Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1942-04-03

MAMA JULIA The subject Of
Wis release pertains neither to
war nor race relations. 1t pertains
rather to lie and character both
OF which transcend the uncertain
fortunes Of war and the yexaI ions
OF race relations. When Milton set
himself to the sacred task OF witt
ing his immortal Paradise Lost,
he prayed thus: And chiefly Thuu,
q Spirit, what in me is dark IL |
lumnine, what Is low ra sc and sup
port 1t is with a spirit akin to
this that | write what is partly a
tribute and partly suggestion.
My mother passed away when
|, her baby, was only two years
old. | only family remember her.
| weny to live with great uncle
whose wife was named Julia. She
it was that guided me through the
tender years of childhood and
prayed for me and loved me down
through my So motherless years.
Silver and gold she had none but
such as she had she gave unto me.
She did the only worthwhile thing
mother can do for a child and
that is give it she example Of low
ly greatness.
Mama Julia could neither read
nor write, She was black. She
walked with sprigltly step and
the ncighbor called her proud"
Her humble home was immaculate
ly clean and soon she had impress
sed upon me the lessons of clean
Illness and industry for when !
was but a tot she laugh. me my
chores about the homie. How to sow
on buttons and wash the dishes
were some Of my earliest lessons
in life. Well do | remember that
on that South Carolina plantation
she was the only seamstress
among hundreds of Negroes.
At that time Negro children for
the most part were wearing home
made clothes to school ard a hard
kind Of shoe known among school
children as 'penetantiary Brogans'.
Mama Julia saw to it that such
shoe never was put upon my fast
growing feet. Moreover She would
hang about the store all day to
see what kind Of clothes the white
women were buying for their chill
dren and she would never rest I'M
til she had the finest little tailor
made suits for me obtainable. Ma
ma Julia was strictly religious and
times without number | remem-
Der how she would uuloose my
arms from her neck at night so
she could get up at the midnight
hours and shout and say in The ST
lgnte Of the night Honor. Hon
or. Honor to Jesusw
After 16 years in this home !
went to live again W tn my father
who again married and was rails
ing another family. Then | went
away to school and the struggle
of life hogan in dead earnest.
Down Through the years "Mama
julia has grown greater in my
sight | loved her with the great
est devotion. Sixteen years before
the greatuncle died ] asked if |
might be allowed to contribute
monthly to their support. The old
man said that IL ! would send him
$500 per month they could live
happily. | sent them $1,000 per
month for rs years with taxes and
incidcntals extra. All ! asked Of
"Mama julia was that she would
love me and pray for me. This she
old in full measured When I sent
the monthly allowance | would
send talf to each; fer the old man
liked his little "dran" next TO his
Jesus. He sa d it kept him warm
in the winter and cool in the sum-
MGR"
Four years ago he passed and
then tho full responsibility for Ma
ma Julia was mine. AT first it
was O duty. later Il was a Plea