Toe Dancer is his name, not his occupation. Toe Dancer was an old colored man from Africa or the Caribbean He never came to this country until he was seventy years old. He was noted for his ability to climb a rope faster than any other person in the world. Of course, that was when he was young man. He could hold a rope between his toes and use them like they were hands, that is what made him a champ.
Toe dancer was lucky, he was never taken as a slave for anyone and there were many in his early life that were taken. He came to this country around 1930 with a white friend that could no longer do the work he was doing in Caribbean. Toe came to the USA with his friend. He had become an American citizen soon after arriving in Savanna Georgia His close friend passed away about a year or so later.
Toe went to work for a Rail Road in Savanna, as a porter, carrying passenger luggage for tips. Finally he had to retire as the work was jut too much for a seventy plus year old man. He returned to the property that was owned by his friend. There wasn’t much to it, as it had been abandoned many year earlier. There was an old shack still standing and with a little work he made it livable. The other building were in such bad shape, one didn’t want to enter into them.
A small town that was close by, had about three hundred people living in it, most were poor. There was a mine there once, but it had closed down long ago. The land was poor but they all managed to get by with a garden and they all sold some of their crops.
Toe was a kind and gentle person and he came to know everyone in the area. He always had time to stop and visit with people, He would always lend a helping hand in what ever they were doing. He was always happy, telling stories about the olden days, he would sing or dance and was always humming a tune. Animals would all run to meet him when he was approaching. If he sat down under a shade tree, the animals would sit close by. The people all loved to see Old Toe, if he had a first name besides Toe, no one ever knew it. Everyone considered Toe to be a member of their family and there was always a place at the table for him to set. The children loved him more than anyone else. He would play games with them and let then ride on his back. Yes, Old Toe was very special to everyone in the area.
When old Toe was getting real old and it was thought he was around 95, he was taken in by the town doctor who could keep an eye on him. During the war old Toe would help where ever he could. Some families didn’t have a man around as they were in the service serving their country, so old Toe would help out. In 1955, the war was over and old Toe was thought to be 105, he passed away in his sleep. Toe was buried in the town’s cemetery and a monument was place at his grave by the town’s people. Old Toe was a colored man, but no one could remember that. He was just a close friend to everyone..
Now old Toe is floating around watching over you and me…Rest in peace Toe.
Toe dancer was lucky, he was never taken as a slave for anyone and there were many in his early life that were taken. He came to this country around 1930 with a white friend that could no longer do the work he was doing in Caribbean. Toe came to the USA with his friend. He had become an American citizen soon after arriving in Savanna Georgia His close friend passed away about a year or so later.
Toe went to work for a Rail Road in Savanna, as a porter, carrying passenger luggage for tips. Finally he had to retire as the work was jut too much for a seventy plus year old man. He returned to the property that was owned by his friend. There wasn’t much to it, as it had been abandoned many year earlier. There was an old shack still standing and with a little work he made it livable. The other building were in such bad shape, one didn’t want to enter into them.
A small town that was close by, had about three hundred people living in it, most were poor. There was a mine there once, but it had closed down long ago. The land was poor but they all managed to get by with a garden and they all sold some of their crops.
Toe was a kind and gentle person and he came to know everyone in the area. He always had time to stop and visit with people, He would always lend a helping hand in what ever they were doing. He was always happy, telling stories about the olden days, he would sing or dance and was always humming a tune. Animals would all run to meet him when he was approaching. If he sat down under a shade tree, the animals would sit close by. The people all loved to see Old Toe, if he had a first name besides Toe, no one ever knew it. Everyone considered Toe to be a member of their family and there was always a place at the table for him to set. The children loved him more than anyone else. He would play games with them and let then ride on his back. Yes, Old Toe was very special to everyone in the area.
When old Toe was getting real old and it was thought he was around 95, he was taken in by the town doctor who could keep an eye on him. During the war old Toe would help where ever he could. Some families didn’t have a man around as they were in the service serving their country, so old Toe would help out. In 1955, the war was over and old Toe was thought to be 105, he passed away in his sleep. Toe was buried in the town’s cemetery and a monument was place at his grave by the town’s people. Old Toe was a colored man, but no one could remember that. He was just a close friend to everyone..
Now old Toe is floating around watching over you and me…Rest in peace Toe.
Ben R. Bauer
1 comment:
I love this, Dad. Reminds me of an old pastor I knew. He was from Norway, a lumberman by trade but lived to help others. He would vidit us, say a prayer and be on his way to his next family. HJ Ness was his name and he glowed with love.
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