The daily worker., 1932-11-05


u kin fo' Mist Pearson" the
preacher said mildly. De LaWd
knows his business an. if he wants
you tub be q croppah den he's got
his own good reasons fo' hit. You
kin bet on dat"
Dee took the lamp in a trembling
hand and with old Isaac went to
the mound back of the barn, hope
full that on this night of all nights,
the miracle would happen: in a
binding flame of fire and a deaf
ening clap of thunder the earth
would be rent aSunder and the
mule would struggle to his feet
ready for supper.
But there was no flame of fire
nor clap of thunder. Only the
lantern light and their shadows
on the motionless mound, and a
wind whistling.
Dee's head bowed 3;
ST reck'n dat settles hit, lawd,"
he said dejectedly.
COLLATERAL
On the second day of the new
year Dee got off a neighbors cart
in Live Oak and went hesitantly
to the Southern Cotton Bank, the
red brick, one-story building across
the, square from the county court
house and jail, and asked for Mr..
Albert Graham, the president.
Coming to deposit your savings,
Dee?" the official greeted him joe
ularly.
mo, suh," he said nervously. II
done come tub see you bout a
lii business matter"
Sure. Always glad to talk busi-
ness with you, Dee. Come right in
and set yourself down"
I'D lax tub len bout two hun
dred dollars, Mist Graham" the
old man stanmered.
THAT could be arranged, but
have you any collateral?"
ZEE looked puzzled.
u Something that will make,
sure the bank is repaid" Graham
explained.
"Sho I'll pay hit back
"I must have something as valu-
able to return the banker said.
"Land--or a house"
But ain got no LAM Dee said
helplessly, spreading his hands in
a gesture of emptiness.
You see, Dee" Graham pointed
out regretfully, 1--WE all know you
and we know that if you have the
money you will repay loan. But
now, suppose your crop is bad for
a season or two--why, you'll
hardly be able to pay the interest
let alone the principal. Don't you
see? And the bank must protect
its depositors."
THE LAST HOPE
The Jacksons had been Ramsey
"niggers" before the Civil War,
and Dee, depressed by the inevi-
tableness of a cropper's contract,
turned to Bayard Washington
Ramsey as the last hope. The
aristocratic white was known for
his kindness, especially to de-
Scendants of his fathers slaves.
He lived a mile south of Live Oak
in the mansion his father built
before the lanky northern lawyer
ruined the farlily's hundred and
sixty thousand dollar investment
in Negroes, and too proud to en-
rich himself by Cracker. tricks in
dealing with blacks, had never in
creased the two hundred acre
plantation left when the war ended
and all creditors were paid.
THE cook greeted Dee shrilly at
the kitchen door OF the Ramsey
home.
IF hit an OF Dee hisse'f! Whut
you doin' heah?"
II come tub see Mist Ramsey"
he said with worried air.
"Whut fo'?"
Il got tub see i'm"
well, you jes' set right down
heah an I'll go tell 'in."
When she returned she said,
Mist Ramsey'll sec you OH de
front pooh. You 90 roun' dey."
The tail. white haired planter
looked at him qucstioningly.
You're a long way from home,
Dee" he slniled. What is it?"
Mist Ramsey, suh.' the old
man began. twisting his hat ner-
'vously, you bout de only white
man here'bouts we kin come to
wen we is in trouble"
A PLEA FOR AID
DAMSEY looked gravely at him.
II AN got mon a wagon load
O. trouble now"
"Yes. Dee"
Mist Ramsey, sull----" The
nervous twisting of his hat be-
came more pronounced My mule
done laid down an died, sub"
The white man nodded sympa-
thetically.
II bin hard wukkin' niger
AL my bon days" Dec continued.
"an' TIM willin' tub wuk de res
o. my days scme mo- but ! ain
got nothin' tul, wuk wild. No
mule. No food. ain got moth
in'.'
WELL WORK FOR YOU"
Ramsey pursed his lips and
stared at his fields naked in the
winters day.