Browse:Hand: Time Limit for (Volume 1, entries 1970–1972)
Hand: Time Limit for
Volume 1, entries 1970–1972. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → HANDS: MAGIC HELPERS. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 1970
You get a lodestone and put it in your pocket and put it wit some money, you supposed to keep money so long as you keep dat rock - long as dat rock, dat stone is in action; but in a certain time, just like anything else, it'll run out.
Entry 1971
You kin go right ovah heah to Mt. Pleasant - I guess you heard talk about dat.
(Where?)
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. You kin go ovah dere and dere's a man ovah dere has a little bag about dat roun' - cost yuh five dollahs, and you'll be in luck fer de next six months.
(What is this man's name?)
His name ls William Green.
(Where does he get these bags from?)
He can't get enough of 'em.
(This Doctor Green over here at Mt. Pleasant - what does he call those bags?)
Iuck charms.
(Luck charms - and how much did you say you paid for them?)
Five dollars. You wear it around your neck. (I see. And he's probably got dust or something in there. [He said this while Telediphone turned off.] And they only last six months?) Only last six months at a time.
(And then you have to get a new one?)
You have to get a new one every six months.
(Well, what would you do if you don't renew it then?)
You jes' in bad luck again - that's all there is to that, your luck is gone.
Entry 1972
Ah had one but ah nevah did tear it open. No suh, ah nevah did tear it open.
(Why not?)
Well, ah jis' didn't wanta tear it open. Ah figured aftah ah let it set there a long time in de oil of cedar, den it would come back luck to me agin, 'cause when ah first got it, it wus good, see. An' ah stayed in luck there fo' 'bout six or seven months. When yore luck go down yo' supposed tuh soak it in dis oil of cedar, see, an' bring life back to it. But ah have nevah to' [tore] de bag open. Ah paid five dollahs fo' de bag.
(Why don't you tear the bag open?)
Well, ah will tear it open, but ah haven't so far. Ah use dis oil of cedar fo' luck in gamblin' an' rabbit foots. An' ah take mah rabbit foot - see, keep it soaked in oil of cedar, an' ah take that an' wear that up in mah bosom heah or eithah in mah pocket wherevah - when ah'm shootin' craps or somepin lak dat. Ever' time ah run mah han' on it, see, an' git that moisture offen dat an' rub it on yore dice or somepin lak that, see, an' den throw 'em down ha'd when yo' pass, an' dat's fo' luck. Ah have tried that.