Genevieve W. Chandler
Murrells Inlet
Georgetown County
Folklore {Begin deleted text}390815{End deleted text}
MANNERS WILL CARRY YOU
"You have meet a man. Man say:
"'Where this road go?'
"Don't take time to say 'Good day!' Them old timey people will call his manners! Like Minnie little girl come runnin' to me in the mornin', and sing out first thing:
"'Aunt Lillie, where Paul?'
"And I tell her:
"'Well, good mornin'! You musser sleep with Aunt Lillie last night!'
"What I mean? Mean she musser sleep in the bed with me, so didn't have to speak to me. When girl and boy pass these old timey people, and don't pass the time o' day, I've hear Grandma say:
"'Good mornin' suh! You no manners rascal you! I just respect you for your Mammy and Daddy.'
"And when a boy show his manners they always say:
"'That a mannersable boy! That good manners'll carry you where money won't carry you! Hongry and got no money, manners'll feed you!'
"I' hear old Mam Crissia say the old slavery time people would go long, and tell her when she forgot her manners:
"'You go head! You won't go far! Go long with you low manners self! Them same low manners goin' put you where the dogs won't bark at you!'
"I 'members hearin' Grandma talkin' to one o' them boys:
{Begin page no. 2}"'Oh, boy! If I fall on my knees, and pray to God for you! If I go to the Lord, and tell him how disobedient you is! (Grandma sound too seriously! Them chillun scared to death!) You mouth'll turn round the back o' you head! Go head - - - you no-manners rascal you! That no manners'll put you where the dogs can't bark at you! No good'll never follow you!"'
Lillie Knox - age 36
Murrells Inlet, S. C.