"Instant Crismus"

Last updated 14 December 2019 - gmc

Pierre McGowan tells a humorous little Christmas tale in his book Gullah Mailman:

One Christmas Eve my father was standing on the sidewalk on Bay Street in front of Hugh Gray's Liquor Store talking to Mr. Gray. A black man from St. Helena Island came out of the store with a pint of whiskey he had just purchased from the clerk inside. He placed the bottle under his arm while he paused to light a cigarette, and in doing so he dropped the bottle, which smashed when it hit the concrete pavement. Not a word was spoken as the three men watched the whiskey trickling toward the gutter. Finally, when the black man realized that others were aware of this tragedy, he looked up and exclaimed, "Grate Gawd, wite folks, Crismus dun cum and gone."

I wonder if Mr. McGowan or Mr. Gray had enough Christmas spirit left to share with the man whose spirit "dun cum and gone?"

I was lucky to get a reply to my question about a month later - and confirmation of the event -- from one of Hugh Gray's grandsons:

Gary McGraw said...

This is a true story. Hugh Gray was my grandfather! Except the way I heard it, the old black gentleman slipped the newly purchased pint into his coat pocket and it fell through a hole and smashed on the ground... and yes, he did look up and say, Christmas dun come and gone.."

I thought I was the only one who knew this story!... and yes, my grandfather gave him another pint!

January 21, 2011 at 3:02 PM

 

Grace Cordial said...

Thank you, Gary, for the update. And I am glad that your grandfather added spirit to the holiday! (Poor pun, intended).

January 24, 2011 at 10:46 AM

Happy Holidays to you and yours from the Beaufort District Collection staff.