Clate

Then we went inside & Clate introduced Hasil to me & told Hasil, This guy is a big fan of yours & is from St. Louis & passing through tonight.

He hunches in Heaven. Hasil Adkins dead at 67. 2005

"There's a good mine there, pays good money, and there's a good mine boss on the job," so Clate was told.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945

Clate found out that when he sold his time he got only about fifty cents for a dollar.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945

"Why don't you buy new furniture at the commissary?" the script clerk wanted to know of Clate.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945

Some two years later Clate, a weary figure, emerged one evening from the company commissary.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945

"I've got my own onion sets," Clate tried to explain.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945

He himself had to wear heavy boots in the mine in order to work at all, for Clate had to stand in water most of the time when he picked or loaded.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945

Course if you don't want to take it "-- he shoved the money halfway across the counter to Clate --" you don't have to.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945

Clate halted a few minutes to talk to another miner, a boy in his teens.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945

"'Tarnal buggy busted a dozen times, held me back," Clate complained, shifting the dinner pail and the baby.

Blue Ridge Country Jean Thomas 1945