The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-01-21
RUMBLINGS IN THE SOUTH
(FrOn the NOUeI. 40 Make Ny Bread')
By GRACE LUMPKIN

all OF Jnem llCkeQ the DOOUS Oh JTl6
bosses, the managers and Superin
tendent. For there were plenty of
hard workers who hadn't risen. The.
higher-ups had to short the regular
hands in weighing and making out
the pay checks in order to make as
much money for the mill as possible.
1t was known fact that the high
ups had to do this as part Of their
job. But the best ones hated to do
this against neignbor, so it kept
them from rising. In the case of
the overseer, it was whispered his
wife had lived with Burnett once,
with him making no murmur
against it. This was gossip, and per-
haps not true.
Though there was the attitude
toward the high-ups on Strut
Street, there was no such feeling to-
ward the really big ones, those who
lived in the town. There was inter
est, and if the man who owned the
mill, who lived in Washington, came
down, there was excitement. Every
body said he was IS common as mill
people and spoke to all as if he was
on their level. His son, who lived in
the town, was the same. This was
the young Wentworth whose house
Emma wanted to see from the back.
Emma and Ora went down Ia
street and up another SIDE one and
came out right behind the sons
house. With the lawn it covered a
whole block. There were no leaves
on the trees, SO they could see the
large white house, very clearly,
with the big central part and wing
on each side. The lawn, blue green
with winter grass, came down to
the edge of the sidewalk where 1t
was protected by stone fence
about two feet high.
They stood and looked.
81 reckon one of those rooms is
as big as our whole place" Ora said.
'"The back yard is clean as if hit
was the front"
Hit must have hundred rooms
-. and I'd be willing to say 80"
Look, Oral"
The back door opened. A black
man in white coat and dark
trousers came onto the porch push
ing baby carriage, He let it down
the steps into the yard. Behind him
came black girl, and in her arms
was a white baby wrapped UP in
a warm looking pink blanket.
Hits that baby"
Maybe we'd better go along,
Ora"
81 helped give hit that present.
I've got a right to look"
Il gave ten cents, and had to tell
Bonnie to wait for a. tablet till the
next week"
Frank gave quarter for both
OF us"
Wasn't hit pretty, Ora? Gold and :
and silver with silver spoon"
Maybe they've got the goblet
now in the carriage"
Lets look if she comes closer"
Hit must be four months old
now.''
Look, he's put the carriage IN
der that tree in the spot Of sun
shine"
did you ever see anything like
hit? Hits like a baby hearse."
Wed better go, Ora. They're
a-looking at u.s."
wait, Emma. She's going to put
him in. can see his feet, in little
shoes"
They're a-looking at us"
'Look at the blankets she's lay
ing on him. They're little, like they
was made for baby"
WED better go, Ora"
COMEONE called the black man
y from the back window. He went
below the window and looked up.
1--WE got a right here, Emma. l
helped give hit present"
The black man came toward the
street, as if he wanted to speak with
them.
I'm a-going, Ora, and you can
stay" Emma started walking away
down the sidewalk, and Ora had to
follow.
II don't think he meant any
thing, Emma" Ora complained. Il
wanted t. see more. Maybe the
black girl would have let us go
close"
Emma walked on.
They say that baby owns stock
in the MILL" Ora said, trying to
keep up. Emma slackened In her
walk now she was some distance
from the house.
II HAVEN'T yet exactly known
lwhat stock is"
81 don't know myself. But hit
seems to mean that ye get money
out of the mill"
1--WE get money out of the mill"
''Wen, I think hit means yet
get money without working. Like
that baby, now. He's got stock
and he sure is too little t. work
any"
Maybe. Granpap said Mister
Hellman that spoke at the reunion
owned stock in the mill, and hits
right don't see him around work.
ing any,"
They turned up another street
that led toward the square.
"Ye know" Emma said, laughing
at herself, "at first thought stock
was us. You know how Hal Swain
used t. say he owned twenty head
Of stock or thirty. I thought hit
meant we was the stock and they
owned u.s."
"That was right foolish
"I know. Hit made me mad,
thinking of being owned, till Gran
pap set me right, because Hal
Swain had told him about the Con-