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SALLIE BROWN
(Alabama)
In the environments of the small
village of Lowndesboro is the remains of an ante-bellum plantation mansion
which was built in the early part of the 1800 century, by a pioneer for
his family. On down through the years, the pioneer has passed on, the
children, nine in number, left the home nest. The beautiful daughters
graced the homes of prominence in different towns of Alabama, while the
sons who were victims of the civil strife, are sleeping in a graveyard
nearby.
After the family circle was broken, the old mansion was unoccupied, save
by the memories and ghosts of other days. It passed with the surrounding
plantations, into other hands and was used to house the tenant farmer. Its
beautiful architectural attractiveness, the memories of its former
grandeur and cultural atmosphere were forgotten. Sentiment was a thing of
the past. It was purchased by one who chose to register the dollars
instead of sentimental memories. The tenant family moved into what was a
mere "shell" of what was once a most interesting specimen of the
plantation mansion of the wealthy farmer. Sallie and her family,
consisting of her husband, herself and 13 children were moved in. Sallie
was mentioned first due to fact that she was the "bread winner" and the
responsibility fell on her shoulders. From the "concrete ribbon" which is
the southern bounds of this small village the top of the old house can be
seen at a distance surrounded by a grove of giant oaks which no doubt
sheltered the "Red Sticks" when they held dominion over these environs.
The approach is made to the home by a road which winds around and about
through a cotton field until the oak lawn is reached. Several centuries
old trees stand to guard the old mansion, which had it not been for the
wonderful durability of the material used in its construction, would have
years ago decayed and been but a memory. The outlook was one of blankness
and desolation. No yard, no fence or flowers. The tenant family were too
busy fighting for the necessities of life to adorn their surroundings.
The beautiful porticoes that were supported by massive colonial columns,
the lovely shuttered blinds were all gone, destroying the type and
outlines of the once handsome house. Glasses that were once charming, and
rare sidelights and fanlights were broken out and replaced with boards and
a pillow stuffed to keep out the wind and cold.
Instead of steps, the entrance into the house was made by use of a box,
which did not look that it would stand one's weight. The interior was far
from being pleasnat, but was corresponding in appearance with in
appearance with the external. Gloomy, empty and most uninviting, the
windows all out, walls dingy and all smoked up, caused from cooking just
anywhere with unsuitable conveniences. Plaster falling in most places,
causing an uneasiness that a piece might fall any minute and your head
might be reminded of how heavy it was made in that period.
The large rooms and hallways were not
suited to the furniture and household goods of this tenant farmer family.
The beds and trunks and a few other necessary pieces were virtually lost
in the spacious apartments. The family had increased so rapidly, and the
income had failed to make same record, so they had no funds to invest in
furniture and scarcely comforts.
There were 13 children, whose birthdays ranged from high school girls to
babies, the oldest of list being firls which made the pathway to a
livelihood harder and more difficult. When the visit was made she was
called from the "washtub" and seemed pleased to talk and no doubt needed
the rest from her laborious task. She entered with a baby swinging on
either side of her dress, and as a matter there were so many they were in
evidence everywhere, and what was said to be "sandwiched" in.
It seemed that necessarily she was at the head of the family. She had to
take the initiative. The old song "Everybody Works at my House but my old
Man" was the "motto." He had a weak (?) heart, the doctors said (?) and
could not. Sallie endorsed him and excused him on all sides, doing double
duty and working her poor fingers to the bone for him and his. While he
sat with the weak (?) heart in the shade of the nearby stores, exchanging
gossip and jokes with those who chanced to linger with him.
On Saturday, the week-end and marketing day, it was he who went into the
city to trade and spend the money she had earned by hard toil. She abd tge
oldest children which were mostly girls, tilled the land and did their
utmost best to "wrest" a scant living from it. They had a small cotton
acreage, some corn and potatoes, etc. In addition a nice small bunch of
cows which gave milk enough for the home use and a small daily shipment.
Also she raised chickens, eggs andan excellent vegetable garden, these
helping out the family living expenses.
Sallie was strong, halthy and most cheerful. But despite her willing mind
and willing hand her expenses could not be met and she was compelled to
"take in washing," at a few dollars a month. Finally seeing this was not
sufficient, she appealed to the charity people of the village and they
gladly and generously went to her assistance.
The members of Home Missionary Society took up her case and gave them
continued aid, however a humourous coincidence occurred during the period
of time that she and her cause were "under their wings". Sallie was in
need of clothing for the anticipated addition to the family. The ladies of
the Home Mission responded to the call with a suitable layette, but when
the "event" came about there were two additions made instead of one, and
the little outfit had an encore! It had to be duplicated, as there were
two most adorable little girls. Little Ellen and Helen.
History repeats itself, and believe it or not, ere many summers passed she
made the same appeal to the good ladies and they prepared a second layette
and little Herbert and Hubert arrived! Two most precious little boys. Both
sets of twins are identical and most attractive. About this time the
ladies were "outdone" and determined to give her a "call." We're willing
to assist in reason, but called a halt, as to "duplicating."
Sally and family were Mormons or latter day Saints and the belief in large
families were one of the most devout characteristics. They never attended
Sunday School and the attendance of services at a church other than their
own was strictly against their faith. Occasionally, but very rarely, they
went into Montgomery to worship and sometimes an intinerant Mormon visited
their home. All of the children who were the school age were sent, via the
bus that passed within sight of their home. With all the hardships and
handicaps in their pathways they reached out for an education and went to
school as best they could.
On an average about six went at a time and it was an uphill attemp to
equip them with wearing apparel, food for lunches and books but where the
will is the way comes. Daily there was a mad rush to get breakfast, fix
lunches and catch the bus down at the Big gate on the highway.
Sallie speaks of preparations to this and the proceeding night. After the
little ones are fed and tucked in bed and she begins and as many children
as she has to attend school she collects their clothing and makes as many
piles, consisting of clothes, caps, books, etc. so as to facilitate
matters next morning, when during the cold winter mornings the Benton
School Bus blows all too soon. The older children assist with the smaller
ones and while the mother prepares the early meal and the lunch boxes
which are most often filled with a large baked yam, they get in line and
in readiness.
She lines them up in a row and the little faces are scrubbed and heads
brushed. Nature has been most generous to them in regard to health and
appearance. Each and every one is pretty and to an extent attractive and
will "get by."
As time passed two of the girls married. Two others got too "grownish" to
work in the field barefooted as they were accustomed to do. Edna, the
oldest girl married and passed out of the picture and as her family
increased so rapidly she most naturally had her own responsibilities.
Fannie May married at fifteen and also passed from the household picture.
Three babies in less than that many years was her "allotment". Her health
gave way and she had to be sent to the Sanatorium for a while (thereby
giving the hard working husband who had gotten a good start) a set-back.
Grace and Gene who were "near-twins" and very pretty, got "boy-struck" and
threw all attention to "good-thing".
The weak (?) hearted father still spent his time at the crossroads stores
and continued to discuss the crops, weather, etc., etc. stimulated by an
occasional "dope". Thus it is seen that the ranks of Sallie's force are
thinned out, which at best were too feeble.
Grace ran away and married, but stayed married only a short time. She
returned and by intercession of kind friends was put on the N.Y.A., a
sewing project for young women. She puts in two weeks at $6.50 per week
and is taught to sew. Also a certain amount of material is given her free
each month for her personal use and she is taught to make it up on the
project.
Gene is still "courting" and Sallie working by day and worrying by night
and begins to see the "handwriting on the wall." Her help is inadequate,
she can't "make the grade." By the hardest toil she has raised a nice
little drove of cows though the years. Many little mouths have yet to be
fed and little bodies covered.
"She thinks of the "mortgage now". Necessity forces her to "contact" him.
He is hard. He entices the needy prospect and after he or she is "tied"
hard fast, he says his dollar has two eagles on it, meaning he lends
dollar for dollar. The farmer "in tough" can't meet this, but too late he
is "tied." The victims have to get someone else to pay him out, thereby
getting deeper in the mire or he is closed out and has to begin all over.
Also the landlord sees that the house room is wasted. Sallie's small face
is too weak to produce. She is given a notice! The house and land will
"cash in" more being occupied by larger family and she and the flock is
adrift. As a consolation she is conceded a milk cow, etc., and for
potatoes and her small amount of furniture. On moving she will have to
make a bottom start, and in time her life's program will be doubtless a
repretition. She is bright and cheerful, still "loves her man" and
seemingly willing to meet life and its hardships with a smile.
Sept. 27, 1938.
Copied Oct. 3, 1938.
S.B.J.
Marie Reese
Lowndes County, Ala.
The Clifford Hawkins Family. Scene at the Reese ante-bellum plantation
mansion on Southwest outskirts of Lowndesboro. From interview with Mrs.
Hawkins and her daughter, Mrs. Cecil Bozeman. Hawkins family moving,
address Hope Hull, Ala. Bozeman address Lowndesboro, Alabama.
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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