no reels den. What dem old people didn' quarrel out us, dey whip out
us. My father never wouldn' let we chillun go to no frolics, but us would listen from de house en catch what us
could. I used to could turn a heap of dem reels, too, but he was so tight on us till everything bout left me. Lord,Heddie, give me a thought. You is de jiggin hoss. Hope me out, Heddie, hope me out.(Heddie begins song and Lizzie joins in and finishes it)."The blackest nigger I ever did see,He come a runnin down from Tennessee,His eye was red en his gum was blue,En God a mighty struck him,En his shirt tail flew.Meet me at de crossroads,For I'm gwine join de band.Um-huh! Um-huh! Um-huh!"Lizzie--- Great Lord a mercy, Miss Davis, dem kind of tune, dem sinful en wicked songs, dey what I used to turn
fore I been big enough to know what been in dem. No, honey, I thank de good Lord to point me way from all datfoolishness en wickedness en I ain' gwine back to it neither."Lord, I know dat my time ain' long,Oh, de bells keep a ringin,Somebody is a dying,Lord, I know dat my time ain' long.(Repeat three times)Lord, I know dat my time ain' long,Oh, de hammer keep a knockin,
Keep a knockin on somebody coffin,
Lord, I know dat my time ain' long."
(Repeat three times).
Lizzie--- Lord, I sho know my time ain' long. De Lord say de way of de righteous prevaileth to eternal life en I know I right, people. Lord, I know I right. 'Sponsibility or no 'sponsibility, Lord, I seekin de Kingdom.
Source: Lizzie Davis, colored, 70-80 years, Marion, S.C. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Marion, S.C.
Davis, Lizzie -- Additional Interview
Ex-Slave, Age 70 to 80
"No,mam, I couldn' exactly tell you how old I is cause my father, he been dead over 20 years en when us had a burnin out dere to Georgetown, Pa's Bible was destroyed den. Cose I don' remember myself, say, slavery time, but I can tell dat what I is hear de olden people talk bout been gwine on in dat day en time. No,mam, I want to suggest to you de beat I can cause I might have to go back up yonder en tell it to be justified some of dese days."
"Oh, I been know your father en your grandfather en all of dem. Bless mercy, child, I don' want to tell you nothin, but what to please you. Lord, I glad to see your face. It look so lovin en pleasin, just so as I is always know you. Look like dere not a wave of trouble is ever roll cross your peaceful bosom."
"Now, like I speak to you, I don' know rightly bout my age, but I can tell you when dat shake come here, I been a missie girl. Oh, my Lord, I been just as proud en crazy in dem days. Wasn' thinkin nothin bout dat dese dark days was headin here. Yes,mam, I is always been afflicted ever since I been twelve years old, so dey tell me. You see, dat muscle right back dere in my foot, it grow crooked just like a hook. De doctor, he say dat if dey had kept me movin bout, it wouldn' been grow dat way. But my poor old mammy, she die while us was livin down dere to old man Foster Brown's plantation en dere won' no other hand gwine trouble dey way no time to lift me up. Oh, my mammy, she been name Katie Brown cause my parents, dey belonged to de old man Foster Brown in dey slavery day. Dat how-come I been raise up a country child dere on Mr. Brown's plantation. Another thing, like as you might be a noticin, I ain' never been married neither. No, mam, I ain' never been married cause I is always been use a stick in walkin in my early days en never didn' nobody want me. Yes,mam, I know I every bit of 70 or gwine on 80 years old to my mind en I think it a blessin de Lord preserve me dis long to de world. Cose I often wonders why de good Massa keep me here en take dem what able to work for demselves."
"Yes, honey, wid God harness on me, I come here to dis town a grown woman to live en I been livin right here by myself in dis same house near bout 20 years. Cose dere a little 12-year-old country girl dat stays here wid me while de school be gwine on so as to get some learnin. Yes'um, I pays $2.00 every month for dis here room en it ain' worth nothin to speak bout. Pap Scott's daughter stay in dat other room over dere. No,mam, dere ain' but just dese two rooms to de house. You, see, my buildin does leak en I has a big time some of dese days. See here, child, I has dis piece of oilcloth cross my bed en when it rains on a night, I sleeps in dat chair over dere en lets it drop on de oilcloth. Den when it comes a storm, my Lord, dere such a racket! I be settin here lookin for dat top up dere to be tumblin down on me de next crack en seems like it does give me such a misery in my head. Yes,mam,
dat misery does strike me every time I hear tell bout dere a darkness in de cloud."
"Well, drawed up as I is, I ain' able to get no work worth much to speak bout dese days. It dis way, child, don' nobody like to see no old ugly crooked up creature like me round bout whe' dey be no time. Cose I sets here en does a washin now en den whe' de people gets push up, but don' get no regular work. Now, dem people over dere, I does dey washin mostly, but dey don' never be noways particular en stylish like en I don' have nothin much to worry wid. See, de lady, she don' go bout nowhe' much."
Oh, Lord, dere my stove right dere, I say. Yes,mam, I cooks right here in de fireplace all de time. I got dat pot on dere wid some turnips a boilin now en it gettin on bout time I be mixin up dat bread, too, fore dat child be comin home from school hungry as a louse. I say, I got dis here old black iron spider en dis here iron griddle, too, what I does my bakin on cause you see, I come from way back yonder. Dem what de olden people used to cook on fore stoves ever been come here. Yes,mam, de spider got three legs dat it sets on en de griddle, dat what I makes dese little thin kind of hoecake on. See, when I wants to bake in de spider, I heaps my coals up in a pile dat way so as to set de spider on dem en pours de batter in de spider en puts de lid on. Den I rakes me up another batch of coals en covers de lid over wid dem. Do dat to make it get done on de top. Yes,mam, dat de kind of a spider dat de people used to cook dey cake in. Now, when I has a mind to cook some turnips or some collards, I makes dis here boil bread. Honey, dat somethin to talk bout eatin wid dem turnips. Ain' no trouble to mind it neither. First, I just washes my hands right clean like en takes en mixes up my meal en water together wid my hand till I gets a right stiff dough. Den I pinches off a piece de dough bout big as a goose egg en flattens it out wid my hand en drops it in de pot wid de greens. Calls dat boil dumplings. I think bout I got a mind dat I gwine cook some of dem in dat turnip pot directly, too. No,mam, I don' never eat dinner till it come bout time for de little girl to be expectin to be from school. Oh, my blessed, dem olden people sho know how to cook in dem days. Never didn' hear speak bout de cookin upsettin de people in dat day en time like it sets de people in a misery dese days. Dat how-come, I say, I ain' noways ailin in de inside cause it be dat I lives de olden way. Yes, child, de slavery people sho had de hand to cook. Dere ain' never been nothin cook nowhe' dat could satisfy a cravin like dat ash cake dat de people used to cook way back dere, I say. Oh, dey would mix up a batter just like dey was gwine make a hoecake en wrap it all up in oak leaves or a piece of dis here heavy brown paper en lay it in de hot ashes. Den dey would rake some more hot ashes all over de top of it. Yes'um, de dampness out de hoecake would keep de wrappin wet en when it would get done, de paper would peel right off it. I tell you, honey, I mighty glad I been come along in dat day en time. Mighty thankful I been a child of de olden ways."
"Yes, child, de people what been raise de slavery way, dey been have a heap of curious notions en some of dem was good, I say. Yes, mam, dere one sign dat I remembers bout en I follows dat up right sharp dese days. I sho watches dat closely. Say, somebody have a mouthful of rations en sneeze, it a sign of death. I finds dat to be very true to speak bout. Yes'um, I notioes dat a good one, Miss Davis."
"Den I got another one comin. Always say, when you see bout a dozen buzzards moesin (flying) round a house en den dey break off en make a straight shoot for a graveyard, dere somebody out dat house gwine be bury dere soon. Cose dat what I hear talk bout, but I ain' watched dat so much."
"No,mam, dat ain' half de signs what de olden people used to have cause dat all what dey know to tell dem what to do en what was gwine happen. Dem what was wise, dey followed dem signs closely, too. Yes, you come back another time, child, en I'll see can I scratch up a heap of dem other sign to tell you. When I gets to talkin to you bout old times, my mind, it just gets to wanderin over dem old fields whe' I run bout as a little small child en I can' half remember nothin to speak to you bout."
Source: Lizzie Davis, colored, Marion, S.C. - Age 70 to 80. Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Dec., 1937.
Lizzie Davis
Ex-Slave, Age
"My parents, dey was sho raise in de South. Been come up on de old man Foster Brown's plantation. Ain' you know whe' Mr. Foster Brown used to live? Yes,mam, down dere in dat grove of pecans dat you see settin side de road, when you be gwine down next to Centenary. I remember, I hear my father tell bout dat his mammy was sold right here to dis courthouse, on dat big public square up dere, en say dat de man set her up in de wagon en took her to Georgetown wid him. Sold her right dere on de block. Oh, I hear dem talkin bout de sellin block plenty times. Pa say, when he see dem carry his mammy off from dere, it make he heart swell in his breast."
"Yes'um, I hear my father talk bout how dey would shoot de great big bamb guns in slavery time. Seems like, he say dat de shootin fuss been come from Fort Eumter. Oh, my Lord, I hear talk dat de people could hear dem guns roarin all bout dis here country. I know dat word been true cause I hear my parents en de olden people speak bout dat right dere fore we chillun. Say, when dey would feel dat rumblin noise, de people would be so scared. Didn' know what was gwine happen. Cose I speak bout what I catch cause de olden people never didn' allow dey chillun to set en hear dem talk no time. No,mam, de olden people was mighty careful of de words dey let slip dey lips."
"Oh, we chillun would have de most fun dere ever was romancin (roaming) dem woods in dat day en time. I used to think it was de nicest thing dat I been know bout to go down in de woods side one of dem shady branch en get a cup of right cool water to drink out de stream. I tell you, I thought dat was de sweetest water I is ever swallowed. Den we chillun used to go out in de woods wid de crowd en get dese big oak leaves en hickory leaves en make hats. Would use dese here long pine needles en thorns for de pins dat we would pick up somewhe' dere in de woods. En we would dress de hats wid all kind of wild flowers en moss dat we been find scatter bout in de woods, too. Oh, yes'um, we thought dey was de prettiest kind of bonnets. Den we would get some of dese green saplin out de woods often times to make us a ridin horse wid en would cut down a good size pine another time en make a flyin mare to ride on. Yes, mam, dat what we would call it. Well, when we would have a mind to make one of dem flyin mare, we chillun would slip a ax to de woods wid us en chop down a nice little pine tree, so as dere would be a good big stump left in de ground. Den we would chisel de top of de stump down all round de edges till we had us a right sharp peg settin up in de middle of de stump. After dat was fixed, we would cut us another pole a little bit smaller den dat one en bore a hole in de middle of it to make it set down on dat peg. Oh, my Lord, one of us chillun would get on dis end en dere another one would get on de other end en us chillun would give dem a shove dat would send dem flyin round fast as I could say mighty-me-a-life. My blessed a mercy, child, it would most bout knock de sense out dem what been on dere. Yes,mam, everybody would be crazy to ride on de flyin mare. All de neighbor's chillun would gather up en en go in de woods en jump en shout bout which one turn come to ride next. I tellin you, dem was big pleasures us had in dat day en time en dey never cost nobody nothin neither."
"Well, Mr. Brown, he was mighty good to his colored people, so I hear my parents say. Would allow all his niggers to go to de white people church to preachin every Sunday. Cose my father, he was de carriage driver en he would have task to drive de white folks to church on a Sunday. Yes'um, dem what been belong to Mr. Brown, dey had dey own benches to set on right up dere in de gallery to de white people church, but I hear talk dat some of dem other white people round bout dere never wouldn' let dey colored people see inside dey church no time. Lord, I talk bout how de people bless wid privilege to go to church like dey want to in dis day en time en don' have de mind to serve de Lord like dey ought to no time. Cose dere a man comes here every Sunday mornin in a car en takes me out to church. Ain' no kin to me neither He late sometimes en de preacher be bout out wid de sermon, but I goes anyhow en gets all I can. Look like de Lord bless me somehow, cripple up as I is, I say."
"De shake! Oh, I remember it well cause I been a grown girl den. Everybody thought it was de Jedgment en all de people was runnin out en a hollerin. I thought it was de last myself en I livin here to tell de people, I was sho scared. I been out to de well bout 12 o'clock de next day en I could see de water in de well just a quiverin. Lord, Lord, dat water tremble bout four weeks after dat. Such a hollerin en a prayin as de people had bout dat shake. No'um, I was livin down dere to Tabernacle den en dere wasn' none of de houses round us destroyed. No, child, won' no harm done nowhe' dat I knows of only as a heap of de people been so scared, dey never didn' grow no more."
"Yes'um, I think bout here de other night dat I had make you a promise to fetch you up some of dem signs de olden people used to put faith in. Dere one sign bout if you hear a dog howl or a cow low round your house on a night, it a pretty good sign you gwine lose somebody out dat house. I finds dat to be a mighty true sign cause I notices it very closely."
"Den dey used to say, too, if you get up in de mornin feelin in a good humor, de devil sho gwine get you fore night fall dat same day. Cose I don' pay so much attention to dat. If I get up feelin like singin, I has to sing cause it my time to sing, I say."
"Let me see, dere another one of dem omen dat I had shake up in my mind to tell you. Say, if you see a ground mole rootin round your house, it won' be long fore you gwine move from dat place. But I don' never see no ground moles hardly dese days. Don' think dey worries nobody much."
"I recollects, too, way back yonder de people used to say, if you see de smoke comin out de chimney en turn down en flatten out on de ground, it a sign of rain in a few days."
"Yes, mam, I think bout dis one more. If you dream bout you be travelin en come to a old rotten down buildin, it a sign of a old person death. Don' say who' it a man or a woman, but it a sho sign dat a old person gwine die."
"Den people what lives in de country believes, if a fox comes round a house barkin en a scratchin, it a sign dey gwine lose somebody out dey family. Yes'um, de fox just comes right out de woods up to de yard en barks. You see, a dog won' never run a fox dat comes bout dem barkin. No, mam, when de dog hear dat, he just stands right under de house en growls at de fox. I know dat be a true sign cause us tried dat one."
"Now, I got another one of dem thought comin. Yes, my Lord, I hear talk dat if you get de broom en sweep your house out fore sunrise, you would sweep your friends out right wid de trash. Dat used to be a big sign wid de people, too. En it bad luck to take up ashes after de sun go down, dey say. Yes, I know bout plenty people won' do dat today."
"Well, honey, seems like when I calls back, de people in a worser fix den when I used to get 25 cents a day. Used to could take dat en go to a country store en get a decent dress to wear to church. Sell peck of us corn en get it in trade. Didn' never pay more den 50 cents for a load of wood in dem days en I remembers just as good eggs been sell for 10 cents a dozen en 15 cents bout Christmas time. Cose I ain' exactly decided what to speak bout de times cause it dis way to my mind. De people, dey have a better privilege dis day en time, but dey don' appreciate nothin like dey did back in my dark days. Yes, mam, de people was more thankful to man en God den dey is dese days. Dat my belief bout de way de world turnin, I say."
Source: Lizzie Davis, colored, age between 70 and 80, Marion, S.C.
Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, Dec., 1937.
(Project #1655, W. W. Dixon, Winnsboro, S. C.)
Davis, Lizzie -- Additional Interview
"Come in, Miss Davis. I feelin right smart dis mornin. How you been keepin yourself? Miss Davis, I regrets you have to find things so nasty up in here dis mornin, but all dis rainy weather got me obliged to keep dese old tubs settin all bout de floor here to try en catch up de water what drips through dem holes up dere. See, you twist your head up dat way en you can tell daylight through all dem cracks in de roof. Dat how I know when it bright enough to start to stir myself on a mornin."
"Yes'um, I tell Miss Heddie here de other day dat I had promise you I was gwine study up some news bout de old times to give you de next time you come back. Miss Heddie, she headin to a right sharp age, I say. Yes, mam, she been here a time, honey. I tell her to be gettin her dogs together cause I was sho gwine point her out to you de next time I see you. She say, 'Sis, my mind is a ramblin dese days en I can' half remember nothin. You better hold your dogs yourself, she say."
"I tell you, Miss Davis, I got a 'sponsibility put on me here to look after all dese chillun. Yes'um, I think dere five of dem dere en it de truth in de Lord sight, dey has me settin up so straight to keep a eye on dem dat I can' never settle my mind on nothin. Dey won' let me keep nothin clean. Ain' no use to scrub none, I say. Yes'um, I keeps dem while dey parents work. You see, dey mammas have a job to cook out en dey brings dem here bout six o'clock in de mornin for me to see after till dey get home in de afternoon. Cose dey helps me along, but it takes what little dey give me to keep dem chillun warm cause I has to try en keep a fire gwine, dey be so little. Dere Bertha Lee en
Joseph, dey start gwine to school dis year en I has to see dey gets fix decent en march dem off to school every mornin. Dem other three dere, dey name: Possum en June en Alfred. No'em, ain' but just one girl en dat Bertha Lee."
(June comes in crying).
Lizzie: "What de matter wid you, June?"
June: "Aun' Izzie, Possum knock me wid de ax."
Lizzie: "Great King! What a peculiar thing to hit you wid. How-come he to do dat?"June: "He was bustin up dem stick out dere side de wood pile."Lizzie: "Oh, well, you just go en butt up on de ax. Dat ain' no fault of he own den."(Possum comes in).Possum: "Aun' Izzie, I was bustin up dem splinters dat my daddy brung for you to cook wid en June come en set
right under de ax."
Lizzie: "Um-huh, ain' I tell you so. Whe' de ax, Possum? Fetch it here en put it in de corner. Ain' none of you hadno business wid dat ax nohow. Ain' I tell you to mind your way round dat ax." (Alfred comes in to tell his tale).Alfred: "Aun' Izzie, June set on Possum's pile dat he was makin en Possum let de ax fall right on June's head."Lizzie: "Dey is cases, Miss Davis. I tellin you, dese chillun just gets everything off my mind. Most makes me forget
to eat sometimes. Dere Miss Julia Woodberry, poor creature, she been down mighty sick en I ain' been able to go en see bout her no time. Don' know what ailin her cause I don' gets bout nowhe' much. No, mam, dese chillun don' have no manners to go visitin en I can' left dem here widout no-body to mind bout dat dey don' run out in de street."
Lizzie: "Joseph, whe' Bertha Lee? It time both you been in dat road gwine to school dere."Joseph: "Aun' Izzie, I ain' gwine wear no coat to school dis mornin."Lizzie: "Boy, is you crazy? What de matter wid you, ain' you know de ground been white wid Jack Frost dis
mornin? En you clean up dat nose fore you get dere to school, too. You ain' say your ma send you here widout no picket rag to wipe your nose wid? Your ma, she know better den to 'spect me to hunt rags for you. Come here en let me fasten up dat coat round de neck. You look like a turkey buzzard wid it gappin open dat way."
Possum: "Aun' Izzie, I hungry."Lizzie: "No, you ain' hungry neither cause you just get done eatin breakfast. You is just like a hog in de pen. Come
way from dere Possum. June's mamma brought dat bread for him. Dat your bread covered up dere on de table. Gethim a piece of bread, I say, Joseph."Alfred: "Aun' Izzie, Bertha Lee wouldn' give me no crackers."Lizzie: "Well, you ain' got no need havin none of de bread her mamma left for her. Dat Bertha Lee's bread. Here, dis
de bowl of bread your mamma brought for you. I know, time you see dat meat, you would be itchin to get your handon it." (Alfred spies a tiny piece of meat covered up under the bread in the bowl and his hand reaches for it at once.)(Joseph and Bertha Lee go out the door to leave for school).Lizzie: "Joseph, how-come you ain' tell dese chillun good-bye?"Joseph: "Good-bye Possum, good-bye June, good-bye Alfred."
Possum, June and Alfred: "Good-bye Joseph." Lizzie: Let me see now, Miss Davis, I tryin to get some of dem old time songs together to turn for you what you been axin me bout de other time you come here. Yes'um, I tryin to blow my dogs together to turn for you what you been axin me bout de other time you come here. Yes'um, I tryin to blow my dogs together somehow another. In de old days, if de people had a song, dey would put it down on a long strip called a ballad, but honey, I been through de hackles en I can' think of nothin like I used to could. Is anybody sing dis one for you, Miss Davis? It a old one, too, cause I used to hear Pa turn dat one many a day."
"One for Paul,En one for Sidas,One to make so joyous.Sisters, don' you hear de lambs a cryin?Oh, good Shepherds, feed my sheep."(Repeat over and over)Resurrection Drawin Nigh!"O John!O John!O John!Resurrection drawin nigh!Resurrection drawin nigh!Resurrection drawin nigh!John look way down to de wheel of time,Resurrection drawin nigh!Never see nothin but a human kind,Resurrection drawin nigh!"Roll Jordan, Roll!"I went over to JordanTo make one prayer,En to hear sweet Jordan roll.Roll Jordan, roll!Roll Jordan, roll!
1 When I got dere, old Satan was dere,What did you reckon he said to me?You too young to pray en you too young to die.
2 I made old Satan out a liar,En I went on my way.Roll, sweet Jordan, roll.""Dere another one I had though bout to sing to you, but I can' turn dat one to save my neck. Just can' come to de
turn table as de old man would say."
"Oh, I been know a heap of reels. Hoped sing dem behind de old folks back many a day. No'um, us chillun wasn' allowed to sing reels in dem days. Old back people was more religious den dey is now. Yes, mam, dey been know what spell somethin in dat day en time. When dey would speak den, dey meant somethin, I tell you. People does just go through de motion dese days en don' have no mind to mean what dey talk. No, child, us didn' dar' sen to let us parents hear us sing no reels den. What dem old people didn' quarrel out us, dey whip out us. My daddy never wouldn' let we chillun go to no frolics, but us would listen from de house en catch what us could. I used to could turn a heap of dem reels, too, but he was so tight on us till everything bout left me."
I'm Gwine Join De Band
"The blackest nigger I ever did see,
He come a runnin down from Tennessee,
His eye was red en his gum was blue,
En God a mighty struck him,
En his shirt tail flew.
Meet me at de crossroads,
For I'm gwine join de band.
Um-huh! Um-huh! Um-huh!
"I got beef in de market,
Oh, my lovin Chanlie.
Chanlie, don' you know?
Chanlie, don' you know?
Chanlie, don' you know?"
(Repeat over and over).
Sunday Mornin Band!
"Oh, my sister,
How you walk on de cross?
Sunday mornin band!
Oh, your feet might slip
En your soul get lost.
Sunday mornin band!
Oh, what band,
Oh, what band,
Do you belong?
What band! What band!
Sunday mornin band!"
"No, honey, colored people didn' have no churches dey own in dem days. Dem ones what didn' go to de white people church, dey would build shelters in de woods for dey churches. Yes'um, colored people went to de same church as dey Massa would go mostly in dat day en time en would set up in de gallery. I remember, Pa used to tell bout one old man, T would all de time be shoutin in church en his boss never like for him to be disturbing de people dat way. En one day his Massa say, 'Tom, we gwine to church dis mornin en if you won' shout none in de church, I will give you a spankin new pair of boots.' Tom say, 'Yes, boss.' But de old man Tom, he was very religious en de old fellow set dere en took in what de preacher was speakin en he study bout dem boots. Den he drink in some more en he keep on drinkin in till he get over-flowed en he jump up en holler, 'Massa, boots or no boots, I gwine shout today."
Source: Lizzie Davis, colored, 70-80 years. Marion, S.C.
Personal interview by Annie Ruth Davis, January, 1938.
