Project #-1655
Cassels R. Tiedeman
Charleston, S. C.
Approx. 281 Words

A CHRISTMAS STORY

"I 'member when I was no bigger dan dis high, (stretching out her hand) an' it been at Christmas time. I come on de house one day an' t'ink I hear somebody cry, an' dere me mammy been wid 'e face bury in she apon (apron). I aint ebber see she do dat befo' an' to scare me. Den she say: 'Ophelia, come here, I go tell you 'bout de Christmas we hab befo' de war an' befo' we been set free. Den Christmas been a howling time for all we colored people, an' de chillun; aint one ob dem forgit, an' de t'ings to eat mek 'e bread basked ache to t'int ob de load.

"De big house all dicorate an' shining, an' strain wid de company dat come. We eberyone hap plenty to do, an' us feet jes tickle de flo (floor) when dat music state (start) to sigh. An' de smell ob dem turkey! - Dem ham, and chicken pie! An' de snow white cake pile up wid dem red barries mek we eye so (sore) alooking an' we stomach ache for de taste ob dem tings. But we colored people know when dak (dark) come obber eberyt'ing de big fire going to be light out dere so dem dat dance kin dance, an' dem dat sing kin stretch dey boice (voice) mos' to Hebben, but dat de time little gal when Hebben is come down to we. Eberybody happy, eberybody full ob wittles (victuals), every gal go 'e man. Dat peace on ert (earth). An' den I say: 'Mammy, don't you cry, aint us got we two, an' aint you done told God to brung we some tatuh (potato) an' graby.' (gravy)

"I 'member dat day jes lak it been yisterday."

Source: Ophelia Jemison, Addison Ct, Charleston, S. C.

Text from: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection