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Work Projects Administration

"Arkansas Narratives, Part 2"


The first year we came here, we farmed. I lived out in the country then.

Occupation
"While I was able to work, I stayed on the farm. I had forty acres. But
after my children left me and my wife died, I thought it would be better
to sell out and pay my debts. Pay your honest debts and everything will
be lovely. Now I manages to pay my rent by taking care of this yard and
I get help from the government. I can't read and I can't write.
"I went down yonder to get help from the county. At last they taken me
on and I got groceries three times. After that I couldn't get nothin' no
more. They said my papers were made out incorrectly. I asked the worker
to make it out correctly because I couldn't read and write. She said she
wasn't supposed to do that but she would do it. She made it out for me.
A short time later, the postman brought me a letter. I handed it to a
lady to read for me, and she said, 'This is your old age check.' You
don't know how much help that thing's been to me.

Ku Klux
"The Ku Klux never bothered me and they never bothered any of my people.

Opinions
"The young people pass by me and I don't know nothing about 'em. I know
they are quite indifferent from what I was.


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