7

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answer it for me." The caller asked that Mattie Lou Upshaw be called
to the phone. "You just tell Nonie Burroughs I ain't stud'in' 'bout huntin'
up Mattie Lou to get her to no phone. If I see her I'll tell 'er, but I
ain't goin' to call her. Jest hang up that receiver. They're always
botherin ' me. They know I can't hear whet they say. . . . Call 4563-J?
Yes, that's it. I know who that is. It's Nonie Burroughs, just like I
said. Hang up."

" Let's go out in the kitchen and get a taste of Jane's pear
preserves," she urged. We passed through a third bedroom. Curtains
were stretched across two corners of the room to form closets. On
entering the kitchen, which also served as the dining room, Mrs.
Pratt called my attention to the electric refrigerator. This modern
appliance was in marked contrast to the old-fashioned kitchen safe. A
cheerful note was furnished by the bright colored oil cloth that
covered the dining table. An oil stove and a kitchen cabinet were
among the more modern items in the k i t c h e n . She took a fork from the
cupboard and with its wooden handle beat a tattoo on the table as she
talked.

"Yes, I*ve been in this same house 31 y e a r s , and all my young-uns
was raised right here. For a long time we didn't pay but $4.00 a month
rent, but after they run the 'lectric lights through here we had t o
pay $7.00 a month. Oh, yes, I remember now what I brought you out
here for. I wanted to give you a taste of Jane's pear preserves . They
taste mighty good t o me. Jane's a good cook. How can you get them
preserves out of that can and me standin' here holdin' the fork?" The
preserves had been made of watermelon rind instead of pears, but I did

1915