carson mccullers - the heart is a lonely hunter-µÚ9²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
end¡¡and¡¡some¡¡sound¡holes¡¡had¡¡been¡¡carved¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡£¡¡
Mick¡¡was¡¡making¡¡herself¡¡a¡¡violin¡£¡¡She¡¡held¡¡the¡¡violin¡¡in¡¡her¡¡
lap¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡the¡¡feeling¡¡she¡¡had38¡¡
never¡¡really¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡it¡¡before¡£¡¡Some¡¡time¡¡ago¡¡she¡¡made¡¡
Bubber¡¡a¡¡little¡¡play¡¡mandolin¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cigar¡¡box¡¡with¡¡rubber¡¡
bands£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡put¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡into¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡Since¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡
hunted¡¡all¡¡over¡¡everywhere¡¡for¡¡the¡¡different¡¡parts¡¡and¡¡added¡¡a¡¡
little¡¡to¡¡the¡¡job¡¡every¡¡day¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡her¡¡she¡¡had¡¡done¡¡
everything¡¡except¡¡use¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡
'Bill£»¡¡this¡¡don't¡¡look¡¡like¡¡any¡¡real¡¡violin¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡saw¡£'¡¡He¡¡was¡¡
still¡¡reading¡ª'Yeah¡ª£¿'¡¡
'It¡¡just¡¡don't¡¡look¡¡right¡£¡¡It¡¡just¡¡don't'¡¡
She¡¡had¡¡planned¡¡to¡¡tune¡¡the¡¡fiddle¡¡that¡¡day¡¡by¡¡screwing¡¡the¡¡
pegs¡£¡¡But¡¡since¡¡she¡¡had¡¡suddenly¡¡realized¡¡how¡¡all¡¡the¡¡work¡¡
had¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡she¡¡didn't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡£¡¡Slowly¡¡she¡¡
plucked¡¡one¡¡string¡¡after¡¡another¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡made¡¡the¡¡same¡¡little¡¡
hollow¡sounding¡¡ping¡£¡¡
'How¡¡anyway¡¡will¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡get¡¡a¡¡bow£¿¡¡Are¡¡you¡¡sure¡¡they¡¡have¡¡to¡¡
be¡¡made¡¡out¡¡of¡¡just¡¡horses'¡¡hair£¿'¡¡'Yeah£»'¡¡said¡¡Bill¡¡impatiently¡£¡¡
'Nothing¡¡like¡¡thin¡¡wire¡¡or¡¡human¡¡hair¡¡strung¡¡on¡¡a¡¡limber¡¡stick¡¡
would¡¡do£¿'¡¡
Bill¡¡rubbed¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡against¡¡each¡¡other¡¡and¡¡didn't¡¡answer¡£¡¡
Anger¡¡made¡¡beads¡¡of¡¡sweat¡¡come¡¡out¡¡on¡¡her¡¡forehead¡£¡¡
Her¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡hoarse¡£¡¡'It's¡¡not¡¡even¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡violin¡£¡¡It's¡¡only¡¡
a¡¡cross¡¡between¡¡a¡¡mandolin¡¡and¡¡a¡¡ukulele¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡hate¡¡
them¡£¡¡I¡¡hate¡¡them'¡¡
Bill¡¡turned¡¡around¡£¡¡
'It's¡¡all¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡wrong¡£¡¡It¡¡won't¡¡do¡£¡¡It's¡¡no¡¡good¡£'¡¡Tipe¡¡down£»'¡¡
said¡¡Bill¡£¡¡'Are¡¡you¡¡just¡¡carrying¡¡on¡¡about¡¡that¡¡old¡¡broken¡¡
ukulele¡¡you've¡¡been¡¡fooling¡¡with£¿¡¡I¡¡could¡¡have¡¡told¡¡you¡¡at¡¡first¡¡
it¡¡was¡¡crazy¡¡to¡¡think¡¡you¡¡could¡¡make¡¡any¡¡violin¡£¡¡That's¡¡one¡¡
thing¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡sit¡¡down¡¡and¡¡make¡¡¡ªyou¡¡got¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡them¡£¡¡I¡¡
thought¡¡anybody¡¡would¡¡know¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡like¡¡that¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡figured¡¡it¡¡
wouldn't¡¡hurt¡¡yon¡¡if¡¡you¡¡found¡¡out¡¡for¡¡yourself¡£'¡¡
Sometimes¡¡she¡¡hated¡¡Bill¡¡more¡¡than¡¡anyone¡¡else¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡
He¡¡was¡¡different¡¡entirely¡¡from¡¡what¡¡he¡¡used¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡She¡¡started¡¡
to¡¡slam¡¡the¡¡violin¡¡down¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡stomp¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡
instead¡¡she¡¡put¡¡it¡¡back¡¡roughly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hatbox¡£¡¡The¡¡tears¡¡were¡¡
hot¡¡in¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡as¡¡fire¡£¡¡She¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡box¡¡a¡¡kick¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡from¡¡
the¡¡room¡¡without¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡Bill¡£¡¡
As¡¡she¡¡was¡¡dodging¡¡through¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡the¡¡back¡¡yard¡¡
she¡¡ran¡¡into¡¡her¡¡Mama¡£¡¡
39¡¡
'What's¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡with¡¡you£¿¡¡What¡¡have¡¡you¡¡been¡¡into¡¡now£¿'¡¡
Mick¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡jerk¡¡loose£»¡¡but¡¡her¡¡Mama¡¡held¡¡on¡¡to¡¡her¡¡arm¡£¡¡
Sullenly¡¡she¡¡wiped¡¡the¡¡tears¡¡from¡¡her¡¡face¡¡with¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡her¡¡
hand¡£¡¡Her¡¡Mama¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡and¡¡she¡¡wore¡¡her¡¡
apron¡¡and¡¡house¡shoes¡£¡¡As¡¡usual¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡though¡¡she¡¡had¡¡
a¡¡lot¡¡on¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡and¡¡didn't¡¡have¡¡time¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡her¡¡any¡¡more¡¡
questions¡£¡¡
'Mr¡£¡¡Jackson¡¡has¡¡brought¡¡his¡¡two¡¡sisters¡¡to¡¡dinner¡¡and¡¡there¡¡
won't¡¡be¡¡but¡¡just¡¡enough¡¡chairs£»¡¡so¡¡today¡¡you're¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
kitchen¡¡with¡¡Bubber¡£'¡¡
'That*s¡¡hunky¡dory¡¡with¡¡me£»'¡¡Mick¡¡said¡£¡¡
Her¡¡Mama¡¡let¡¡her¡¡go¡¡and¡¡went¡¡to¡¡take¡¡off¡¡her¡¡apron¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡
dining¡room¡¡there¡¡came¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dinner¡¡bell¡¡and¡¡a¡¡
sudden¡¡glad¡¡outbreak¡¡of¡¡talking¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡her¡¡Dad¡¡
saying¡¡how¡¡much¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡by¡¡not¡¡keeping¡¡up¡¡his¡¡accident¡¡
insurance¡¡until¡¡the¡¡time¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡bis¡¡hip¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡
her¡¡Dad¡¡could¡¡never¡¡get¡¡off¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡¡ªways¡¡he¡¡could¡¡have¡¡
made¡¡money¡¡and¡¡didn't¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡clatter¡¡of¡¡dishes£»¡¡and¡¡
after¡¡a¡¡while¡¡the¡¡talking¡¡stopped¡£¡¡
Mick¡¡leaned¡¡on¡¡the¡¡banisters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stairs¡£¡¡The¡¡sudden¡¡crying¡¡
had¡¡started¡¡her¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hiccups¡£¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡her¡¡as¡¡she¡¡
thought¡¡back¡¡over¡¡the¡¡last¡¡month¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡never¡¡really¡¡
believed¡¡in¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡the¡¡violin¡¡would¡¡work¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡her¡¡
heart¡¡she¡¡had¡¡kept¡¡making¡¡herself¡¡believe¡£¡¡And¡¡even¡¡now¡¡it¡¡
was¡¡hard¡¡not¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡a¡¡little¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡tired¡¡out¡£¡¡Bill¡¡wasn't¡¡
ever¡¡a¡¡help¡¡with¡¡anything¡¡now¡£¡¡She¡¡used¡¡to¡¡think¡¡Bill¡¡was¡¡the¡¡
grandest¡¡person¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡She¡¡used¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡after¡¡him¡¡
every¡¡place¡¡he¡¡went¡ª¡¡out¡¡fishing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡woods£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
clubhouses¡¡he¡¡built¡¡with¡¡other¡¡boys£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡slot¡¡machine¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
back¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Bran¡non's¡¡restaurant¡ªeverywhere¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡he¡¡
hadn't¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡let¡¡her¡¡down¡¡like¡¡this¡£¡¡But¡¡anyway¡¡they¡¡could¡¡
never¡¡be¡¡good¡¡buddies¡¡again¡£¡¡
In¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡cigarettes¡¡and¡¡Sunday¡¡
dinner¡£¡¡Mick¡¡took¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡
kitchen¡£¡¡The¡¡dinner¡¡began¡¡to¡¡smell¡¡good¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡hungry¡£¡¡
She¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡Portia's¡¡voice¡¡as¡¡she¡¡talked¡¡to¡¡Bubber£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡
was¡¡like¡¡she¡¡was¡¡half¡singing¡¡something¡¡or¡¡telling¡¡him¡¡a¡¡story¡£¡¡
'And¡¡that¡¡is¡¡the¡¡various¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡I'm¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡lot40¡¡
more¡¡fortunate¡¡than¡¡most¡¡colored¡¡girls£»'¡¡Portia¡¡said¡¡as¡¡she¡¡
opened¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡'Why£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Mick¡£¡¡
Portia¡¡and¡¡Bubber¡¡were¡¡sitting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡table¡¡eating¡¡their¡¡
dinner¡£¡¡Portia's¡¡green¡¡print¡¡dress¡¡was¡¡cool¡looking¡¡against¡¡her¡¡
dark¡¡brown¡¡skin¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡on¡¡green¡¡earrings¡¡and¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡was¡¡
combed¡¡very¡¡tight¡¡and¡¡neat¡£¡¡
'You¡¡all¡¡time¡¡pounce¡¡in¡¡on¡¡the¡¡very¡¡tail¡¡of¡¡what¡¡somebody¡¡say¡¡
and¡¡then¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡¡all¡¡about¡¡it£»'¡¡Portia¡¡said¡£¡¡She¡¡got¡¡up¡¡and¡¡
stood¡¡over¡¡the¡¡hot¡¡stove£»¡¡putting¡¡dinner¡¡on¡¡Mick's¡¡plate¡£¡¡
'Bubber¡¡and¡¡me¡¡was¡¡just¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡my¡¡Grandpapa's¡¡home¡¡
out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Sardis¡¡Road¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡telling¡¡Bubber¡¡how¡¡he¡¡and¡¡
my¡¡uncles¡¡owns¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡place¡¡themself¡£¡¡Fifteen¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡
acre¡£¡¡They¡¡always¡¡plants¡¡four¡¡of¡¡them¡¡in¡¡cotton£»¡¡some¡¡years¡¡
swapping¡¡back¡¡to¡¡peas¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡dirt¡¡rich£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡acre¡¡on¡¡a¡¡
hill¡¡is¡¡just¡¡for¡¡peaches¡£¡¡They¡¡haves¡¡a¡¡mule¡¡and¡¡a¡¡breed¡¡sow¡¡
and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡from¡¡twenty¡¡to¡¡twenty¡five¡¡laying¡¡hens¡¡and¡¡
fryers¡£¡¡They¡¡haves¡¡a¡¡vegetable¡¡patch¡¡and¡¡two¡¡pecan¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡
plenty¡¡figs¡¡and¡¡plums¡¡and¡¡berries¡£¡¡This¡¡here¡¡is¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¡Not¡¡
many¡¡white¡¡farms¡¡has¡¡done¡¡with¡¡their¡¡land¡¡good¡¡as¡¡my¡¡
Grandpapa¡£'¡¡
Mick¡¡put¡¡her¡¡elbows¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡over¡¡her¡¡plate¡£¡¡
Portia¡¡had¡¡always¡¡rather¡¡talk¡¡about¡¡the¡¡farm¡¡than¡¡anything¡¡
else£»¡¡except¡¡about¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡and¡¡brother¡£¡¡To¡¡hear¡¡her¡¡tell¡¡it¡¡
you¡¡would¡¡think¡¡that¡¡colored¡¡farm¡¡was¡¡the¡¡very¡¡White¡¡House¡¡
itself¡£¡¡
'The¡¡home¡¡started¡¡with¡¡just¡¡one¡¡little¡¡room¡£¡¡And¡¡through¡¡the¡¡
years¡¡they¡¡done¡¡built¡¡on¡¡until¡¡there's¡¡space¡¡for¡¡my¡¡Grandpapa£»¡¡
his¡¡four¡¡sons¡¡and¡¡their¡¡wives¡¡and¡¡chil¡drens£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡brother¡¡
Hamilton¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡parlor¡¡they¡¡haves¡¡a¡¡real¡¡organ¡¡and¡¡a¡¡
gramophone¡£¡¡And¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡they¡¡haves¡¡a¡¡large¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡my¡¡
Grandpapa¡¡taken¡¡in¡¡his¡¡lodge¡¡uniform¡£¡¡They¡¡cans¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fruit¡¡
and¡¡vegetables¡¡and¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡rainy¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡
turns¡¡they¡¡pretty¡¡near¡¡always¡¡haves¡¡plenty¡¡to¡¡eat¡£'¡¡
'How¡¡come¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡go¡¡live¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡then£¿'¡¡Mick¡¡asked¡£¡¡
Portia¡¡stopped¡¡peeling¡¡her¡¡potatoes¡¡and¡¡her¡¡long£»¡¡brown¡¡
fingers¡¡tapped¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡¡in¡¡time¡¡to¡¡her¡¡words¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡here¡¡the¡¡
way¡¡it¡¡is¡£¡¡See¡ªeach¡¡person¡¡done¡¡built¡¡on¡¡his¡¡room¡¡for¡¡his¡¡
fambly¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡done¡¡worked¡¡hard¡¡during¡¡all¡¡these¡¡years¡£¡¡And¡¡
of¡¡course¡¡times¡¡is¡¡hard¡¡for¡¡ever
41
body¡¡now¡£¡¡But¡¡see¡ªI¡¡lived¡¡with¡¡my¡¡Grandpapa¡¡when¡¡I¡¡were¡¡
a
little¡¡girl¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡haven't¡¡never¡¡done¡¡any¡¡work¡¡out¡¡there¡¡since¡£
Any¡¡time£»¡¡though£»¡¡if¡¡me¡¡and¡¡Willie¡¡and¡¡Highboy¡¡gets¡¡in¡¡bad
trouble¡¡us¡¡can¡¡always¡¡go¡¡back¡£
'
'Didn't¡¡your¡¡Father¡¡build¡¡on¡¡a¡¡room£¿
'
Portia¡¡stopped¡¡chewing¡£¡¡'Whose¡¡Father£¿¡¡You¡¡mean¡¡my
Father£¿
'
¡¨Sure£»'¡¡said¡¡Mick¡£
'You¡¡know¡¡good¡¡and¡¡well¡¡my¡¡Father¡¡is¡¡a¡¡colored¡¡doctor¡¡right
here¡¡in¡¡town¡£
'
Mick¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡Portia¡¡say¡¡that¡¡before£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡it
was¡¡a¡¡tale¡£¡¡How¡¡could¡¡a¡¡colored¡¡man¡¡be¡¡a¡¡doctor£¿
¡£This¡¡here¡¡the¡¡way¡¡it¡¡is¡£¡¡Before¡¡the¡¡tune¡¡my¡¡Mama¡¡married¡¡my¡¡
Father¡¡she¡¡had¡¡never¡¡known¡¡anything¡¡but¡¡real¡¡kindness¡£¡¡My¡¡
Grandpa¡¡is¡¡Mister¡¡Kind¡¡hisself¡£¡¡But¡¡my¡¡Father¡¡is¡¡different¡¡
from¡¡him¡¡as¡¡day¡¡is¡¡from¡¡night¡£'¡¡
'Mean£¿'asked¡¡Mick¡£¡¡
¡¨No£»¡¡he¡¡not¡¡a¡¡mean¡¡man£»'¡¡Portia¡¡said¡¡slowly¡£¡¡'It¡¡just¡¡that¡¡
something¡¡is¡¡the¡¡matter¡£¡¡My¡¡Father¡¡not¡¡like¡¡other¡¡colored¡¡
mens¡£¡¡This¡¡here¡¡is¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡explain¡£¡¡My¡¡Father¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡
studying¡¡by¡¡hisself¡£¡¡And¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡ago¡¡he¡¡taken¡¡up¡¡all¡¡these¡¡
notions¡¡about¡¡how¡¡a¡¡fambly¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡He¡¡bossed¡¡over¡¡ever¡¡
little¡¡thing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡at¡¡night¡¡he¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡us¡¡
children¡¡lessons¡£'¡¡
¡¨That¡¡don't¡¡sound¡¡so¡¡bad¡¡to¡¡me£»'¡¡said¡¡Mick¡£¡¡
'listen¡¡here¡£¡¡You¡¡see¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time¡¡he¡¡were¡¡very¡¡quiet¡£¡¡But¡¡
then¡¡some¡¡nights¡¡he¡¡would¡¡break¡¡out¡¡hi¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡fit¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡
get¡¡madder¡¡than¡¡any¡¡man¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡seen¡£¡¡Everbody¡¡who¡¡know¡¡my¡¡
Father¡¡say¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sure¡¡enough¡¡crazy¡¡man¡£¡¡He¡¡done¡¡
wild£»¡¡crazy¡¡things¡¡and¡¡our¡¡Mama¡¡quit¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡were¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡
old¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡£¡¡Our¡¡Mama¡¡taken¡¡us¡¡children¡¡with¡¡her¡¡to¡¡
Grandpapa's¡¡farm¡¡and¡¡us¡¡were¡¡raised¡¡out¡¡there¡£¡¡Our¡¡Father¡¡all¡¡
the¡¡time¡¡wanted¡¡us¡¡to¡¡come¡¡back¡£¡¡But¡¡even¡¡when¡¡our¡¡Mama¡¡
died¡¡us¡¡children¡¡never¡¡did¡¡go¡¡home¡¡to¡¡live¡£¡¡And¡¡now¡¡my¡¡
Father¡¡stay¡¡all¡¡by¡¡hisself¡£'¡¡
Mick¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stove¡¡and¡¡filled¡¡her¡¡plate¡¡a¡¡second¡¡time¡£¡¡
Portia's¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡going¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡like¡¡a¡¡song£»¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡
could¡¡stop¡¡her¡¡now¡£¡¡
'I¡¡doesn't¡¡see¡¡my¡¡Father¡¡much¡ªmaybe¡¡once¡¡a¡¡week¡ª¡¡but¡¡I¡¡
done¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡thinking¡¡about¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡feels¡¡sorrier¡¡for¡¡
I42¡¡
him¡¡than¡¡anybody¡¡I¡¡knows¡£¡¡I¡¡expect¡¡he¡¡done¡¡read¡¡more¡¡books¡¡
than¡¡any¡¡white¡¡man¡¡in¡¡this¡¡town¡£¡¡He¡¡done¡¡read¡¡more¡¡books¡¡
and¡¡he¡¡done¡¡worried¡¡about¡¡more¡¡things¡£¡¡He¡¡full¡¡of¡¡books¡¡and¡¡
worrying¡£¡¡He¡¡done¡¡lost¡¡God¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡back¡¡to¡¡religion¡£¡¡
All¡¡his¡¡troubles¡¡come¡¡down¡¡just¡¡to¡¡that¡£'¡¡
Portia¡¡was¡¡excited¡£¡¡Whenever¡¡she¡¡got¡¡to¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡God¡ª¡¡
or¡¡Willie£»¡¡her¡¡brother£»¡¡or¡¡Highboy£»¡¡her¡¡husband¡ª¡¡she¡¡got¡¡
excited¡£¡¡
'Now£»¡¡I¡¡not¡¡a¡¡big¡¡shouter¡£¡¡I¡¡belongs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Presbyterian¡¡Church¡¡
and¡¡us¡¡don't¡¡hold¡¡with¡¡all¡¡this¡¡rolling¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡talking¡¡
in¡¡tongues¡£¡¡Us¡¡don't¡¡get¡¡sanctified¡¡ever¡¡week¡¡and¡¡wallow¡¡
around¡¡together¡£¡¡In¡¡our¡¡church¡¡we¡¡sings¡¡and¡¡lets¡¡the¡¡preacher¡¡
do¡¡the¡¡preaching¡£¡¡And¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡a¡¡little¡¡
singing¡¡and¡¡a¡¡little¡¡preaching¡¡would¡¡hurt¡¡you£»¡¡Mick¡£¡¡You¡¡
ought¡¡to¡¡take¡¡your¡¡little¡¡brother¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Sunday¡¡School¡¡and¡¡also¡¡
you¡¡plenty¡¡big¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡in¡¡church¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡biggity¡¡way¡¡
you¡¡been¡¡acting¡¡lately¡¡it¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡me¡¡like¡¡you¡¡already¡¡got¡¡one¡¡
toe¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pit¡£'¡¡
'Nuts£»'¡¡Mick¡¡said¡£¡¡
'Now¡¡Highboy¡¡he¡¡were¡¡Holiness¡¡boy¡¡before¡¡us¡¡were¡¡married¡£¡¡
He¡¡loved¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡ever¡¡Sunday¡¡and¡¡shout¡¡and¡¡sanctify¡¡
hisself¡£¡¡But¡¡after¡¡us¡¡were¡¡married¡¡I¡¡got¡¡him¡¡to¡¡join¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡
and¡¡although¡¡it¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡quiet¡¡sometime¡¡I¡¡
think¡¡he¡¡doing¡¡right¡¡well¡£'¡¡
'I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡God¡¡any¡¡more¡¡than¡¡I¡¡do¡¡Santa¡¡Oaus£»'¡¡Mick¡¡
said¡£¡¡
'You¡¡wait¡¡a¡¡minute£¡¡¡That's¡¡why¡¡it¡¡sometime¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡me¡¡you¡¡
favor¡¡my¡¡Father¡¡more¡¡than¡¡any¡¡person¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡knowed¡£'¡¡
'Me£¿¡¡You¡¡say¡¡/¡¡favor¡¡him£¿'