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9

eral boxes and bags are piled up in the corner. The cat was
sound asleep on the bed. Ragged muslin curtains hang in limp
folds at the one window which is not screened.

To the left of the dining room is the bed-room occupied
by Minnie and Tom. A cretonne curtain is hung
across the doorway. This room has a large wooden double bed,
dresser and chiffonier painted ivory, also a chair to match.
When new, this furniture must have been an expensive set. Tom
obtained most of the furniture in the house very cheap, while
working for the furniture store; also some very pretty electric
fixtures that look out of place in this dreary house.
A small table contains a Bible and several large medical books.

"I bought these medical books several years ago, out of
my house money--they're all paid for now. Tom wouldn't never
have let me buy them, but they come in handy many a time--I
am great for home remedies. Can't afford to call a doctor every
time somebody gets sick."

Minnie showed me the Catholic Bible with great pride.
"Now, I'll tell you about how I come by this Bible," she said.
"One day a woman come around sellin them - I never had a
Catholic Bible in my hands before and course, I was real interest-
ed. She said I could buy it on very easy payments, so I took it
and didn't let Tom or the girls know nothin about it. Well, I
made the payments all right until Tom got out of work, then it
was impossible for me to pay any more--I just couldn't do it.

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