Annette Robinson
Carlton, recorded when she was 75. Born September 30, 1913. Mrs. Carlton lives
quietly with her husband (age 79) in their farm house. She was very active in
her church and held the position of church secretary for 19 years. She has always
been an avid reader and continues to read widely.
I moved over here on this farm when I married. I was 16
years old. I moved in that ole house with Galloway (husband) and his mama, Miss
Clockle. She was nice to me. His sister Annie Liza was pretty nice too. They
knew Galloway had married a little young girl, and they were right nice. Sis
Emma (sister-in-law) was real good to me. But she had a house full of children
and she didn't have much time. But she was real nice. She'd talk to me and tell
me things. She'd teach me how to do things, too. Miss Clockie would teach me
too . . . the little that she knew.
We didn't start farming until Willie
(oldest child) was a good big boy . . . about 7 years old. Galloway was working
out to Warsaw. I’ve worked just like a man on this farm. Galloway would hire a
lot of people to help, but you'd have to work along with them. I'd have to come
to the house and cook and then go back to the field with the help and work
until night . . . sometimes way in the night When we barned tobacco that could
be work way into the night I didn't get a chance to rest. We've never had
nothing but ole ragged fences. The cows would get out during the night and we'd
have to get up and get them in. Lord have mercy. Willie and C. P. (oldest sons)
. . . them boys worked. My last three children worked too, but nothing like the
first two. I'd have to fed them boys, too, ‘cause they could eat I'd have to
get up before day and cook them breakfast and fed them and then get myself
ready to go to the field whenever they want. Them boys worked so hard. When
they'd saw wood, I'd pull the cross saw while one rested and then go to the
other side and pull while the other boy rested. I worked right along side them
two boys. I'd try to say things to them so they wouldn't feel so bad and
encourage them to do the work that their daddy had told them to do before he
went to the store.
I grew up along with them two boys. I'd try to have fun with
them too. Sometimes when we got an ole car, they'd be playing music on the radio
and I'd go out in the yard and dance with them.
On Sunday evening after we went
to church, come home and fix our little dinner. We'd just have another church
almost ... it wasn't church, but we'd go to one another s house, me, Her, and
Allie Bethel (sister-in-law). We'd walk up and down the road just talkin' about
church and one thing and the other . . . just have ourselves a good time
walkin' the road and talking with one another. We'd go down to Mr. Henry's
(brother-in-law) ‘cause you know Mr. Henry always loved to have fun.
At some time
during the fall if the jersemoak (Jerusalem oak--a weedy North American plant
having lobed leaves and a characteristic odor suggestive of turpentine) seeds
were plentiful, we'd break them and put them on a sheet and beat them out. We'd
sell them. I believe they used them for medicine. The money went for the whole
family. Usually we'd carry them to Sanderson's (a general store) and he'd buy
them.
It was tough, but I raised my children. I'm so proud of my children. I ain't
got a bad one in the bunch. I've always tried to help my children to get a good
education and make something of themselves. We sent them to college somehow . .
. well they sent themselves, but we did what we could to help them. Willie
comes out here to see about us just about every day. When the children come in,
it just gives me a lift, I’ve got some good children. . .sweet children.
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