egg--smooth and shiny--ed.) When it first appeared, it was no bigger
then a pea, I scratched it and then the hair commenced to fall out. I
went to three doctors, and been to the clinic too. One doctor said it
was a busted vein. Another said it was a tumor. Another said it was a
wen. I know one thing. It don't hurt me. I can scratch it; I can rub it.
(She scratched and rubbed it while I flinched and my flesh crawled--ed.)
But it's got me so I can't see and hear good. Dr. Junkins, the best
doctor in the community told me not to let anybody cut on it. Dr. Hicks
wanted to take it off for fifty dollars. I told him he'd let it stay on
for nothin'. I never was sick in my life till a year ago. I used to
weigh two hundred ten pounds; now I weigh one hundred forty. I can lap
up enough skin on my legs to go 'round 'em twice.

"Since I was sick a year ago. I haven't been able to get 'round any. I
never been well since. The first Sunday in January this year, I got
worse settin' in the church. I can't hardly get 'round enough to wait on
myself. But with what I do and the neighbors' help, I gets along
somehow.


Present Condition

"If it weren't for the mercy of the people through here. I would suffer
for a drink of water. Somebody ran in on old lady Chairs and killed her
for her money. But they didn't get it, and we know who it was too.
Somebody born and raised right here 'mongst us. Since then I have been
'fraid to stay at home even.

"I had a fine five-room house and while I was down sick, my daughter
sold it and I didn't get but twenty-nine dollars out of it. She got the