‚~ ‘UH ‚~‚~
J.~flJ~~Lt)~17
	~	~	. 49

NEAL UPSON	. .
	Ex-~S1ave	..	  . ~ ~
	~ . ~		.










	AlterrIste rein and sunsMne had. continued for about 10 days and the ditches half filled with water, slippery banks of red clay, and. the swollen river necessitating a detour, added to the various difficulties that beset the interviewer as she trudged through East Athens in search of Neal Tjpson‘s shabby, three~roorn, fratrie house. A magnificent.water oak shaded the vine~cOvered porch ;there a rocking chair and swing offered a coir~fortab1e place to rest.

	“Good rnornin‘, Miss,“ was the srnilin~ greeting ~of the aged Negro man who answered a knock on the front door~ “How is you? Won‘t you come in? I would ax you to have a cheer on the porch, but I has to stay in de house cause de light hurts my eyes.“ He had hastily removed a battered old felt hat, several sizes too large for him, and as he shurried down the hail I~is ~iair a~~peared almost white as it framed his black face. his clean, but fa‘ded blue overalls and shirt were patched in several places and heavy brogans cornpďete~ his~cos~ tunic. The day was hot and hunild and he. carefully pisced two cheirs v~here they would iiave trie advantage of any breeze that ~fligbt find its way thr~ugh the open flaliway.

	“Miss, I‘se mighty clad you cone today,“ he began, “cause I does git so lonesonie here by myself. ~y old ‘oman