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Smith, Jewell Ellen, 1915-1998

"Great Jehoshaphat and Gully Dirt"


"Cedar's just as good as wax when it comes to making your
iron smooth," she told me as she was stacking the prickly green
needles on the end of the ironing board.
Mama had the wrinkles pressed out of the suit by the time
Miss Lida Belle got back with Mister Wes's white shirt and a
celluloid collar that went with it.
"Lemme run the iron over these cuffs, Nannie. Looks like the
last time I ironed this shirt, I must've just give it a lick and
a promise. Here, I thought I'd better bring this too."
Miss Lida Belle handed Mama a narrow string of a black tie.
Mama handed it to me.
"You can tote the tie, Bandershanks."
We took the tie and the suit and the shirt and stiff collar
up to the door of the front room and handed them to Papa. Mama
didn't say so, but I knew Papa and Uncle Dan were going to dress
up Mister Ward.
I knew why: you have to get dressed up in
Sunday-go-to-meeting things when you die and go to Heaven. God's
up there, and it wouldn't be very nice to go to see God with just
weekday clothes on.


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