The Southerner Page #3

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to get back to the good time.

As I see it... ain't gonna have

no dinner again tonight.

Never you mind, Granny.

For breakfast we'll have a nice big bowl

of cornmeal mush.

You'll all look down on my cold dead face

in that county pine box.

You'll be sorry then.

Maybe.

You keep on promisin', Granny!

You don't never deliver the goods!

Hush your mouth!

You can't talk to me like that!

You ain't even a real Tucker!

Well, you ain't either!

Hey... Honey!

Daisy's got to be coated.

They gotta go to school.

Don't you take my blanket, Sam!

Don't you touch my blanket!

Sam Tucker... you take one bit

of my best blanket, you'll get punished...

Granny, ain't you got no heart...?

You want Daisy to catch her death?

There'll be enough blanket

to keep you warm.

I like it big!

Curse you, Sam Tucker!

My big blanket!

Curse you!

Granny!

Sam Tucker's the boss here...

He can cut up whatever he likes.

He's the boss!

You hear me?

Oh, Granny!

Now don't take on so!

Look, I think I know where

there's a nice swarm of wild bees...

Maybe tomorrow I'll go out

and get you some honey!

Maybe.

Why me?

Why me? I don't care for folks comin',

and helpin' yourselves, you know.

Now don't you worry!

I'll get your honey.

Nony...

You know I guess you're

a right good Tucker after all.

That Sam of yours...

He's 'most as good a man

as my Fayette!

My best blanket!

Yessir, that carcase of yours

is sure gonna make 4 more Tuckers happy.

C'mon Zoom!

Yes sir, you're hide 'll

just about bring the

price of a pair of silk

stockings for mama.

Nice and shiny!

Reckon we can eat now, folks!

Easy!... You'll all get your share!

Hold on, everybody...

there's gonna be a blessing.

Much obliged, Lord...

Looks like the Tuckers are gonna

make the grade after all.

Amen.

Granny!

Granny gets the first,

because she's the eldest.

I'd taken the Lord to be a stranger

in this house!

Then comes Jotty,

coz he's the littlest.

Then comes Papa

coz he caught this possum.

And this one's for Zoomy...

Because he helped him.

And last of all, Daisy and me...

coz we're the womenfolk.

At school they say this kinda food's

bad for you all the time.

They say you gotta eat vegetables.

Too much meat's bad.

Vegetables in winter?

If you don't...

they say you get pellagra.

That must be the 'spring sickness', Sam.

Why, it's vegetables

that causes 'spring sickness'.

That's when you get it... 'long about

the time you start eating vegetables.

I oughta know... I lost

three o' mine from it.

Their Uncle Walter...

Aunt Beck and Sue.

And not one was over 6!

Shucks... look at THEM.

And anything a body likes as good as that,

couldn't be bad for 'em.

Ain't that true, Nona?

That's right, Sam.

We done all that ourself.

Just kept workin' and pluggin' away...

By gosh, we done good.

Before long now we can start plantin'

our cotton roundabout the twentieth.

Then that crop will really get started.

Hold that for me, will you.

You see those little green woolly worms

fallin' outta that tree... ten a minute?

They're all drifting down together

in the same place.

And some folk might think

that they're what "Lead Pencil" is after.

But they'd be wrong.

Coz he's after somethin' else!

He ain't interested in no worms.

Old "Lead" is a pretty smart old guy.

Wouldn't hardly live to be

as old as he is, if he wasn't.

I'll bet you old "Lead"

waits for his dinner

right over yonder at

that there drift.

It's like a trap, on the river bottom.

Is "Lead Pencil" older than Granny, Papa?

Yeah... he's older than Granny.

Yessir, it must be yonder, old

"Lead Pencil" has got his cubby.

Gimme that, Honey.

Sam!

Nony!

You got to come here quick!

What are you sayin', Granny?

Jot's ailin'...

I reckon he's got the Spring Sickness!

Spring Sickness?!

How do you know?

I am sayin' it's Spring Sickness!

Who'd know better 'n me?...

Already lost 3 from it.

Sam...

I'm afraid!

I didn't see no reason

to bother you, Doctor...

It was just that little sore.

Sonny ain't ever been sick.

When it grew and grew...

And now it seems like

it's just plum gonna possess him...

You see Doctor... it's like some evil

crawlin' worm eatin' up my baby!

I can't stand to watch it

no longer, Doctor!

You gotta do somethin' to stop it!

You don't have a cow, do you?

No, Sir.

Well, you better tell Sam to get one.

How do we get a cow?

Borrow one!

Let Sam raise a heifer for somebody.

Or borrow some milk, anyway.

A pint a day...

or better still, a quart.

Any neighbour with a cow

could spare you that.

I'll try Doctor...

What medicine?

Undress the boy.

What vegetables

you been eatin' lately?

Vegetables?...

Couldn't grow vegetables in winter.

You got any money?

Yes, Doctor... I got your $2.

Sam's got $1.35 more...

Keep it.

Take all your money

and spend it all for vegetables.

And get some lemons...

Give him a glass of lemonade,

twice a day.

And get that milk...!

Do you hear?

If you don't give him milk

and vegetables...

anything that I can do will be

just plum wasted.

And with the milk and vegetables?

I think he's got a chance.

Thank you! Call again!

Me... I know what war is.

We was right close to Chateau Thierry

and the old colonel...

He brung us all together, and said...

Young man, in civilian life,

never brag about you conquests...

- Whether they be love or war.

- Shut up, young fella!

I'm tellin' ya... I know!

And I know I know!

Well, if it ain't Sam Tucker!

Tim... when did you get in town?

- How much for these here pipe cleaners?

- 10 cents, for you.

Has it gone up?

Used to be a nickel?

No ma'am... Old Zeke 'll be

mighty pleased with 'em, ma'am

Tim just came back to show off

his city clothes.

Take a look at that fancy tie!

Seems like in the city, dollars grow faster

than beans in the field!

Don't bet on it!

Hey, I been lookin' all over for you...

Let's go over to Seamen's and I'll buy

you some beer and tell you all about it.

Brother, I'm with you any time

you'll buy me a beer.

Well Harmie... Nona and Jotty

are over at Doc Whites...

When they come over tell them

I'll be back in a minute, will you?

Yeah... I know what a minute means, when

you're drinkin' beer with old Timmy there.

How much for this pair of garters?

You said Nona and Jotty's

over at Doc White's?

Yeah.

What's wrong, Sam?

Jotty's ailin'.

Ran into this Spring Sickness.

Poor Nona... with a sick kid

she don't hardly get a wink of sleep.

That's tough, man.

My ma came out to my place

yesterday, to help.

Harmie brought her out in his truck.

That's kind of a relief.

Slow down!

Would you be interested in coming

and work in the factory with me?

Are you crazy?

What would I do in a factory?

I'm a farmer.

Well, they just opened a new plant

and they're just cryin' for men.

Don't even have to be skilled.

I know the foreman...

I can get you in a minute.

Pay much?

Seven bucks a day!

Seven bucks a day!?

Howdy gents... what'll it be?

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