(Bertha Lee and Joseph go out the door to leave for school).
Lizzie—Lord a mercy, Miss Davis, my mind just a windin. How dat song turn what I had for you?
One for Paul,
En one for Sidas—
Lizzie—Joseph, how-come you ain' tell dese chillun good-bye?
Joseph—Good-bye Possum, good-bye June, good-bye Alfred.
Possum, June, Alfred—Good-bye Joseph.
Lizzie—Is you got dat one now, Miss Davis? What de next? Great Jeruselum! Dem chillun done carry dat tune way wid dem. I can' turn dat one to save my neck. Just can' come to de turn table as de old man would say. (12 o'clock mill whistle blows, time teller for many colored people of the community). Lord a mercy, what dat whistle say? It done come 12 o'clock en dat pot ain' thought bout to kick up none yet. I tell you, honey, it sho a 'sponsibility I got put on me here to cook for all dese chillun en see dey ration is cook mighty done, too, so as dey won' be gwine round gruntin wid dey belly hurtin all de evenin.
(Lizzie begins to stir up the fire to make the pot boil and her visitor decides to return later to hear the songs).
Date, February 7, 1938
II