davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

forget Vera said.
Jaw, lay off, Bigger" Buddy
said. "He told you he was going
TO take the job"
Don't tell 'em nothing Big
ger said,
"You shut your mouth, Buddy
or get up from this table, the
mother said. Pm not going to take
any sinking sass from you, One
fool in the family's enough"
"Lay off, Ma" Buddy said.
"Bigger's setting here like he
amt glad to get a job" she said
"What you want me to do!
Shout" Bigger asked,
"0h, Bigger!!' his sister said.
81 wish you'd keep your b
mouth out of thisl" he told h
sister,
''If you get that job his me
Their said in a low, kind tone Q
voice, busy slicing loaf of hrea
Il can fix up nice place for yo
children. You could be comfortabl
and not have to live like pigs"
Bigger amt decent enough Y
think of nothing like that" Ven
said.
God, wish you all would lef
me eat Bigger said,
His mother talked on as though
she had not heard him and he stop
ped listening,
MAS talking to you, Bigger
Vera sad.
$50 what"
Don't be that way, Bigger"
Ito Be Continued
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16
Apple Sauce Cookies

"a cups sifted cake -four; / tea.
spoon cinnamon; a teaspoon
cloves; | teaspoon salt, teaspoons
soda; q cup butter or other short.
ening; teaspoon lemon rind; /
cup sugar; 2 eggs, unbeaten; III
cups apple sauce Il cup chopped
nut meats.
Sft flour once, measure, add
spices, salt, and soda, and sft three
times Cream butter and lemon
rind, add sugar gradually cream
ing until light and fluffy. Add eggs
and beat we'll Add four alternate.
ly with apple sauce, a small amount
at q time, beating after each addi-
ton until smooth. Add nuts, Drop
from teaspoon on creased baking
sheet inches apart, Bake In hot
oven (400o FL S to 10 minutes.
Makes about G dozen cookies.
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16
PART ONE
}rrrrriiiiiiiiinnngl

An alarm clock changed in the
dark and silent room. A bed spring
creaked. A woman's voice sang
out impatiently:
Bigger, shut that thing off,
A surely grunt sounded above
the tinny ring of metal. Naked
feet swished dryly across the
blanks in the wooden floor and
the clang ceased abruptly.
"Turn on the light, Bigger
"Awright," came a sleepy num-
HE.
Light flooded the room and re-
vealed black boy standing in a
narrow space between 2 iron beds,
rubbing his eyes with the backs of
his hands. From bed to his right
the woman spoke again:
"Buddy, get up from there! !
got big washing on my hands
today and ] want you-all out Of
here"
Another black boy rolled from
bed and stood up. The woman al
so rose and stood up in her night
gown.
Turn your heads so I can
dress" she said.
The two hoys averted their eyes
and gazed into a far corner of the
room The woman rushed out of her
rightgown and pat on a pair OF
stepins. She turned to the bed from
which she had risen and called;
"Vera! Get up from there
"What time is it, Ma ?" asked
a muffled. adolescent voice from
beneath a quilt.
Get up from there, say!'
30. X, Ma"
A brown-skinned girl in a cot
ton gown got up and stretched her
arms above her head and yawned.
Sleepily, she sat on a chair and
fumtlad with her stockings. The
two bows kept their faces averted
while their mother and sister put
on enough clothes to keep them
from feeling ashamed; and the mo
Their and sister did the same while
the boys dressed Abruptly, they
all paused, holding their clothes
in their hands, their attention
caught by a light tapping in the
thinly plasterod walls Of the room,
They forgot their conspiracy
against shame and their eyes
strayed arprehensiyely over the
floor.
"There he is again, Bigger" the
woman screamed, and the tiny,
one-room apartment galvanized in
to violent action, A chair toppled
as the woman, half dressed and in
her stocking feet, scrambled
breathlessly upon the bed. Her two
sons, barefoot stood tense and
motionless, their eyes searching
anxiously under the bed and chairs.
The girl ran into a corner, half
stopped and gathered the hem of
her slip into both hands and held
ii tightly over her knees.
" Oh! Oh '" she walled.
There he goes!'
The woman pointed a shaking
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

of the door and down the stairs
and put it into a garbage can at
the corner of an alley. When he
returned to the room his mother
was still bent over Vera, placing a
wet towel Upon her head She
Strengthened and faced him, her
cheeks and eyes wet with tears
and her lips tight with anger.
"Boy, sometimes | wonder what
makes you act like you do"
what | do now" he demand
ed belligerantly.
Sometimes you act the biggest
fool | ever saw"
what you talking about?'
"You scared your sister with
that rat and she tainted. Amt you
got no sense at ALL"
cav, | didn't know she was that
scary,"
Buddy" the mother called.
"Yessum."
"Take newspaper and spread
it over that spot"
"Yessum.'
Buddy opened out newspaper
and covered the smear of blood on
the flor where the rat had been
crushed, Bigger went to the win
dow and stood looking out abb
stractedly into the street. His mo-
Their glared at his back.
Bigger, sometimes I wonder
why | birthed you." she said bit
terly. Bigger looked at her and
turned away.
Maybe you oughtn't've. May
be you ought to left me where !
was"
"You shut your sassy mouth !"
CAV, for Chrissakes - Bigger
said, lighting a cigarette.
Buddy, pick up them skillets
and put 'em in the sink" the mo-
Their said.
"Yessum."
Bigger walked arnoss the floor
and sat on the bed, His mothers
eyes followed him.
We wouldn't have to live in this
garbage dump if you had any
manhood in YOU" she said.
cav don't start that again.
GLOW you feel, Vera?" the mo-
Their asked.
Vera raised her head and look
ed about the room as though ex-
pecting to see another rat,
ooh, Mama"
"You poor thing"
81 couldn't help it, Bigger scar
ed me.'
did you hurt YOURSELF
~ bumped my head"
Here take iteasy. You'll be all
right"
"How come Bigger acts that
way?' Vera asked, crying again,
Hes just crazy" the mother
said Just plain dumb black
crazy"
"I'll he late for my sewing class
at the Y. W, c. A." Vera said,
Here: stretch out on the bed
You'll feel better in little while
the mother said
She left Vera on the bed anc
turned a pair of cold eyes upor
Bigger.
Suppose you wake up some
morning and find your sister dead
What would you think then ?" SHE
asked. Suppose those rats cuf
our veins at night when we sleep
! Nav! Nothing like that ever DO
theirs you! All you care about J!
your own pleasure. Even when thu
relief offers you a job you won
take it till they threaten to Gu
off your food and starye you Big
ger, honest, you the most nocount
est man ! ever seen in all m,
Ilifel"
| "You done told me that n thou
sand times" he said, not lookinj
4 round.
well, I'm telling you aginl An
mark my word, some of these day
you going to set down and cry
Some Of these days you going t
wish you had made something on
of yourself, instead Of just
tramp. But it'll be too late then
"stop prophesying about me,
he said.
II prorhesy much as | please
And if you don't like it, you ca
get out. We can get along withou
you. We can live in one room Jus
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

Bigger aimed and let the skill.
let fly with heavy grunt. There
was a shatJering Of wood as the
box caved in The. woman screamed
and hid her face in her hands. Big
ger tiptoed forward and peered.
II got fm," he muttered, his
elenehed teeth barred in a smile.
"By God, got I'M"
He kicked the splintcred box
cut of the way and the flat black
body of the rat lay exposed, two
long yellow tusks showing dis
tinetly. Bigger took a shoe and
pounded the rats head, crushing
it, eursing hysterically;
"You sonofabitch'
The woman on the bed sank To
her knees and buried her face in
the quilts and sobbed:
Lord, Lord, have mercy "
cav, Mama Vera whimpered.
bending to her. Don't cry. It's
dead now"
The two brothers stood over the
dead rat and spoke in tones Of
awed admiration.
Gee, but he's a big bastard"
That sonofabtch could cut your
throat"
"He's over a foot long"
"How in hell do they get so
big?"
Eating garbage and anything
else they can get"
Look, Bigger, there's a three
inch rip in your pant-leg."
"Yeah; he was after me, all
right"
"Please, Bigger, take i'm out"
Vera begged,
"Ad don't be 50 scarry," Buddy
aid.
The woman on the bed continued
to sob. Bigger took a piece of news
paper and gingerly lifted the rat
by its tail and held it out at arms
length.
Bigger, take i'm out" Vera
begged again.
Bigger laughed and approached
the bed with the dangling rat,
swinging it to and fro like a PEN
dulum, enjoying his sisters fear,
Bigger" Vera gasped conyul-
lively; she screamed id swayed and
closed her eyes and fell headlong
cross her mother and rolled limp
ly from the bed to the floor.
Bigger, for Gods sakel" the
mother sobbed, rising and bending
| Yer Vera, Don't do that! Throw
| hat rat out,
He laid the rat out and started to
lress.
Bigger, help me lift Vera to the
red" the mother said.
He paused and turned round.
What's the natter" he asked,
'eigning ignorance.
'Do what asked you, will YOU,
boy?"
He went to the bed and helped
his mother lift Vera. Vera's eyes
were closed, He turned away and
finished dressing. He wrapped the
rat in a newspaper and went out
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

fascinated horror.
"Whcre 2"
Il don't see 'imn'
Bigger, he's h5hind the trunk -
the girl whimpered.
"Veral" the woman screamed
Get up here on the bed. Don't let
that thing bite your
Frantically, Vera climbed up on
the bed and the woman caught hold
of her. With their arms entwined
about each other, the black mo-
Their and the brown daughter gaz-
Cd open-mouthed at the trunk in
the corner.
Bigger looked round the room
wildly, then darted to a curtain
and swept it aside and grabbed
two heavy irrn skillets from wall
above a gas stove, He whirlcd and
called softly to his brother, his
eyes glued to the trunk.
"Buddvw
"Yeah ?"
Here; take this skillet"
40. X
"Now, get over by the daorn'
20. k
Buddy crouched hV the door and
held the iron skillet by its handle,
Lis arm flexed and poised. Save
for the quick, deep breathing of
the four people, the room was
quiet. Bigger erept on tipt5e to-
ward the trunk with the skillet
elutched stiffly in his hand his
eyes dancing and watching every
inch Of the wooden floor in front
of him. He paused and, without
moving an eye or muscle, called:
Buddy !"
"Hunh?P
put that box in front Of the
hole so he can't get out"
40. K"
Buddy ran to a wooden box and
showed it quickly in front Of a
gaping hole in the molding and
then backed again to the doog
holding the skillet ready. Bigger
cased to the trunk and pecred be
hind il cautiously. He saw moth
! ing. Carefully, he stuck out his
bare foot and pushed the trunk
, a few inches.
"There he isl" the mother
screamed again,
A huge black rat squealed and
leaped at Bgger's trouser leg and
snagged it in his teeth, hanging
on.
"Goddamn" Bigger whispere
ficrcely, whirling out his leg wit
all the strength Of his body. Tn
force of his movement shook tn
rat loose and it sailed through tn
air and struck wall. Instantly
it rolled over and leaped again
Bigger lodged and the rat lande
against n table leg. With clencf
ed teeth, Bigger held the skillet
he was afraid to hurl it tearin'
that he might miss. The rat squeak
cd and turned and ran in a mar
row circle, looking for place to
hide; it leaped again past Bigger
and scurried ON dry rasping feet
to one side Of the box and then
to the other, searching for the hole.
Then it turned and reared upon
its hind legs,
"Hit i'm, Bigger" Buddy shout
cd.
"Kin iml' the woman screamed.
The rats belly pulsed with fear.
Bigger advanced a step and the
rat emitted a long thin song Of
defiance, it, black heady eyes
rlittering, is tiny forefcet paving
the air restlessiy Bigger swung
the skillet; it skidded over the
floor, missing the rat, and clattered
to stop against a wall
"Goddamr ~
The rat leaped. Bigger sprang
to one eide. The rat stopped under
a chair and let out a furious
screak. Bigger moved slowly back
ward toward the door.
"Gimme that skillet, Buddy" he
asked quietly not taking his eyes
from the rat
Buddy extended his hand, Big
ger caught the skillet and lifted it
high in the air, The rat scuttled
across the floor and stopped again
at the t1x and searched quickly
for the hole; then it reared once
more and barred long yellow fangs,
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16
BY Mrs. V. c. Love
Phone ilfsW

Rev. and Mrs. John Parker Of
1904 Laurel ST., had as guests re-
Gently, Mrs. Z. L MeMullen and
son, Carl, and also Miss Z. j.
Smith, all Of Okmulgee, Okla. Mrs.
McMullen Is the sister of Mrs,
Parker.
AL Dn..l.nnn
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

~ iss bAi h't :
Sparks, fresh
man at Spelman
College, Allan
~, Ga, spent
her vacation
period with hen
parents, Rev
and Mrs. r. h
Sparks, $50 La
urel st. The at
tractive visitor
left Saturday
for Atlanta.
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

for Atlanta.
Miss Sophie Durgan left Satur-
day to resume her studies at Nor
ris Brown University, Atlanta, Ga,
after a pleasant visit with her IA
Their.
Visiting mother and grandmoth
err in Memphis this week are Mrs
Mary Ella Walker and little son,
Elgin, Jr.
Coming from Los Angeles, Calf,
Mrs. Ruth Smith has been visiting
her mother, Mrs. Lille Brandon,
during the holidays.
NEW ARRIVALS--A baby girl
born Jan. II at the home of Mr..
and Mrs. Marshall Of the East
End, and they are proud parents!
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Spencer are
proud parents of baby boy, Viii
bert Clyde Spencer, born on Jan.
Is. The couple reside at 10th and
Ash SITS.
Rev. and Mrs. J. J. Deloney have
as guests, Mrs. Thanous Smith
Thompson of Chicago and FORM
er resident of Little Rock. The
pleasant visitor is n niece of Mrs,
Deloney's.
Holiday visitors included Mr..
and Mrs. E. f. Willis of Cotton
Plant, who were guests Of Rev.
and Mrs. c. N. Shropshire. The
visitor is the sister of Mrs. Shrop
shire.
Also listed among holiday visi-
tors were Miss Loretta Walker,
faculty member of Fargo and Miss
Pauline Walker of Dallas, Texas,
who spent the vacation period
with their parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Walker.
INJURED IN FALI4-Mrs. Do
IA Fearance of 1922 Blvd receiy-
ed fractured hip on Jan. 8, when
she slipped on ice. Her son and
daughter-in law, DR.. and Mrs. Nat
Fearance of Los Angeles. Calf,
have been visiting her since the
holidays and another son and dau-
ghter-in law, Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur
Chipchose Of Chicago rushed to
her bedside recently.
Annual Social Held
The Pandora Club held its an
nual social at the NYA Building,
recently and the beautiful affair
was we'll attended. Out of town
guests included Mrs. A. paxieo,
Wynne, Ark; Mrs. Nat Fearonce,
Los Angeles; Mrs. Shirley Gaines,
Sikeston, Mo; and Mrs. Muriel
Anderson Bullock Of Prairie View.
On Saturday, Jan. 10 the club
held its regular business meeting
at the residence Of Mrs. G. u.
Jamison, Sr.
Entertain With Dinner Party
Three lovely matrons Of the city,
Mesdames Corine Willis, Willie
Mae Hill and Pecola Curry recent
ly entertained n group of friends
with an egg nog and dinner party
at the Curry home on Jan. /. In
connection with the sffair, pic
lures were made of the guests and
hostesses in the spacious living
and dining rooms Of the Curry
residence. Guests from out Of
town were Mrs, Amanda John
son Of Pine Bluff; Mrs. Thelma
Purdom Kelton, Dallas, Texas j
and Mrs. A. Wilson Adams Of
Oklahoma City. Other guests pres
emit included Mr.. and Mrs. Ed
Keel; Mr.. and Mrs. Clifton Smith, ,
Mr.. and Mrs. Willie Ed Muldrew |
Mr.. and Mrs. George Wright and
Mrs. Marjorie Lowe. Also enjoy /
ing the party were Messers. W
H. Braxton, Jesse Hill, Louis Lee
and Wiley Curry.
Adult Education Program
The enrolment in the Adult Edu
cation school, a WPA project, be- !
ing held daily at the Church Of
God at 10th and Laurel SITS, has
reached forty-five. Mrs, Laura Lou
Motley, director, has announced
that all persons over JIG years OF
age are eligible for the classes
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

Civilians too.
Put one in the
lunch box;
Send a score to
the table;
Mail a gross to
the soldier
And prove this
is true.
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16
Texarkaniians
n f W S

which, include reading, writing,
arithmetic, english and spelling,
club activities, child care, everyday
ant. budgeting and gardening Al
So Included tire the citizenship
training and health education, max
ing up patt of the study course.
Glasses are held from 500 Il, m.
to 5 p. m, daily,
ldnorcd On birthday
Mr.. and Mrs. Drew Moore en-,
lertained with a birthday party OH
last Sunday evening honoring Miss
Flora Johnson,
A large group Of friends gath
elcd at 4:oO o'clock and partici-
rated IN the many games that had
been planned for their enjoyment.
After an enjoyable afternoon de-
I licious refreshments were served
to Clyde Bergman, Whitaker Al
| len, Russell Craven, Cleophas Var,
ber Allie Mae White, Lula Rich
mond, Roger Moore. Dimple Moore
! Louise Moore, Lucille Williams
Herman Caldwell Charles Henry
I Cleyelond James Parker, Hugh
Parker, Betty Adams, Carl Lee
White, Charles White and 0nit5
Starr Dimple Moore and Louise
Johnson assisted the hosts.
The little guests expressed then
appreciation to the host and host
ess for such an enjoyable after.
noon and presented many gifts
to the honoree.
Special Services Sunday
1t has been announced that spec
ial services will he held at Collegt
Hill Baptist Church on Sunday
Jan. Is.
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16
OUR SCHOOL BRIEFS
Highest Spelling Grades

In the 18th and 9Th Grades, last
week the highest spelIinc grades
were made by Norma Jean Coplt-
en-, Precious johnson, Florida Mae
Brown, Annie Lee Reeder, Mary
Lee Reeder, Claudia M. Dawson,
Elsie Bert Rolls, William Parch-
man. Edna Vaughn, Charlotte
Wheeler. Harold Yaneey, Bennie
Hamilton, Mayola Parehman and
William Clark.
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16
Popular
With All

- BY Frances Lee Barton -
rTHESE apple sauce cookies
Are tops with the rockies.
Loved by Yard Birds and Generals.
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

Preparations were made last Week
by the third, fourth and fifth
grades for Thrift Week. The va
rious home groups spent most Of
their time preparing thrift post.
ers.
Posters ef snow men were made
in the 1st and 2nd grades last week
and the 2nd graders also studied
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16
CT SIUIIV3
Girls Reserve

and the 2nd graders also studied
pet stories.
Girls Reserve
The Girls Reserve held it reg
ular meeting Monday afternoon
after dismissal Of school and after
a short business session, q very in
teresting program was rendered.
The 9Th Grade History class pres
ented a movie reel Of the activities
Of the ancient Greeks.
Recent Funerals From Jno. ].
jones Funeral Home
Mr.. WALTER WALKER-Fun-
tral held on Jan, s, 1912,
MR.. WASH WHlTLOW-Fun-
cral held Jan. II, at Ogden, Ark.
MRS. ALICE LOCkETT--Ser-
vices conducted at Corley, Tex,
Jan. 10,
MRS. PARALEE YOUNG-Bu-
rial at Texarkana On Jan, IL,
LITTLE MATTE WILEY
Gage ? yrs) Burial Jan 10, Lodi,
Texas.
MISS CHRISTINE CRAVEN
Funeral held Jan. II at Center
point, Ark.
MAC McGOWAN--Bmial, Jan.
0 at Nashville, Ark.
Cant Mostly Nuptials
On Tuesday afternoon, Jan, 10,
Era Moslcy became the bride Of
Mr.. Theodius Cant. The ceremony
was performed at the home Of the
brides parents, with the Rev. J.
I. Wilbert, officiating,
Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-01-16

Miss Barbara
Evening star., 1942-10-06
Lillian Cox Athey

are more widely distributed in the
United States than any other native
rodents and show more readiness to
adapt themselves to new conditions.
OF course, they are finding life much
more abundant than their early
ancestors did. Such crops as clover
and alfalfa furnish ample food sup
ply in their roots, and the extensive
retaining Of desert lands contrib
utes greatly to the prosperity of the
gopher clan.
In appearance, the true pocket
gopher is stockily built rodent
with soft body hair (not fur that is
glossy and not easily soiled by con-
tact with damp earth. He is built
for digging, possessing strong shoul-
ders and arms, and hands that are
equipped with long, sharp claws. The
capacious cheek pockets, wholly out
side the mouth, are lined with soft
hair of lighter shade than that
covering the body. The short tail
is scantily haired and is used as a
sensitive feeling organ, more as the
cat uses its whiskers. The ears are
inconspicuous, the eyes small and
beadlike.
Pocket gophers are much larger
than their cousins, the mice, and
most OF them are considerably larger
Evening star., 1942-10-06

The Four Aces will be pleased to an
swer letters from readers II a stamped
t3-cenD. self addressed envelope is in
closed with each communication ad-
dressed " the Four Aces. care Of The
Evening Star. II you desire the pocket
outline of the Four Aces system OF
contract bridge. send with your request
Star, \ stamped t3-cent), self = ddressed.
large-size envelope and you will receive
an outline without any charge.
Evening star., 1942-10-06
ADVERTISEMENT.
Voice of Home
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