Abiding Faith Letter 29

Henry Robinson was Mama’s brother, not by her mother, however. He was TeeJay’s son, whose mother lived in Southampton. They say Uncle Henry was the spitting image of TeeJay, black and beautiful. I used to like the way

he cocked his hat on his head and that smile, man, that would knock you for a loop; it was so pretty.

Letters of an Abiding Faith:

Legacy of a Slave's GrandDaughter to her Son

written by Ella Lewis to her Son (Rudolph Lewis)

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Letter 29

October 26, 1984

Dear Son,

Just a Few lines to give answer to your letter. Glade to hear from you. I also got the Check. You dont Know how much I preshate it. Thanks a lot. I had to Buy me Some Wood.* So I got the Wood So that one worry off me. Did you and your girl Friend Break up.** If so I guess you Find Some Body Else. Well that's the name of the game.

Well I been all long there. I know the road So you all got to learn it now. Well that's a lesson For you to learn. Every thing shine like Gold is not gold. So Just take your time. Go slow. Things will go your way after While.

Well they Buried my brother Henry Robinson Tuesday.*** He died 23 of Oct. He was 86 years old.

Here is another letter come For you. Well as Far as Bunk and Amos I think it too late For them to get Back together now. I dont Know what Problem is. But when a man get So he dont Feed you and give you no Money that show he dont Care.****

Dont you think I have any thing to do with it. She 44 years old. All her children grown But she seem happy Now. I dont Know how long it last. So you rite me Soon. Much love From

Your Mother

Love you

Commentary

*Mama was probably using oil heat by this time to heat the house. The wood to which she referred was probably for the stove in the kitchen, which lasted until the year 2000. It was the same heater that was in the kitchen before I left in 1965 and Daddy had bought it used. It was a sturdy piece of metal and kept a many a body warm in the winter time and cooked a many a biscuit.

**The "girl friend" was probably Jean in Monroe, Louisiana.

***Henry Robinson was Mama’s brother, not by her mother, however. He was TeeJay’s son, whose mother lived in Southampton. They say Uncle Henry was the spitting image of TeeJay, black and beautiful. I used to like the way he cocked his hat on his head and that smile, man, that would knock you for a loop; it was so pretty. He was smooth and drop dead gorgeous. The women probably loved him madly, as they did his daddy Teejay. I used to stay on the porch with him and Mama while they talked. He usually stopped by on second Sunday after Jerusalem had its service.

****Annie, called "Bunk," was on the outs with her husband, Amos, the father of her two younger children, Michael and Michelle. All four had lived in Baltimore in Edmondson Village. I lived with all of them for awhile in the basement of Lucinda’s house on Colborne and then on Allendale until I dropped out of Morgan State. I was always very fond of Amos, but he was subject to doing what Mama calls "low-life" things. They all lived there in the family house for a number of years.

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